USTGS-CCCPET leads APHEN-ICH Secretariat

The University of Santo Tomas, through the Graduate School Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics, has assumed the lead position of the Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Higher Education Network for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage (APHEN-ICH). In this role, USTGS-CCCPET will be instrumental in orchestrating the activities and programs of the network, ensuring its seamless operation and the effective execution of its mission. This significant development was announced during the Intangible Cultural Heritage International Conference and General Meeting at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 22-23, 2024.

APHEN-ICH, a collaborative initiative established in September 2018 in partnership with the International Information and Networking Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia Pacific Region (ICHCAP) under the auspices of UNESCO, stands as a testament to the joint dedication to preserving intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific. Aligned with the 2003 UNESCO Convention, the network is focused on nurturing and reinforcing this capacity through joint programs and activities to promote the 2003 Convention for Intangible Cultural heritage. As of 2024, the network proudly counts 23 member universities in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The APHEN-ICH Secretariat is composed of four member universities: University of Santo Tomas as the lead together with the bureau members; University of Dhaka in Bangladesh for South Asia, Vietnam National University-Hanoi in Vietnam for Southeast Asia, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea for East/North Asia.

USTGS-CCCPET, with its wealth of experience and expertise, will serve for two years as the Secretariat of APHEN-ICH. Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD, the Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Program Lead of the UST Graduate School – Cultural Heritage Studies, will serve as the Head of the Secretariat alongside Ms. Beverly Macayan-Bautista, MAED, who will serve as the International Coordinator of the network.

The election of the USTGS-CCCPET was grounded on its successful hosting of the Intangible Cultural Heritage International Conference and APHEN-ICH Field School in the Philippines with the City Government of Mabalacat and other LGU partners in the Pampanga province last 2023.