VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) - The provincial government of this island province signed a memorandum of agreement with Catanduanes State University (CatSU) last February 20 to pursue cultural preservation of Catandunganon identity.

The memorandum layed out the principle of the joint venture to protect, reserve, and conserve the province's cultural heritage, properties, and histories in the ethnicity of local communities and establish and strengthen cultural institutions.

The collaboration was geared towards development of the Museo de Catanduanes under the Provincial Tourism Office to serve as a repository of material artifacts that will showcase the cultural and historical wealth of the people of Catanduanes.

CatSU-Center for Catandungan Heritage will assume significant technical roles such as inventory and documentation of museum collection, review and design of exhibit, layout and presentation, drafting of conservation and restoration plan, generation creation and documentation of promotional materials and research about functions, and training volunteer museum guidance.

The signing of MOA coincided with the launching of 'Arte Insulare Dos' exhibit of CatSU’s Center for Catandungan Heritage showcasing the artworks of local artists including Maria Fatima Arcilla, Alma Ang, Efren T. Sorra, Noel Villanueva and Salvador Bernal Jr.  It was a display of photo essay of Catandunganon's local architecture and higlighting the works of Noli Rodrigueza, the pioneer of Haute Couture in Catanduanes. (PIA5/Catanduanes)