i

I. Background of the Study

An individual in a society is a living memory of history,

the focus of all the wealth of knowledge, abilities, skills, and
wisdom that have been amassed through the ages (Spirkin, n.d.).
Society carries an individual as a river carries a boat. At this
day and age, people have witnessed how our society has evolved
when it comes to an individual’s search for knowledge and
information. Information is therefore essential to survival in
our present communities (Perez and Templanza, 2015). And a thing
that contributes to an informed community is where locals search
for knowledge and information to be informed, engaged and
empowered to make decisions and take action to improve their own
lives, as well as to shape the future of their communities. Thus,
one of the principal interests of an enlightened or informed
community is the study of local history (Hobbs, 1962).
Local history contains a wealth of details, information and
stories that help reveal how societal changes impacted the lives
of ordinary people. Local history is expectedly closest to the
people's heart and consciousness because it reflects their own
identity, experiences and aspirations. It is the interpretative
recreation of the past of their locality, embracing its
political, social, economic, and cultural life (Funtecha, 2008).
In the present time, it is unfortu`nate that a vast number of
Filipino laymen lack interest or understanding of Philippine
history. This may have been brought about by an inadequate
background in history and such ignorance or apathy may have
resulted from the dearth of materials, especially on local
history which is closer to the hearts and minds of the people
(Funtecha, 2008). Simply put, and ,naturally, of crucial
importance is the realization that interest in the study and
 i

understanding of Philippine history mainly hinges on one's

appreciation of his/her own town's history (Funtecha, 2008).
And in this day and age, expansion in interest of local
history is then transformed into a wider and deeper sense,
introducing the birth of “local studies”. The role played by the
studies centers nowadays is already acknowledged both in the
national and local levels, it is believed that the centers’
significant role is in shaping the young minds (Calairo, 2007).
This paper is an exploratory study of the information
centers in Butuan City referred to as local studies centers.
Local studies centers combine a library, an archives and a museum
as one, in terms of the range of the collections, and serve one
purpose of preservation of knowledge, history, culture and
studies about a certain locality. It aims to identify and
describe the nature, practices and status of these local studies
centers and to explore the innovative and transformative role of
these local studies centers in the fields of history, culture and
heritage studies of Butuan City.

II. Statement of the Problem

The primary concern of this study is to identify and

describe the nature, practices, strategies and status, with
emphasis on the programs, projects and services, of local studies
centers in Butuan City.
Specifically, the following research questions are to be
investigated:
1. What are the characteristics and status of local studies
centers in Butuan City?

2. What are the contributions of local studies centers to

history, culture and heritage studies in Butuan City?
 i

3. What is/are the impact/s of these contributions of local

studies centers to history, culture and heritage studies in the
Butuan City?

III. Significance of the Study

This established study searches and discovers the
characteristics, practices and status of established local
studies centers in Butuan City. Through scrutinizing their
programs, projects, services and activities, this study will shed
light on the role of local studies centers in the fields of
history, culture and heritage studies, and as well information
science.
This study will be helpful to the concerned agencies of the
government for them to prepare necessary development plan,
providing for the maintenance, services, programs and practices,
also including improvement and restoration of sites to ensure the
preservation of the cultural, heritage and historical of Butuan
City.
On the other hand this study will beneficial in improving
the management and development of local studies centers since
they are knowledge generators and takes part in the production,
publishing, storage, transmission and preservation of knowledge,
information, culture, heritage and history.
One of the principal interests of informed community is the
study of local history and through this study the individuals of
the local community can build an active interest and become more
inclined to study something of which they can reach, easily grasp
of, and can find a personal and individual meaning through the
programs and services offered by the local studies centers.
For the future researchers, the study will give adequate
information to those who will undergo similar study in the
 i

future, as an additional literature for their study. The result

of the study will be serving as a guide to other researchers who
would like to pursue the same study for the study’s further
development and improvement.

V. Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study focuses on the nature, practices, strategies and
status, with emphasis on the programs, projects and services of
local studies centers and their impacts to the culture, history
and heritage of Butuan City. For this study, the concentration of
the numbers of local studies centers in Butuan City will be
significantly considered for carrying out this study. The main
respondents of the study comes from: Butuan National Museum,
Balanghai Shrine, Butuan City Public Library, FSUU Library
System, Bequibel Shell Midden, Museo de Balanghai and Butuan
Diocese Museum. The researches will be using qualitative
descriptive type of research method to be employed in this study.
Semi-structured interviews with the representative of the
management (directors, administrators, librarians, archivists,
information specialists, local history coordinators, local
cultural coordinators, events coordinators, programs / services
staff, etc.) of the local studies centers, and ocular visits will
be conducted. Historical documents and records, including
websites, brochures and publications of these local studies
centers will also be examined.
 i

VI. Research Paradigm

This framework shows the outline of the variables involved
in the study, which are the independent and dependent variable.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

The impact/s of the

Role of local studies programs, projects and
centers in metamorphosing services to history, culture
history, culture and and heritage
heritage of Butuan City
Promotion of awareness and
Characteristics and status appreciation of history,
of local studies centers culture, heritage
Programs, projects and Efficacy of metamorphosing
services of the local history, culture and
studies centers heritage

Figure 2. The research paradigm illustrating the researcher’s

conceptual framework
 i

VII. Conceptual Framework

This study emphasizes the importance and value of the local

studies centers in Butuan City, specifically in history, culture
and heritage. The significant number of programs, projects and
services that are identified are considered as contributions of
local studies centers to history, culture and heritage. This
significant number of contributions identified will cause a
considerable impact of the promotion, awareness and appreciation
of history, culture, heritage and local studies centers in Butuan
City. Notice that the variables of the study are explicit in the
paradigm presented in Figure 1. In the illustration, the role as
well as the characteristics, status, programs, projects and
services offered by the local studies centers in Butuan are
identified as independent variables for these are the variables
manipulated in the study. The impacts of the programs and
services
offered, promotion of awareness and appreciation and efficacy of
metamorphosing history, culture and heritage are identified as
dependent variables for these are the variables that are affected
and outcomes that depends on the independent variables.

