Heritage for sale?

Our heritage is an invaluable asset that greatly enhances our quality of life. It acts as a reminder of our history, a road map for the present, and a lighthouse for the future. Recognizing, cherishing, and protecting our legacy are essential to our development as individuals and as a nation.

Both material and intangible aspects are included in heritage. It consists of movable and immovable assets, cultural and natural facets, and historical documents that have been handed down through the centuries. At first, the word "heritage" mostly applied to the colossal artifacts left over from prehistoric societies. But as time has gone on, its definition has broadened to include living culture, modern manifestations, and community collective memory.

Local communities are empowered by their heritage, which provides a sense of identity. People get a feeling of pride and belonging when they make a connection with their heritage. It makes it possible for marginalized groups to fully engage in social and cultural life.

Our heritage provides tried-and-true remedies. It has the power to unite people, build understanding, and encourage reconciliation. We aid in the reconciliation and avoidance of conflict by protecting cultural heritage.

In order to preserve cultural history, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is essential. It offers a special forum for global cooperation through a number of conventions. These legislative tools, which place a strong emphasis on management, training, and preservation, direct national policy.

Sadly, there are dangers to historical sites all around the world. Cultural and ecological treasures are threatened by armed conflicts and natural calamities. Bohol's Chocolate Hills faces enormous challenges because enterprises are already encroaching on sections of their land in the name of profit. Even inside hills, commercial enterprises are widely dispersed, according to recent internet posts.

Over the course of the past few weeks, a few representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at the local, provincial, and regional levels as well as representatives from other local government units have spoken and disclosed their level of involvement. And additional inquiries are anticipated in the near future.

Amid unclear guidelines on the protection of natural attractions in the country, we are afraid that more developers could gain approval to access protected sites. Unclear guidelines on protecting the country’s national treasures have long dogged eco-tourism projects.

However, one thing that is starting to stand out is how laws, regulations, and guidelines are changed to suit the preferences of a select group of people. We cannot afford this to happen, to reach an irreparable level of damage to our natural wonders.

It appears that we have not taken the lessons that natural calamities have to teach us. Earthquakes, flooding, landslides, and many more are all intended to go from a bad finish to a good beginning, and have tough life lessons to teach. Similar to fall and spring, nature warns us to change everything in our lives, including our minds, at this time. Such change is necessary and crucial. Nature will unleash its destructive fury if humans don't change.

As stewards of Mother Earth, let us be watchful in our small ways as preserving our legacy is an investment in our common future. Let's treasure and safeguard this legacy for future generations.