2026-04-12

BCPCH trains SGA youth to safeguard Bangsamoro cultural heritage

Students of Nangaan National High School take part in a Cultural Development Training conducted by the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage-Maguindanao Provincial Office from March 25 to 27 in Old Kaabakan, Special Geographic Area (Comenei Ali/BIO) OLD KAABAKAN, Special Geographic Area — To ensure the continuity of Bangsamoro heritage across generations, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH)-Maguindanao Provincial Office (MPO) conducted a three-day Cultural Development Training for students of Nangaan National High School in this municipality. The activity, held from March 25 to 27, was designed to deepen cultural awareness among the youth by providing them with a foundational understanding of Bangsamoro traditions aligned with Islamic values and preparing them to become active custodians of Bangsamoro identity. BCPCH-MPO Community Affairs Officer II Tahir Ampuan emphasized the need to engage the youth in promoting the region’s identity amid the challenges of a rapidly changing social landscape. “It is essential for them to be conscious of our culture, as globalization—driven by mass media—tends to obscure our traditions. We need to remind them of our Bangsamoro heritage, as it represents an identity that must be preserved,” he stated. He added, “By engaging the youth of the SGA through this training, we are not just teaching history—we are ensuring that the traditions and values of the Bangsamoro people are lived, cherished, and passed on to the next generation.” To underscore the proactive role of the youth in safeguarding Bangsamoro identity, the program featured interactive sessions on leadership and community engagement. During these workshops, participants formulated strategic action plans to mainstream cultural heritage in local development initiatives, ensuring that progress remains rooted in ancestral values. For Al-Juhair Malanggiao, a Grade 9 participant, the initiative served as a vital reminder of the youth’s role as the primary vanguards of the region’s heritage. “This activity reminded me that we, the youth, must be proactive in practicing and promoting our own traditions,” Malanggiao said. “As the future leaders who will carry the Bangsamoro mantle, we must remain rooted in our identity rather than merely imitating what we see on social media.” Following the program in this municipality, the Commission plans to roll out similar cultural development initiatives across other schools in the SGA to further strengthen the youth’s connection to their Bangsamoro roots. (Bai Omairah Yusop/BIO)