VIII. Definition of Terms

 Local Studies Centers- refers to the institution that will

set as a population’s parameter in this study and that
includes; museum, library,gallery, and etc.
 Characteristics- refers to the qualities exhibited by the
local studies centers in establishment and management
 i

 Contributions- refers to the recent and ongoing programs,

projects and services of the selected local studies centers
as contributions to history, culture and heritage of Butuan
 Impact- refers to the local studies centers’ programs,
projects and services effects on the promotion of awareness
and appreciation of history, culture and heritage
 Efficacy- the effectiveness of the programs and services
offered by the local studies center in promoting awareness
and appreciation of history, culture and heritage
 Projects/ Services- may fall in any of these categories:
research, advocacy,museum, gallery, library and archives
that contributes to the development and advancement of the
field of history, culture, and heritage studies in the
Philippines

VIII. Theoretical Framework

Leveraging Smart Open Innovation for Cultural Sustainability

Source: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/6/1964/htm
Proponents: Luisa Errichiello  and Roberto Micera

The Leveraging Smart Open Innovation for Cultural Sustainability

Framework shows how network arrangements based on the
collaboration between cultural organizations (i.e., main
providers of new services) and a variety of local stakeholders
(private firms, non-profit organizations, local governments,
citizens, etc.), can be leveraged at (innovation) project level
to implement strategies mainly oriented at cultural
sustainability goals rather than at environmental, economic and
social sustainability. Considering that the development of a new
service usually includes the stages of “ideation/design”,
“implementation/analysis” and “launch and service delivery”
(Johnson et al.,2000) , we can assume that: In the first stage,
 i

actors define what areas of cultural sustainability to address

and how the new service to develop will be realized to pursue
specific sub-goals; in the subsequent stages of implementation,
launch and delivery, specific (tangible and intangible)
resources, including funding, specialized skills, complementary
competences, social capital and state-of-the-art technologies
would be mobilized through collaborative networks to realize
specific processes and practices aimed at pursuing the stated
goals of cultural sustainability. It is important to highlight
that although the framework includes the strategic level—all four
pillars of sustainability and related areas, it emphasizes the
analytical focus on cultural sustainability (i.e., the related
circle is represented through a different color and is put in the
foreground). Moreover, within the circle of cultural
sustainability, the framework represents the trade-off existing
between custodial-oriented goals (e.g., heritage preservation,
cultural skills and knowledge, memory and identity) and market-
oriented goals (e.g., new audience development, inclusion,
cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, creativity,
innovation and artistic vitality). The framework also shows the
influence of Loach et al. (2017) since in this case we focus on
the role that—at practice level—social structures (e.g.,
collaborative arrangements) play in fostering cultural
sustainability as designed at the strategic level.
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CHAPTER 2
RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter primarily presents the different researches and

other related literature and studies both national and local
level which contains facts and information on the research
problem at hand. This provides definition, the different local
Studies centers in the Philippines: their goals and mission,
programs and services offered and the impacts of these programs
and services in the promotion of awareness and appreciation of
history, culture and heritage of Butuan City.

Local Studies Centers

According to a study conducted by M. Perez (2016) entitled Local
Studies Centers in the Philippines: An Introductory Text defined
local studies centers as specialized information centers
combining a library, an archives and a museum in terms of the
range of the collections, and serving one purpose of
preservation of knowledge about a certain locality defined in all
facets. An institution dedicated to the study of local studies
(including local history) is coined as a “local studies center.”
It is important to trace back the history and development of such
concept in order to understand how it was conceived and how it
operates. It can be noted that various terminologies were
identified but are referring to the same concept of local studies
centers.
 i

Figure 1: The local studies center: a library, an archives and a

museum
Source: https://www.ifla.org/past-wlic/2012/180-perez-en.pdf

Local Studies in the Philippines

As indicated by Dr. Calairo (2007), the jobs and

significance of the local studies centers focuses are already
acknowledged both in the national and nearby levels especially in
 i

the academe. He further noted the following: 1) they have a

particular ability to collect local materials, 2) they assume a
noteworthy job towards the documentation of our national history,
3) they are accomplice organizations of the national government
in reaching the grassroots levels, 4) they serve as links to the
academic sector, the business sector, the government sector and
the community in order to fully realize the national goal, which
is to document the comprehensive history of the Philippines, and
5) they shape young minds, in terms of knowledge in the local and
national history as well as studies. Presently, centers, as
portrayed and as devoted for the advancement and investigation of
one locality’s history, culture and related studies, were
established. They are called “local studies centers.”

History of the Local Studies in the Philippines

Tracing the roots of the local studies centers in the

Philippines, the Cebuano Studies Center in the University of San
Carlos, Cebu City is being coined as the “mother of all local
studies centers” in the country (A. Crisostomo, Personal
communication, February 20, 2011). It was first conceived in 1972
and was established in December 1975 as part of the extension
services of the University of San Carlos (Alburo, 2008).
Following this was the establishment of the other local studies
centers such as: Cavite Studies Center (De La Salle University
Dasmariñas), Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan (Bulacan State
University), Center for Tarlaqueño Studies (Tarlac State
University), Cordillera Studies Center (University of the
Philippines Baguio), Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan
Studies (Holy Angel University), Tayabas Studies and Creative
Writing Center (Tayabas, Quezon), and Sta. Rosa Studies Center
(City of Sta. Rosa, Laguna). In 2008, a local studies centers
 i

umbrella network/organization was founded and was named

“Kapisanan ng mga Bahaysaliksikan sa Bansa, Inc.” (KABANSA).
Since the establishment of these local studies.

Local studies centers in promoting local history: its

Significance to the Community

The Value of Local History

It is generally accepted that the study of history should
cover all aspects of a nation’s past and is thus not only
concerned with the events pertaining to that which is national,
but also with events in the life of local or regional
communities. The latter is the field of study of the local
historian and consequently local history comprises the lowest
order in the geographical classification of history. Local
history can be defined as the history of a town, district or any
locality or unit smaller than the nation-state, with clearly
defined territorial limits or in which the inhabitants are so far
united in thought and action as to feel a sense of belonging
together (Kleio,2007).

Local History Museums Are Centers of Learning

Local history comes alive in museums and historical
societies. When a guest is able to read, visit a historic place,
look at an artifact, appreciate images or study real documents,
we create learned connections. The information and objects found
in museums offers supplemental information not found in
classrooms and may also include object-based learning that
 i

includes touchable glimpses into the past beyond that a textbook

offers (Campbell Museum, 2017).

Local History for the Community

The benefits of history for the community extend to the need of
some to connect to their past – a past easily recognizable on the
local level. Consequently, these people enjoy contact with old
manuscripts and objects ranging from kitchen devices to pottery.
Not only do such people fulfill a deep desire to literally touch
the past, but in their quest to locate and preserve historical
artifacts they offer something of value to society at large. This
value is also intangible, for it goes to the heart of a person’s
self-identity as that self-image is rooted in a community’s
heritage.

