The Department of Education (DepEd) has recently issued DepEd Memorandum No. 022, S. 2024 announcing the celebration of the 2024 National Heritage Month (NHM). This annual celebration, declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 439, s. 2003, is observed every May and is spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Theme for 2024: Championing Heritage: Capacity Building to Transform Communities
This year’s theme emphasizes the need to support cultural workers and advocates within local communities and indigenous peoples (IP). The focus is on boosting their knowledge and skills in heritage management. This can be achieved by organizing proper training and capacity-building activities and tools such as basic conservation, historical research, and cultural mapping methodologies, heritage impact assessments, the effective management of museums, galleries, libraries, and archives, and the maintenance of local registries for submission to the Philippine Registry of Heritage (TALAPAMANA).
How Schools Can Participate
Schools, schools division offices (SDOs), and regional offices (ROS) are encouraged to support the 2024 NHM by undertaking related activities. These include:
- Active use, posting, and sharing of the 2024 NHM advocacy materials: This includes the Official 2024 NHM Poster, Facebook Banners, and 2024 NHM Calendar of Activities in all schools divisions and schools’ website and social media accounts.
- Participation in the online campaign thread about the 2024 NHM celebration: Schools can share heritage-related content, including photos, videos, news features, and other collaterals released by the NCCA and NHM Facebook Pages using the hashtags #NHM2024 and #NHMChampioningHeritage.
- Use of various online audiovisual programs and content related to heritage: These can be used as part of instructional materials for students, accessible through the NCCA Learning Hub and/or NHM Facebook Page.
- Organizing own NHM activities and participating in heritage-related events: These can include seminars, webinars, workshops, lectures, and exhibits.
- Preparation of activity implementation reports with high-quality photos: These can be submitted for inclusion in the NHM 2024 Souvenir Program.
Submission of Proposals and Reports
Schools, SDOs, and ROS organizing their own NHM 2024 are requested to fill out the 2024 NHM Activity Proposal Form and send the final information to the NHM secretariat for the inclusion in the Calendar of Activities on or before April 30, 2024. The NHM 2024 reference materials can be accessed through the provided link.
Activity implementation reports with high-quality photos should be submitted on or before June 14, 2024 (Friday). Participation in this activity is voluntary only.
Compliance with DepEd Orders
Participation of learners and teachers from public and private schools shall be purely voluntary and shall not hamper instructional time in compliance with the provisions of DepEd Order (DO) No. 003, s. 2024 titled Amendment to DepEd Order No. 022, s. 2023 (Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2023—2024) and DO 9, s. 2005 titled Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-on-Task and Ensuring Compliance Therewith.
Let’s all come together to celebrate our rich cultural heritage and champion the cause of our cultural workers and advocates. Happy National Heritage Month 2024!