Mr. Liang Bin, Director-General of CRIHAP, gives a speech.

National Training of Trainers workshop on Implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguaring of the ICH, l, co-organized by CRIHAP and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines, was successfully held from Nov 4 to 8 in Manila, the Philippines.

Mr. Virgilio S. Almario, President of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of Republic of the Philippines, and Mr. Liang Bin, Director-General of CRIHAP, attended the workshop’s opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Over 40 trainees, including representatives from National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines, cultural departments of provinces in the country, the National Commission for UNESCO of the Philippines, and non-governmental organizations, and practitioners of intangible cultural heritage projects and workers in the field of ICH, participated in the workshop.

This is the first time that the Philippines has received capacity-building training under the framework of the Convention since it joined the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003 in 2006. It is also the first time that CRIHAP has held training at the national level for the Philippines, aiming to strengthen the country' ability to effectively implement the Convention at the national level and enhance its ability to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, and publicize the spirit and value of the Convention. Ms. Alexandra Denes and Ms. Linina Phuttitarn, UNESCO-accredited facilitators, were invited to give lectures. The facilitators elaborated, interpreted and analyzed many topics, including the basic concepts, latest practices, community participation, and ethical principles of the Convention and how to promote the sustainable development of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding and improve the level of community participation, through onsite lectures, group discussions, case study and interactions among trainees. The trainees were divided into six groups to discuss and work in groups. Under the guidance of the facilitators, they practiced inventorying during field visits, and also discussed the difficulties in inventorying and the key points of inventorying in the future.