About the Local Studies Centers in the Philippines: Goals and

Mission, Programs and Services

Cavite Studies Centers

The Cavite Studies Center pursues De La Salle University-
Dasmariñas' (DLSU-D) vision-mission of "undertaking research
focusing on Cavite history and culture." Specifically, CSC is
committed to contribute and make an impact on local historical
scholarship, its relevance and meaning as well as to keep track
of the exciting developments of Cavite.
To achieve its goal, the CSC:
(1) acquires materials, in any format, on Cavite and its environs
through photo duplication, purchase, gift, loan, and donations
(2) promotes awareness and interest in Cavite history and culture
by sponsoring events inside and outside the University
(3) plans programs involving faculty and students in conducting
researches on Cavite
 i

(4) establishes and maintains linkages with local, national and

foreign agencies and institutions
Source: Adapted from https://www.dlsud.edu.ph/CSC.htm

Cavite Studies Centers Programs

In 1998, CSC started its annual projects and programs which
until now are being implemented, this includes the following:
Historical awareness campaign, research and publications and
development of a library collection focused on Cavite province.
Source: Adapted from rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph

Cebu Studies Center

The Cebuano Studies Center is a center of research on all
aspects of Cebuano culture. The Cebuano Studies Center has become
an active instrument in encouraging and supporting research
activities within the university in the areas of the social
sciences and the humanities.In addition, the CSC has become a
model of its kind, as a local/regional research center in the
country, through its varied activities in the conduct and
promotion of local/ regional studies.It functions as (1) a
special library to house source materials pertaining to Cebu, as
well as the predominantly Cebuano-speaking areas in the country;
(2) a research center devoted to studies pertaining to Cebu in
the area of the humanities and social sciences; and (3) a special
office assisting in the promotion of Cebuano culture and the
arts.
Source: Adapted from https://www.cebuanostudiescenter.com/about-
cebuano-studies-center-2/

Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan
Mission: Cultivate the patriotic spirit of the Bulacaneous
by publishing books, research, monographs, and newsletters about
 i

the culture and history of the Bulacan and gathering information

or data available to any flower researcher that would be the
basis of public policy. Preserved in a future (archives and
museums), artifacts and old documents of Bulacan and will be the
trainer in formal courses at B.S. Local History and co-sponsors
of similar institutions/ agencies promoting learning about
Bulacan and People's History.
Source: Adapted from http://bahaysaliksikan.blogspot.com/

Bahay Saliksikan ng Bulacan’s program

The SIKAP which stands for Sining, Industriya, Kasaysaysan,
Agrikultura at Panitikan is a six year project of Buhay
Saliksikan Bulacan which has a goal of publishing and promote
researches which tackles new data in the course of research to
generate more knowledge on the Bulacaneous. This gives an
opportunity to the public who are interested in research to
submit articles and publication that is connected to the theme.
Source: Adapted from
https://www.gluseum.com/PH/Malolos/173633869485818/Bahay-
Saliksikan-ng-Bulacan

Museo-Archivo Tarlaqueño
This is the museum of Tarlac State University which serves
as a part of their history. The importance of having a sense of
historicity is through the Museo- Archibo Tarlaqueño and serves
as a structural reminder among Tarlaqueños about the rich culture
and amalgam of the Province of Tarlac. The structure is also a
great time to look back at Tarlaqueños’ collective aspiration of
moving ahead towards achievement of progress.
Source: Adapted from
https://www.tsu.edu.ph/opai/news/2019/07/tsu-launches-museo-
archivo-tarlaque%C3%B1o/
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Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies

Established in 2001, the Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for
Kapampangan Studies aims to sustain interest in the study of
Kapampangan language, history and culture. It is housed in a
three-story structure in Holy Angel University and contains a
gallery, a museum and a library. The center subscribes to the
motto "Be a good Kapampangan to be a better Filipino.

Publications of the Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan

Studies as contributions to the Kapampangan history and
literature
The center publishes SingSing, a quarterly magazine devoted
to Kapampangan history and literature. The magazine takes its
name from the famous Kapampangan folk song "Atin cu pung
singsing," which tells of a precious gold ring lost and then
found. The use of the word 'singsing' in the magazine is a
metaphor for the loss and retrieval, through the center's efforts
of Kapampangan culture. The center also publishes the annual
Kapampangan Research Journal. Edited by Dr. Lino Dizon, the
journal features articles written by scholars on Kapampangan
language and history. Nine issues of the magazine have been
released. Old Kapampangan vocabularies and grammars are also
periodically published by the center under the name of Holy Angel
University.
Source: Adapted from
https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Juan-D-
Nepomuceno-Center-for-Kapampangan-Studies

Butuan City Recent Program, Services and Practices

conducted by the Local Government Unit in Promoting Local
History
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The Lakbay Aral 2014

The Annual Conference on Local and National History is
hosted by Butuan City, the Lakbay Aral Historical Tour is held
here in the city. It aims to provide the participants with an
opportunity to showcase and experience the culture and history of
Butuan City. Participants from various universities, institutions
and cities along with Local Historians in the city visited
potential Butuan-related areas of history as home to Balanghai
Boat the city of Butuan. Part of their itinerary was to visit
various museums in the city such as the National Museum, Museo De
Balanghai Hotel, Balangay Shrine in Brgy. Libertad, and St. St.
Joseph Museum Joseph Cathedral. This regular activity of the
spouses of legislators is the first for this term with the aim of
promoting tourism in the countryside. Participants of the tour
came to visit cultural heritage sites of Butuan: Regional Museum
and Balangay Shrine. On top of experience nature endowments and
historical wonders of the region, Lakbay Aral 2014 was also
designed as a ‘learning session’ to showcase the best practices
local government units being visited that might be applicable for
replication in other localities.
 i

CHAPTER THREE
Methodology

I. Introduction
The aim of this chapter is to set out qualitative
descriptive type of research method undertaken to identify and
describe the nature, practices, strategies and status, with
emphasis on the programs, projects, services and its impacts
towards promotion, awareness and appreciation of history,
culture, heritage and local studies of local studies centers in
Butuan City. This chapter will present the procedures for
selecting the study participants, a sample which is to be
selected and will set out the method used for data collection
along with the process of data analysis. Finally, it will discuss
any ethical issues and limitations associated with this study.

II. Research Design

Qualitative case study research design serves as the main
methodology for this study. This will allow the researchers to
conduct a detailed investigation, often with data collected over
a period of time, of one or more institutions, groups or
representative within the institution, with a view to providing
an analysis of the context and processes involved in the
phenomena under study.
 i

III. Research Environment and Population

The population of interest in this study are the local
studies centers in Butuan City which will be significantly
considered for carrying out this study. The main respondents of
the study comes from: Butuan National Museum, Balanghai Shrine,
Butuan City Public Library, FSUU Library System, Bequibel Shell
Midden, Museo de Balanghai and Butuan Diocese Museum. The target
population that the researchers is interested in researching are
the representative of the management (directors, administrators,
librarians, archivists, information specialists, local history
coordinators, local cultural coordinators, events coordinators,
programs / services staff, etc.).

