SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ (PIA) -- Central Luzon State University (CLSU) has joined an international collaboration that pushes for the protection, conservation, enhancement, and promotion of Filipino culture.
“Intensifying the Filipino Culture towards Sustained Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge System in Saving Natural Habitat, Landscape, and Practices through Cultural Education and Community Development” is a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) funded initiative of the Philippine Canada Education Consortium Magic 7+ (PhilCanEDUCON Magic 7+).
The consortium consists of CLSU, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Benguet State University, Central Mindanao University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, University of Southeastern Philippines, and University of Saskatchewan.
MMSU Program lead Marlowe Aquino explained that this endeavor will drive the internationalization of the Magic 7+ academic programs, research and development (R&D) initiatives, and partnerships among higher education institutions.
He also highlighted the indigenous knowledge (IK) system and practices in agriculture, environment and natural resources, arts, and knowledge management through exchange and dissemination are covered in the project.
Components of this program include capacity buildings on IK systems and professional exchange, R&D activities to address indigenous knowledge system and cultural management (IKSCM) issues and concerns, and knowledge management through the development of instructional materials and publications.
In her message during the virtual launch, CHED Office of the Deputy Executive Director Officer-in-Charge and International Affairs Director Lily Freida Milla commended the PhilCanEDUCON Magic 7+ for the initiatives and extended her gratitude and appreciation on behalf of CHED.
“We acknowledge your efforts and commitment to the IKSCM program in the pursuit to continue various initiatives that promote accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and equity that is beneficial for all students, faculty, and staff of your institutions in these unprecedented times,” she added.
She also challenged the state universities and colleges (SUCs) who are part of the consortium to make this project a hallmark of best practices on IK.
After the launch, the inception meeting followed wherein all seven SUCs presented their proposed project for implementation.
CLSU, through Project lead and Department of Biology faculty Angeles de Leon presented the project which will enable the documentation of IK on mushrooms and plants utilized by the indigenous peoples (IPs) that live in the mountainous areas of Central Luzon – the Agta and Bungkalots.
“This research could lead to the preservation of IPs cultural heritage before it becomes extinct due to modernization as well as to the discovery and harnessing of wild mushrooms and plants with pharmacological potentials,” she shared. (CLJD-PIA 3)
