CDO – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and Capitol University, will hold the inaugural National Conference on Local History and Heritage on 8-9 August 2023 at the Mini-Theater, Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City.

The two-day conference, with the theme, [It. Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan], will cover paper presentations on the local histories of the Philippine Revolution, Philippine-American War, and the First Philippine Republic, as well as the revolutions and evolutions of local history and heritage work in the country. The conference is an official event under the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood. Dr. Maria Luisa T. Camagay, Professor Emeritus of History from the University of the Philippines Diliman and President of the Philippine Historical Association will deliver the keynote lecture. Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez will also join the program and present his pioneering works on the local histories of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis.

The NHCP and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro will also host the delegates of the Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN) as they convene for their 10th General Assembly on 10 August 2023 at the New Dawn Hotel Plus, Cagayan de Oro City. The LHCN was created through Section 21 of Republic Act No. 10086 or the Strengthening People’s Nationalism Through Philippine History Act with the goal of professionalizing cultural and historical work on the local level and provides support from the NHCP on local history initiatives.

For its 10th General Assembly, the LHCN adopted the theme “Pagpapalaya ng Kasaysayan para sa Sambayanan” and will focus on possible projects and measures that expand access to historical works across the public, and initiatives on the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood (2023-2026) and the coming 650th Anniversary of Philippine-Muslim History (2024-2030). Dr. Maria Serena I. Diokno, Professor Emeritus of History from the University of the Philippines Diliman and Former NHCP Chair (2011-2016) will deliver the keynote address. The conduct of these programs in Mindanao is part of the commitment of the NHCP to expand its scope and make history accessible and relevant to all Filipinos in all corners of the country.

The NHCP is the principal government agency mandated with strengthening our people’s nationalism through the promotion of Philippine history and the protection of our cultural heritage.