IV. Participants
Representatives of the management or institution are the
participants of the study for they are the ones who have been in
charge of, administers and organizes a certain local studies
center. They are believed to be knowledgeable informants because
particular expertise or knowledge that is brought to this
qualitative research. They are believed to be informants who
knows and understand the kind of information that is of
interest to the study.

V. Sampling Technique
In choosing the sample of participants, the researcher will
use purposive sampling method. This form of sampling is
essentially strategic and necessitates an attempt to establish a
good correspondence between research questions and sampling. The
inclusion criterion was based on participants who are currently
employed in the local studies centers of Butuan City. In
undertaking this study the researchers will choose to interview
 i

individuals working in the institution for 2 and more years due

to the fact that for most, their field of work and study would
have been associated with more knowledge of the institution that
they are managing. Furthermore, the length of service restriction
aims to provide a more coherent group, which makes comparison
between the subjects more relevant.

Representative of the Field of Length of Degree Level

management/institution Work Service (Associate Degree,
Bachelor’s Degree,
Master’s Degree and
Doctoral Degree)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

VI. Data Gathering Procedure

Through performing a literature review the researchers
gained an understanding and debates relevant to the area of study
which has help build the researchers knowledge on a certain
field. The researchers used the findings in order to summarise
prior research and to integrate what the topic is all about and
decided to have (approach) which would fit in. The method of the
researchers in order to collect data is through interview. The
researchers will select participants with ample knowledge and
experience regarding the topic and will document and record the
data that researchers gathered during the interview. The
researchers will transcribe each and every word that the
interviewee that exchanged data to the researchers.
 i

Interview
Semi-structured interviews is selected to carry out this
research study. Semi-structured interviews with the management
group (directors, administrators, librarians, archivists,
curator, information specialists, local history coordinators,
local cultural coordinators, events coordinators, programs /
services staff, etc.) of the local studies centers. The method
will allow the participants to elaborate and with that provided
more flexibility, range and therefore the capacity to elicit more
information from the participant.
An interview schedule will be prepared in advance to aid the
researcher with the structure and flow of the interview. Each
participant will be presented with a similar set of questions.
The questions were mainly open ended questions with a small
number of closed questions relating to information such as age,
length of unemployment and so on. As a first step in the
interview process, participants will be reminded of the purpose
of the study, research procedures, expected benefits, their right
to withdraw from the study at any time, and protection of
confidentiality. With participant approval, the interviews will
be audio-recorded to ensure a complete transcript. Typed notes
will also be taken during all interviews, enabling the researcher
to track key points to return to later in the interview and for
use during data analysis.
 i

CHAPTER IV
DATA INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
Designated Order Local Study Center Name of
Representative
Participant 1 Bequibel Shell Mrs. Rinaliza
Midden Bequibel
Participant 2 FSUU Library System Mrs. Jane P.
Singuran, RL, MSLIS
Participant 3 Butuan City Public Mrs. Jessica M.
Library Clarito
Participant 4 Museo de Balanghai Dr. Potenciano Malvar
Participant 5 St. Joseph Cathedral Rev. Fr. Joesilo C.
Diocesan Shrine Amalla
Museum
Participant 6 Butuan National Mrs. Lilita Mission-
Museum Concon
Participant 7 Balanghay Shrine Mr. Jomar Toliao

Table 1. Name of the representatives of the management

The table above shows the demographic profile of each of the

seven representatives of the local study center management as the
participants and all the data collected of each participant is
classified accordingly. The researchers have included the name of
the representatives for the researchers have ensured that the
ethics protocols cover the rights of participants and it was
established early and tested to ensure that consent processes and
issues of anonymity and confidentiality have been well clarified
at the outset.

Length of Service Frequency Percentage

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2 years- 4 years 4 57.14%

5 years- 7 years 0 0%
7 years- more than 7 years 3 42.86%

Table 2. Length of service of the representatives

Analysis:
The length of service in the conduct of this study the
researchers chose to interview individuals working in the
management for 2 and more years due to the fact that for most,
their field of work and study would have been associated with
more knowledge of the local study center that they are managing.
Furthermore, the length of service restriction aims to provide a
more coherent group, which makes comparison between the subjects
more relevant.Four (4) out of seven (7) participants have the
range of length of service between two to four (2-4) years, with
57.14 percent (57.14%) and three (3) out of seven (7)
participants have the range of length of service from seven (7)
and more years with 42.86 percent (42.86%) with the total of 100
percent (100%)

Field of Work Frequency Percentage

Directors 6 85.71%
Administrators 0 0%
Local history
0 0%
coordinators
local cultural
0 0%
coordinators
Events coordinators 0 0%
Programs / services
1 14.29%
staff

Table 3: Field of work of the representatives

Analysis:
 i

Six (6) out of seven (7) participants are directors in their

field of work with 85.71 percent (85.71%) and one(1) out of
seven (7) who is a program/ services staff with 14.29 percent
(14.29%) with the total of a 100 percent (100%). The field of
work of the representative is a very important variable to look
into, since this will be an implication that the local study
center have its different coordination. This is because ideally,
the center should have the following personnel: head or director,
librarian, publications coordinator and curator/events
coordinator. The idea for having different coordinators is to
speed up the operations of the center (Calairo, 2007).

Degree Level Frequency Percentage

Associate Degree 0 0%
Bachelor’s Degree 4 57.14%
Master’s Degree 2 28.57%
Doctoral Degree 1 14.29%
Table 4: Degree level of the representatives

Analysis:
In degree level four (4) out of seven (7) participants are
bachelor’s degree with a 57.14 percent (57.14%) and two (2) out
of seven (7) participants are master’s degree with a 28.57
percent (28.57%) and one (1) out of seven (7) participants is a
doctoral degree with a 14.29 percent (14.29%) with the total of a
100 percent (100%)

II. Characteristics
Purpose: This section of the questionnaire will identify the
common characteristics of the selected local studies centers. In
this section, we are going to assess the presence/absence of
these different ideas:

1. Mandates from universities/colleges/institutions/agencies that

houses them

Question #1. Is the local study center mandated by

universities/colleges/agencies that houses it? If yes, please
specify the mandates.

