Mr. Jame Monren T. Mercado, an Academic Staff from the Department of Tourism Management, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and a Faculty Research Associate under the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education of the University of Santo Tomas, delivered the culminating activity for his UST-funded research for A.Y. 2020-2021 last June 10, 2021 (Thursday) at Balay San Nicoleño, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. The research is entitled, Pamana sa Mata ng mga … Bata?: A Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Student Tour Guides on Heritage Sustainability – The Case of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The research promotes the significance of encouraging the youth, specifically the students, to contribute to their local heritage and implement different programs and projects. It will also determine the youth sector’s perspective on balancing conservation, safeguarding, and rapid development in local heritages. In addition, several virtual meetings were implemented, such as focus group discussions and virtual doodling, to gather significant data and information. The participants were the nationally award-winning student tour guides of Museo San Nicoleño, advisers, and consultants.
During the culminating activity, updates on the research were presented to the primary and secondary stakeholders. There was also an awarding of certificates and tokens to its partner institutions and individuals. Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, the Director of the UST Graduate School – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (GS-CCCPET), represented the UST administration during the awarding ceremony. The final presentation of the research output will be scheduled for August 2021.
The project is officially partnered with the Municipal Government of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, headed by Hon. Alfredo P. Valdez, Jr., MD, Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Ilocos Norte District of San Nicolas, and the San Nicolas Elementary School, headed by Dr. Rolen A. Oracion.
