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What is Heritage? Heritage is anything that is weighed significant enough to be passed on to the next and future generations.

Therefore, what does really Cultural Heritage is? According to Raja (2013), it is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed through from generations to generations, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions and values Cultural Heritage is often articulated as either Intangible or Tangible Cultural Heritage.

So, let’s define those two. First, Intangible Heritage, this refers to those features of a country that cannot be touched or seen. For example, traditional music, folklore, language etc. Meanwhile, Tangible Heritage refers to those significant places that advocate the country’s history and culture. For example, monuments, mosques, shrines, monasteries etc. (Raja, 2013)

Cultural Heritage had two types; Built Heritage and Natural Heritage. Built Heritage is one of the most visible forms of heritage such as buildings, townscapes, archaeological remains. It should be considered to refer those buildings, artifacts, structures, areas and grounds that are of historic, aesthetic, architectural or cultural significance and should include natural features within such areas or grounds of environmental implication or scenic beauty such as sacred groves, hills, hillocks, water bodies (and the areas adjoining the same), open areas, wooded areas, etc. On a daily basis we are reminded of historic events and past lives through the built legacy around us. (Raja, 2013) Like the Banza Church Ruins and Balanghai Boat.

Meanwhile, Natural Heritage is a heritage that includes all components of our surroundings which have not been created by man and which are of cultural, aesthetic, spiritual, biotic or ecological value and which could also be of directly usable resource value. (Raja, 2013) One of it’s example is the El Rio de Butuan or now called as Masao Beach known as the landing site of Magellan. (Amazing Butuan, 2010)

In addition, Artefacts are something created or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp. an object of archaeological interest. An artifact is an object recovered by archaeological exertion, which may have a cultural interest. Examples include dance forms, food, stone tools, documents, paintings, pottery vessels, metal objects such as weapons, and items of personal embellishment such as buttons, jewelry and clothing etc. (Raja, 2013)

Cultural Heritage is a concept developed as a product of historical processes and is continuously evolving. This concept is based on historically changing values and these ideas are recognized by different groups of people.

The objects belonged to cultural heritage are symbolic, they signify identities in terms of culture and natural environments that connects to traditional activities around these objects that can generate a sense of community. While the selection of which objects are preserved sets for future progression about both past and present for various cultural narratives and societal consensus. The emergence of the concept is directly related to the idea of protection or preservation. (Medieval Studies)

Preservation had a great importance in particular, whether the preservation of cultural heritage or conservation of the natural heritage. The purpose of it’s protection has four principal reasons. First, the cultural memory, its preservation maintains physical evidence of history and transfers value knowledge and skills of their ancestors. Second, the convenient proximity, it can support the interaction among the environment, people and community activities. Next, the environment diversity, as an identity of the local community or difference, the preservation will retain local artifacts and local artisans among the stream of urban development. At Last, the economic gain, the preservation is a benefit to the community in two important ways, to saving a cost of new buildings and attractions to visitors. (Elsevier Ltd.,2016)

In terms of community development, According to Heritage Perth, Heritage sites and buildings can have a very positive influence on many aspects of the way a community develops. Regeneration, housing, education, economic growth and community engagement are examples of the ways in which heritage can make a very positive contribution to community life. This is because:

The historic environment is a proven source of benefit to local economies, particularly through tourism.
An attractive heritage environment assists in attracting external investment as well as maintaining existing businesses of all types, not just tourism-related.
People are very proud of their local history, but don’t always express how much they value a place until it’s threatened. Because it adds character and distinctiveness to an area, heritage is a fundamental in creating a ‘sense of place’ for a community.
Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is an important factor in creating sustainable communities.
Heritage buildings add value to regeneration projects, both in terms the economic and environmental advantage of reuse over new build and in adding character to a precinct.
Heritage places can be a potent driver for community action.
Increased community values and greater social inclusion can be achieved through a focus on heritage matters.
The heritage places are an excellent local educational resource for people of all ages. Learning about the history of a place is a good way of bringing communities together through a shared understanding of the unique cultural identity heritage places give to an area.