No, the Bequibel Shell Midden

Participant 1 is privately owned.
Yes, the mandates are following
Participant 2 the CHED Standards, PAASCU
 i

Standards and LEB Standards

(Law Library) (LEB-Legal
Education Board).
Yes, it is following the
Participant 3 mandates under the Republic Act
7743. RA 7743 IS AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF CONGRESSIONAL, CITY AND
MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND
BARANGAY READING CENTERS
THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES,
APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY
FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
No, privately owned.
Participant 4
Yes. The mandates are from the
Participant 5 CBCP Permanent Committee on
Cultural Heritage fo the Church
and the Diocese of Butuan.
No, because we are a national
Participant 6 agency. Although
administratively we are under
DepEd but the operations we are
independent.
No, because the management of
Participant 7 the Balanghay Shrine is the
same with the Butuan National
Museum and is under the
National Musuem of the
Philippines.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Three (3) out of seven (7) participants stated yes, that
 i

the local study center mandated by

universities/colleges/agencies that houses it. First and
foremost the CHED Standards, PAASCU Standards and LEB Standards
(Law Library) (LEB-Legal Education Board). Under the Republic
Act 7743. The CBCP Permanent Committee on Cultural Heritage for
the Church and the Diocese of Butuan. There are four (4) out of
seven (7) participant who answered no, there are this two (2)
that are privately owned and the other two (2) local studies
center are under the National Musuem of the Philippines. It is
important that a local studies center should be based or
mandated by the academe that houses it or its privately owned
for one major reason for this is that the center may not be
affected by a change of administration (Calairo, 2007). In the
government sector, it is usually the case with that of the
executive, either the governor or the mayor that when their
term expires, so is with their programs. In the academic setup,
the center is usually created as one unit of the university.
Since it is a unit in the university, it shall have the
privileged to have its own facility or office space, have a
separate annual budget for its operation, and be given priority
in the use of other school facilities whenever there is an
upcoming program. The same goes with being privately owned,
since it is a component of a private setup, it is governed
according to the mandates of the private owner.
Table 5. The mandates from
universities/colleges/institutions/agencies that houses the local
studies center

2. Budget allocation and experienced budgetary problems

Question #2. Is the budget allocated for the local study center
and its programs, services, and practices from the institution
that mandates it? If yes, proceed to Question 2.1.

Question #2.1 Is/Had the local study center

experiencing/experienced budgetary problems?
 i

Question #2.2 How do the local study center handles budgetary

problems? If possible, state the situation and the managing
mechanism.

No, because it is privately

Participant 1 owned. ( referring to Q2.1 &
Q2.2) It has experienced
budgetary problems in terms of
the improvement of the
place/facility, but we have
handled this through the help
of Dr. Potenciano Malvar.
Yes (referring to Q2), the
Participant 2 budget of the library is from
the institution that houses it.
Yes (referring to Q2.1).
( referring to Q2.2) The FSUU
Library System have handled
budgetary problems by
prioritizing the needs and
equal distribution of library
budget to all other programs or
department.
Yes, it is LGU Funded.
Participant 3
No, the Museo de Balanghai is
Participant 4 privately owned so the budget
is from personal money.
(referring to Q. 2.1 & Q2.2).
It seems natural to have
budgetary problems, but if you
can’t buy it, I can pay it.
No, the budget is not from the
 i

Participant 5 institution that mandates it.

There is no budget allocation
for the diocese, only the use
of the hall for the repository
of the museum.
Yes (referring to Q2), the
Participant 6 budget allocated is from DepEd.
We are under the Office of the
President only the budget
allocation is coming from
DepED. Yes (referring to Q2.2),
the Museum has already
experienced budgetary problems.
The Museum handles budgetary
problem by operating within the
budget, outsource for other
projects. Find for
sponsorships. The management
finds it very normal to have
budgetary problems that is why
it is very important for the
officers to have initiatives.
Yes (referring to Q2), since
Participant 7 the Balanghai Shrine is a
branch of the Butuan National
Museum, the budget allocated is
still from DepEd. Yes
(referring to Q2.2), the Museum
has already experienced
budgetary problems. The
Balanghai Shrine’s mechanism on
the budgetary problem is still
 i

through operating within the

budget, outsource and other
projects.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Four (4) out of seven (7) participants said yes, that the
budget allocated for the local study center and its programs,
services, and practices from the institution that mandates it.
And three (3) out of seven (7) participant said no, there’s no
budget allocation for the diocese and that is privately owned so
the budget is from personal money. Referring to the next
question, five (5) out of seven (7) participants said yes, that
the local study center experiencing/experienced budgetary
problems. And two (2) out of seven (7) participants refused to
answer the following questions. Referring to the last question,
we have handled this through the help of Dr. Potenciano Malvar,
by prioritizing the needs and equal distribution of library
budget to all other programs or department and that if you can’t
buy it, they can pay for it. Local studies center should have
its own operational expenses (Calairo, 2007). This is very basic
because it will allow the center to initially or continuously
operate even without an activity or q seasonal project. Included
here are office supplies, transportation budget for linkage,
representation allowance, and communications budget. Other items
that have to be included
are budget for the development of library collections which
include research expenses (photocopying and transportation
expenses).
Table 6. The budget allocation and the experienced budgetary
problems of the local studies center

3. Linkages with different institutions, organizations,

universities, and especially the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines
 i

Question #3. Is the local study center having linkages with

different institutions, organizations, universities and
especially the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) of the Philippines? (If yes, proceed to Q3.1)

Question #3.1. What is/are the advantage(s) of having linkages

with the different institutions, organizations, universities and
especially the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) of the Philippines?
Yes, it has linkages with the
Participant 1 Department of Tourism for
educational tours and Dr.
Potenciano Malvar, owner of the
Museo de Balanghai.
Yes (referring to Q2), the FSUU
Participant 2 Museum is having linkages with
the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of
the Philippines. The advantage
of this is that the NCCA
provides grant/funds for
trainings, seminars,
conferences.
No
Participant 3
So far, not yet. But I
Participant 4 encourage them to come here.
Yes, the museum has linkages
Participant 5 with the different institutions
but I don’t see any advantage.
Yes, definitely (referring to
Participant 6 Q3), the Butuan National Museum
is having linkages with
different institutions,
organizations especially the
National Commission for Culture
 i

and the Arts (NCCA) of the

Philippines. One of the
advantage of having partnership
with them, whether we like it
or not it is required to have
partnerships. The linkages are
our partners in duty of the
promotion of culture and
heritage development. So that
is an advantage because we have
partners to help us out.
Yes, just the same with Butuan
Participant 7 National Museum since the
Balanghai Shrine is just a
branch of it.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Five (5) out of seven (7) participants said yes, having
linkages with different institutions, organizations,
universities and especially the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines. One (1) has linkages
with the Department of Tourism for educational tours and Dr.
Potenciano Malvar, owner of the Museo de Balanghai. Two (2) are
having linkages with the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines stating that the advantage of
this is that the NCCA provides grant/funds for trainings,
seminars, conferences and that they are partners in duty of the
promotion of culture and heritage development. The other two (2)
local studies center said yes but they prefer to not specify the
institution. Two (2) out of seven (7) are not having linkages
with different institutions, organizations, universities and
especially the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) of the Philippines, but they said that they have
 i

encouraged the organization for partnership and that they would

love to invite them. Up until this time, the local studies
centers are encouraged to establish and sustain linkages and
networking with other centers, historical bodies, and government
bodies both here and abroad (Foronda, 1991 as cited by Jimenez,
2006, p. 7).

Table 7. Local study centers’ linkages with different

institutions, organizations, universities, and especially the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the
Philippines

4. General Programs / Services

Q4. Is the local study center having of the following (Please do

put a check mark on the box)
 library materials / collection
 conducting researches, conducting seminars and conferences
 having publications (books, magazine, newsletters, etc.) of
their own.
Yes, only conducting researches
Participant 1 about the Bequibel Shell
Midden.
Yes, we have library
Participant 2 materials/collection and we
also conduct researches,
seminars and conferences
Yes, the Butuan City Library
Participant 3 had library
materials/collection and we
also conduct researches,
seminars and conferences.
Yes, the Museo de Balanghai
Participant 4 have collections.
Yes, the museum has library
Participant 5 materials or collections.
 i

In the national level, we have

Participant 6 it all. Here, we have
information dissemination
activities, workshops but as to
the publication, we don’t have
it because it’s for the
National level only.
The Balanghai Shrine don’t have
Participant 7 it because it’s for the
National level only.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Five (5) out of seven (7) participants stated that yes, the
local study center having of the following the library materials
/ collection conducting researches, conducting seminars and
conferences. There are these two (2) participants who answered
no, because it’s for the National level only. Medina (1977)
enumerated the general categories of materials that can be best
used for
a local history research. These are library materials, artifacts
or museum objects, and archival materials, and they usually can
be found in a local studies center. So the availability of these
materials in a local study center should be taken into
consideration. Thus also, the availability of such archival
materials has a direct effect on the development of local
studies, particularly local history.

Table 8. General Programs / Services of the Local studies centers

5. Actual users

Q5.Who are the actual users of the local study center?

Actual users are usually

Participant 1 tourists from the different
places in the Philippines, some
 i

are from Manila, from Iligan

and etc. But we also have
students conducting educational
tours and also local residents
visiting.
Students, faculty and staffs
Participant 2 are the actual users of this
local study center.
The actual users are students,
Participant 3 professionals, people from all
walks of life.
Students, visitors from
Participant 4 universities, MSU (Mindanao
State University), I think they
come here every year.
The actual users are some
Participant 5 parishioners, researchers and
students.
Visitors, researchers, local
Participant 6 residents but mostly are
students.
Has the same actual users with
Participant 7 participant six (6) visitors,
researchers, local residents
but mostly are students.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Seven (7) out of seven (7) participants stated that usually
students are their actual users. Three (3) outs of seven (7)
also said that also visitors, researchers and local residents
are coming to the local studies center. On the study conducted
by Perez (2012) with the concentration of the numbers of local
studies centers in Central Luzon, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA
regions of the Philippines, on the data collected it shows that
mostly students are the active users of the local studies
 i

centers.

Table 9. The actual users of the local studies center

6. The common purpose/mission/vision of these local studies

centers

Q6. What is/are the common purposes/the missions/ the visions of

the local study center?

The common purpose of the

Participant 1 management is just to provide
services that is available for
everyone.
To collect, preserve and
Participant 2 disseminate local knowledge
collection to its clientele.
The main “hub” center of
Participant 3 knowledge in Butuan City
It is for us to know who we
Participant 4 were, for and why we are like
this, that’s … corruption.
The common purpose is the
Participant 5 preservation of the tangible
cultural heritage of the local
church.
Mission: The primary mission of
Participant 6 the National Museum is to
acquire document, preserve,
exhibit and foster scholarly
study and appreciation of works
of art, specimens and cultural
and historical artifacts.

Vision:
A Filipino nation , unified by
 i

a deep sense of pride of their

common identity, cultural
heritage and natural patrimony
and imbibed with the spirit of
nationalism and strong
commitment to the protection
and dissemination of legacy.

Quality Policy:
The Butuan National Museum is
committed to promote and
protect the natural and
cultural heritage of the
locality.

They have the same mission and

Participant 7 vision of participant six (6)
for National Butuan Museum is
branched with Balanghai Shrine.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Seven (7) out of seven (7) participants stated that the
common purposes, missions, visions of the local study center is
to provide services, collect, disseminate, preserve, exhibit and
foster local knowledge committed to promote and protect the
natural and cultural heritage of the locality. With regards to
the development of the objectives, purposes, mission and vision
of the center, it’s a must that it should be in line with the
regional development thrust and the provincial development
agenda (Calairo, 2007). If the center is part of a university,
the center’s objective should be directly or indirectly
articulated in the vision-mission of the institution. It is also
important that when formulating the objectives, the university
 i

development plan should be consulted. Such would become a basis

for the existence of the center and its relevance in attaining
the regional and provincial programs. Usually, regional
development goals are translations of the national development
plan. Thus, the center became a partner of the national
government towards the attainment of its goals. They should be
specific. In this regard, local studies centers became an
effective instrument in attaining such objectives.

Table 10. The common purpose/mission/vision of these local

studies centers

7. The usual marketing techniques they applied for utilization

Q7.What is the usual marketing technique applied in this local

study center?

No, we don’t have a usual

Participant 1 marketing technique.
The usual marketing technique
Participant 2 would be the brochures provided
upon entry of the Noguchi,
Museum or Libraries.
Through radio or word of month.
Participant 3
They are putting up a website.
Participant 4
No, there is no marketing
Participant 5 technique. It depends on the
visitors will to have a
schedule since it’s not open to
the public.
More on information
Participant 6 dissemination campaign,
techniques.
Same with participant six (6)
 i

Participant 7 that information dissemination

campaign, techniques.
Analysis/ Interpretation
Five (5) out of seven (7) participants stated that the
usual marketing technique applied in this local study center are
the the brochures provided upon entry of Museum or Libraries,
through radio or word of the month, websites and campaign
techniques, Two (2) out of seven (7) participants stated that
they don’t have a usual marketing technique and that it depends
on the visitor. Marketing is a process that creates value, an
organizational function and set of processes for creating,
communicating, and delivering value to customers and for
managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the
organization and its stakeholders (Taylor, n.d). This implies
that marketing technique of a local study center is necessary
since it acquires visitors which could benefit the center and
also with the promotion of awareness of the local history
through the services offered by the center.