Areas where the heritage is understood and valued tend to be better looked after than those where heritage items have no link with the community. Such links help to foster civic responsibility and citizenship and contribute to everyone’s quality of life. (Heritage Perth,

In Butuan City, the government, along with the City Tourism Council (CTC), formulated and created a Master Tourism Development Plan (MTDP) in an effort to make the region’s capital city as the primary gateway or tourist destination in the Caraga region. To give strength on the said plan, Former City Mayor Democrito Plaza ll issued Executive Order No. 192 “An order implementing the cultural mapping of Butuan City towards a development of a comprehensive Tourism Plan”. It will support the Council in strengthening the historical heritage, cultural treasures and pre-historic archaeological significance of Butuan City.

Butuan City is the regional center of Caraga region and positioned itself to be the show window of history, culture and Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibits (MICE) and destination.

The city is also rich in archaeology interspersed by sites which yielded metal, Balanghai boats, artifacts, earthenware and ceramics, gold ornaments and deformed skulls of early inhabitants.

The CTC, chaired by former City Mayor Daisy Plaza, also embarked on various community heritage programs for the preservation and appreciation of its local heritage.

“There is a need to identify and harness the heritage resources of the city and transform these into valuable and sustainable educational and economic assets that can affect the contemporary lives of the people and the future generation,” said Mayor Plaza in his EO.

Moreover, the EO also ordered the creation of Cultural Mapping Management (project) Implementation Team (CMMIT). It would set the direction and provides policies for the implementation of the cultural mapping together with its partner agencies, the National Museum (NM) and the University of Sto. Tomas. (Balita.ph,2009)

Storyline…

One of the known places in Mindanao that has different historical destinations is Butuan city, the regional administrative center of Caraga Region and the timber city of the south. Butuan city is rich with history as well as natural resources and is known for its metallurgic industry and sophisticated naval technology. The name Butuan was interpreted to have originated from a fruit called batuan, Others believed that it came from a certain datu named Datu Buntuan. Butuan City has a land area of 81,662 hectares (201,790 acres), which is roughly 4.1% of the total area of the Caraga region. Its population is composed of 337,063 people according to the 2015 census, which is currently expanding due to its industrial development and investments coming from a variety of investors. Today Butuan city is considered to be one of the fastest developing city in caraga and hosting one of the busiest airports in the country, the Bancasi Domestic Airport. This city offers tons of historical heritages and destinations that is written in books but not sufficiently emphasized. These historical destinations carved the very history of the city and also can be considered a top destination for history lovers.

One of its historic destinations is the Butuan City National Museum. This Museum was established after the accidental discovery of archaeological materials by the City Engineering Office of Butuan City in 1974 while draining the water confined inside a man-made river system. Excavations was conducted discovering valuable archeological mode of transportation such as the prehistoric Balanghai or Butuan boats that date from 4th to 13th centuries A.D. just five kilometers from the city proper.

Second is the Balangay Shrine Museum which is established to protect the Balangay boats and preserve its historic significance and culture. The Balanghai Shrine is about 5 kilometers from Butuan City proper. The Balanghai boats also known as butuan boats were declared National Cultural Treasure on March 9, 1987 by then President Corazon C. Aquino. Felix A. Luna, a resident in the area, made the establishment of the shrine possible with his donation of land in 1979.

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Third is the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Museum and St. Joseph Cathedral, the only one in Mindanao, located at the convent of St Joseph Cathedral where it commemorates missionary work in the region. This cultural heritage attracts many devoted Butuanons and other diverse individuals, and a place for daily mass and can be seen very occupied during sunday masses.

Fourth is the Magellans Anchorage located at Masao Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte. This is where Ferdinanad Magellan is believed to have anchored and landed and created a bl0od compact with with Raja Siaiu. History as it was said, Antonio Pigafetta and the Official Chronicler of Magellan’s fleet wrote “as we have seen a fire on an island (Masawa) that night before, we anchored near it.” The bright light was the beckon in the darkness that guided Magellan’s fleet to the isle. “Masawa” means “bright” in Butuanon, the only language in the Philippines that contains the word. This monument is located some 30 minutes by tricycle from Butuan City proper. This is also very popular to beach lovers who indulge in activities that include swimming and beach volleyball, hosting a lot of people living on the city an outside.

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Fifth is the Banza Church Ruins, one of the most beautiful stone structures back from the 1600s. It was one of the oldest stone churches in Mindanao before it was believed to be burned down by pirates on 1753. The present day Banza church ruins became a rural barangay with tall grasses covering the land.

Sixth is the St. Niño Diocesan Shrine located at Maharlika Highway, Libertad Butuan City, Agusan del Norte in the Philippines. It was founded on 1986, and Declared a Diocesan Shrine in 2000. This church contains an image of the Holy Child (Sto. Niño) that Magellan first brought to Butuan before it stayed in Cebu, at the Sto Niño de Cebu.