Table 11. The usual marketing techniques the local studies center
have applied for utilization

Contributions of Local Studies Centers

Purpose: This section will identify some of the recent and

ongoing programs, projects and services of the selected local
studies centers as their contributions to the history, culture
and heritage of Butuan City.

The Local
Programs, projects
Studies Category
and services
Center
Culture Heritage History
Butuan Educational / /
National Programs
Musuem (exhibition,
curators tour)
 i

Making available / / /
its services to the
public. Providing
visitors a glimpse
by offering museum
tours into the
formulation of the
geography and
people. The
artifacts collected
reflect the origins
of Butuan.

caters research / /
projects and data
gathering projects,
about history
and other aspects
of the locality
conducts seminars / / /
and
conferences
The ongoing / / /
collection of
Butuanon things for
compilation
Diocese
A collection of /
of Butuan
liturgical items
Museum
for preservation
Final revision of /
the manuscript of
the controversy of
the first mass
Butuan / / /
City Conducting E
Public commoners, work
Library force document,
digital literacy,
awareness of the
visitors for TECH 4
ED in collaboration
with the Butuan
City Heritage
Center, ICT and the
City Tourism
 i

Office, implemented
under provision of
QR Code of our
historical sites

maintains and / / /
acquires library
materials and
archives about
conducts seminar / / /
s and
conferences related
to the
promotion and
preservation of
Butuanon heritage,
history,
culture, language
and related
aspects
FSUU / /
Library Resource sharing
and networking

FSUU / /
Museum Developing FSUU
collection

Noguchi Local collection /

Bequibel A tour conducted by /

Shell the private owner
Midden of the Bequibel
Shell midden and
also with the tour
guide in the Butuan
City Tourism Office
on the artifacts
recovered from the
shell midden
include stone tools
like cobble and
flake tools, pig
and deer bones and
teeth as well as
 i

human skeleton

Museo de A museum tour / / /

Balanghai offered by the
management where
the museum
showcases private
collection of the
Malvar family, also
boasts of jaw
dropping artifacts
from as early as
the 10th century or
even earlier.

Providing an / /
educational tour
Balanghai about the display
Shrine of the Butuan boat
Musuem (balangay or
balanghai) carbon-
dated to 320 A.D.
The museum tour
provides an exhibit
on the evidence on
the Butuan boat as
a cultural heritage
that establishes
Butuan’s maritime
activities long
before the Chinese
and other Asian
countries sailed
the high seas.

Table 11. The recent and ongoing programs, projects and services
of these selected local studies centers

Impacts of local studies centers to history, culture and

heritage studies in the Philippines
Purpose: In order to identify the impact of local studies centers
to history, culture and heritage in the Philippines, their
contributions, primarily their programs, projects and services
are identified and grouped together.

Selected Contributions of Local Impact on History, Culture and

 i

Studies Heritage of Butuan City

Centers to History, Culture and
Heritage

Educational Programs Educating and engaging the

(exhibition, curators tour) community in the appreciation
of Butuanon heritage.
Increasing awareness and
appreciation to our history,
culture, arts and heritage.
Therefore. that would develop
the sense of pride of place,
towards promotion. To learn the
origin before and be empowered
of having the knowledge.

Musuem/ Noguchi providing Encouraging preservation and

collection local knowledge, conservation of local
Research (visiting research collections
outside FSUU)
Appreciation of the local
knowledge collections

Musuem/ Noguchi providing Developing a certain area for

collection local knowledge, culture and arts
Benchmarking
Strengthening programs related
to culture, arts and local
knowledge

Museum/ Noguchi Providing collection of local

knowledge
Provide library clientele
(students, faculty/staff,
university alumni visiting
researches with information and
education through print and
non-print, such as the
artifacts.

Conducting E commoners, work

force document, digital
literacy, awareness of the Promotion of history and
visitors for TECH 4 ED in culture of the locality is
collaboration with the Butuan integrated with ICT. It helps
 i

City Heritage Center, ICT and business, and also gives the
the City Tourism Office, people a chance to have online
implemented under provision of jobs.
QR Code of our historical sites

Table 13. Selected contributions and the impacts of local studies

centers to history, culture and heritage studies in the
Philippines

Chapter V
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

Summary of Findings
This paper is an exploratory study of the information
centers in Butuan City referred to as local studies centers.
Local studies centers combine a library, an archives and a museum
as one, in terms of the range of the collections, and serve one
purpose of preservation of knowledge, history, culture and
studies about a certain locality. The primary concern of this
 i

study is to identify and describe the nature, practices,

strategies and status, to explore the innovative and
transformative role of these local studies centers in the fields
of history, culture and heritage studies of Butuan City with
emphasis on the programs, projects and services, of local studies
centers in Butuan City.
The discoveries uncover the common and one of a kind
characteristics of local studies centers in the Butuan City. It
also reveals which programs, projects, services and activities of
these local studies centers have advantageous impacts within the
advancement and progression of the fields of history, culture and
history studies between the locality. This study elicits three
outstanding highlights of the local studies centers within Butuan
City:
1) they collect materials pertaining to ethnic groups, and make
the materials accessible and open to potential users, generally,
in one center,
2) their property incorporate library materials, files and museum
artifacts, and
3) they conduct investigates and distribute books, relating to
history, culture and heritage of the locality.

Based on the analysis of the data, the following specific

findings of the study were drawn:
 The findings of the study revealed the common
characteristics of the selected local studies centers in
Butuan City. The following characteristics may serve as
pointers to consider in establishment and / or management of
local studies centers in the Philippines.
a. Three (3) out of seven (7) participants stated yes, that the
local study center mandated by universities/colleges/agencies
 i

that houses it. There are four (4) out of seven (7) participant
who answered no, there are this two (2) that are privately owned
and the other two (2) local studies center are under the national
agency specifically under the National Musuem of the Philippines.

b. Four (4) out of seven (7) participants said yes, that the
budget allocated for the local study center and its programs,
services, and practices from the institution that mandates it.
Three (3) out of seven (7) participant said no, there’s no budget
allocation for the diocese and that is privately owned so the
budget is from personal money.

c. Five (5) out of seven (7) participants said yes, having

linkages with different institutions, organizations, universities
and especially the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) of the Philippines. One (1) has linkages with the
Department of Tourism for educational tours and Dr. Potenciano
Malvar, owner of the Museo de Balanghai. Two (2) are having
linkages with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) of the Philippines stating that the advantage of this is
that the NCCA provides grant/funds for trainings, seminars,
conferences and that they are partners in duty of the promotion
of culture and heritage development. The remaining two (2) local
studies center said yes but they prefer to not specify the
institution. Two (2) out of seven (7) are not having linkages
with different institutions, organizations, universities and
especially the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) of the Philippines, but they said that they have
encouraged for partnership and that they are invited.

c. Five (5) out of seven (7) participants stated that yes, the
local study center having of the following the library
 i

materials / collection conducting researches, conducting seminars

and conferences. There are these two (2) participants who
answered no, because it’s for the National level only.

d. Some their own programs / services. Usually these programs

services include having library materials / collection,
conducting researches, conducting seminars and conferences, and
having publications (books, magazine, newsletters, etc.) of their
own.

e. Seven (7) out of seven (7) participants stated that usually

students are their actual users. Three (3) outs of seven (7) also
said that also visitors, researchers and local residents are
coming to the local studies center.

f. Seven (7) out of seven (7) participants stated that the common
purposes, missions, visions of the local study center is to
provide services, collect, disseminate, preserve, exhibit and
foster local knowledge committed to promote and protect the
natural and cultural heritage of the locality.
g. Five (5) out of seven (7) participants stated that the usual
marketing technique applied in this local study center are the
the brochures provided upon entry of Museum or Libraries, through
radio or word of the month, websites and campaign techniques, Two
(2) out of seven (7) participants stated that they don’t have a
usual marketing technique and that it depends on the visitor to
have the visit scheduled.

 Contributions of Local Studies Centers

This study identified some of the recent and ongoing programs,
projects and services of the selected local studies centers as
 i

their contributions to the history, culture and heritage in the

Philippines. Total of 21 programs, projects and services were
identified, in which 11 of them where categorized under culture,
9 under heritage and 11 under history.

 Impacts of local studies centers to history, culture and

heritage studies in the Philippines
In order to identify the impact of local studies centers to
history, culture and heritage in the Philippines, their
contributions, primarily their programs, projects and services,
were identified and grouped together. After which, they were
analyzed to which extent their impact on the said fields had
reached (see Table 2). The findings revealed that these local
studies centers‟ impact fall greatly under the “promotion and
increase in awareness and appreciation of history, culture,
heritage and local studies.” This implies that local studies
centers‟ programs, projects and services are anchored towards
the promotion, awareness and appreciation of history, culture,
heritage and local studies.

Conclusion

Local studies centers are specialised information centers

compounding features of a library, an archives and a museum. In
the Philippines, the first local studies center was established
in 1975 and since then, many followed. The effrontery of this
study was based on the presumptuousness that local studies
center, through their programs, projects and services have caused
valuable transformation on the history, culture and heritage
studies in the country. In this regard, an investigation on the
nature, programs, projects and services, and impact on history,
culture and heritage studies of these local studies center in the
 i

locality of Butuan City was undertaken. Base on the findings of

the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
(1) On a study conducted by Dr. Calairo (2007) entitled
“QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A LOCAL
STUDIES CENTER: THE CASE OF THE CAVITE STUDIES CENTER OF DE LA
SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS”, the pointers on in establishing and
maintaining a local study centers lies in its characteristics and
its status. In an attempt to suggest or recommend here are some
ideas which are believed to be important specifically in
addressing concerns in the establishment and maintaining a local
studies centers:
(1) Goals/Objectives
(2) Sustained linkages with the different institutions
(3) Mandated based on the academe
(4) Administration
(5) Financial concerns
On the study we have conducted, these factors in relation to
the characteristics and status of the local studies centers were
undertaken and we have concluded that:
(1.1) In terms of the status of a local study center being
mandated by the university/institution that houses it, it is more
suitable for the center to be mandated by an academe. Suitable in
terms of having an advantage of being academically based is that
it earned an image of a very reputable agency which is the
guardian of local identity. Reputable in this context means it
follows a sense of scholarship which makes its output a result of
a systematic study using methodologies and theories coming from
various disciplines.
(1.2) In terms of budget allocation and budgetary problems,
it greatly affects the operation of the local studies center when
it doesn’t have its own operational expenses. This is very basic
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because it will allow the center to initially or continuously

operate even without an activity or a seasonal project.
(1.3) Since the objective of the center is to respond to the
research needs of the province in particular and the region in
general, it would be an advantage for the center when it
establishes linkages with the provincial government and non-
governmental organizations whose objective is in line with the
thrust of the local studies center.
(1.4) Availability of library materials, artifacts or museum
objects, and archival materials in a local study center has a
direct effect on the development of local studies, particularly
local history.
(1.5) Students are the actual users of the local study
center and with this it can be drawn that students through their
conduct of research and study, they build more active interest
with the local history.
(1.6) The local studies centers according to the data
collected have its different purposes, mission and vision but has
its common purpose which is to provide services, collect,
disseminate, preserve, exhibit and foster local knowledge
committed to promote and protect the natural and cultural
heritage of the locality . Thus, ocal studies centers with this
objectibe becomes an effective instrument in attaining their
transformative role in the fields of history, culture and
heritage.
(1.7) marketing technique of a local study center is
necessary since it acquires visitors which could benefit the
center and also with the promotion of awareness of the local
history through the services offered by the center.

(2) Manifestly based on the qualitative analysis done, the

included literatures and accounts accentuate the importance and
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value of these local studies centers not just here in the

Philippines but also with the locality that these local studies
centers offer their services to, specifically in history, culture
and heritage. There is a significant number of programs, projects
and services identified which are considered as contributions of
local studies centers to history, culture and heritage in Butuan
City.
(3) This indispensable number of contributions identified
had caused a remarkable impact of the promotion, awareness and
appreciation of history, culture, heritage and local studies in
the local level. Specific case studies validate this impact on
the said fields. The findings of this study revealed also that
local studies centers in the Philippines, since its first
establishment in 1975, truly play an innovative, transformative
and important role in the field of history, culture and heritage
in the Philippines.

Recommendations

The following are recommended based on the above findings:

1. Construct general guidelines or pointers to mediate in

establishing and maintaining local studies centers;

2. Establish and withhold new local studies centers not just in

the locality but in the whole Philippines, which geographically

strategically and deliberately well-planned;

3. Conceptualise and execute appropriate, effective and

efficient marketing and advancement of the local studies centers,

with emphasis on its programs / service

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4. Allotment and nourishment of adequate resources (finance,

manpower, facilities and support) for the local studies centers

should be given antecedence; and

5. Further research should be done on the other aspects of local

studies centers and also in an expanded geographical venue.