Seventh is the Guingona Park named after the first governor of the undivided Agusan Province Teofisto Jamora Guingona, Sr., (1913-1917) where a 100 foot flag pole and the philippine flag can be seen presided by Vice President Salvador H. Laurel, the Philippine Centennial Commission chairperson. A favorite spot for students, families and people who enjoy going out.

Eight is the Diosdado Macapagal Suspension Road whisch is the longest bridge in Mindanao estimated 882 meters in length, and its neigboting bridge the Magsaysay bridge who connects islands and transports goods and services to other barangays.

FESTIVAL AND ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS

Kahimunan Festival

The Kahimunan Festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January in celebration of the city patron Sr. Sto. Niño. This celebration is a Butuanon version of the Sinulog festival of Cebu City. Kahimunan is a Lumad term which means “gathering”.

Balangay/Balanghai Festival

Butuan celebrates its annual fiesta, the Balangay Festival, for the celebration of the city patron St. Joseph every whole month of May, with the exact feast day of St. Joseph on May 19. The city holds many events such as summer league basketball championship games, thanksgiving mass, and more.

Butuan City is such a wonderful place to live, not just because of its cultural and historical heritages but also the people who live. As we all know that Butuan City is known as the “Home of Balangays” and we are proud to say that we have and still witnessing the progress of our beloved city. From these marvelous place and events we are having and showcasing not just in our country but to the entire world, we should treasure and take good care of it as we live day by day.
It somehow brings us to realization of how these starts, from the time that Magellan arrived, up to molding sublime locale and prestigious events and how people sustained the tale of the city.

As we set foot in the City of Butuan you can notice the plainness of the place. But behind those simplicity is a majestic wonders and history of Butuan. But of course, we the people who lives in it should be responsible and we should give worth to our land. For it can be preserve and utilize by the future generation.
The cultural and historical heritage of Butuan reminds us the importance of our place. It became a playground of tourist not just because of its tourist destination but also the food we serve to people. Our delicacies, like palagsing, linusak and many more are made with love.

Furthermore, these benefits the people in the area, through this people of Butuan can make vocations out of it; they could sell or guide some tourist in the area where they want to explore. The people of Butuan can also conduct seminars or livelihood training program to youths or adults that would love to learn ways to be more productive.

In conclusion, to recognize and to identify our own heritage as a Filipino is important not just as a student who is tasked to know them for a mere project but it is our responsibility as a citizen, as part of our beloved and honored country. These heritages are important and significant places holds history of events which serves as our treasure as a patriotic being of this present time. Through identifying these heritages, we are able to unlock the unknown ideas and ways of living of our country men in the past.

We are actually lucky to be part of the island of Mindanao and to be part of the historic City of Butuan as many significant things, events or happenings have took place within the place. Butuan is known to be the place where the first Spaniards anchored as they reached the island of the Philippines. Butuan has held this record and is popular as the land of balangay or boat that served as the water transportation of the Spanish colonizers led by Ferdinand Magellan. Another heritage is the Butuan National Museum which holds the artifacts, the works and the important things which plays significant roles in the past way of living of Butuanon. Other legendary spot includes the Banza Church Ruins, the Bood Eco-Park and more. Above anything else we must learn how to preserve these heritages of ours for it reflects our culture. We must value our culture as if it’s like our precious treasure in which we provide care, we give value to it and we keep it safe. The modern world continues to change and our culture is greatly affected. To preserve it is the way to cherish and toast our diverse culture to the world.

https://medievalstudies.ceu.edu/concept-and-history-cultural-heritage The Concept and History of Cultural Heritage
Copyright © Central European University

Tousif Raja Published on Sep 28, 2013 Cultural heritage & its importance

Preservation of Cultural Heritage Community: Cases of Thailand and developed countries
Elsevier Ltd. 2016.10.239

https://heritageperth.com.au/your-heritage/why-is-heritage-important-to-communities/
WHY HERITAGE IS AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ASSET

Butuan City gears up for a master tourism dev’t plan
November 29, 2009 1:19 pm http://balita.ph/2009/11/29/butuan-city-gears-up-for-a-master-tourism-devt-plan/

http://amazingbutuan.blogspot.com/2010/08/masao-beach.html?m=1
Amazing Butuan. August 2010