The future of Cebu’s heritage rests not only in preserving its historic places and traditions, but in empowering the next generation to protect and champion them.

Reaffirming its commitment to youth leadership and cultural preservation, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) supported the Cebu City Youth Forum on Heritage held from July 8–10, 2026. Organized by the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO) in partnership with the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc., the forum carried the theme: “Empowering Cebuano Youth in Cultural Preservation, Cultural Mapping, and Sustainable Tourism.”

The three-day learning engagement gathered youth representatives from 80 barangays across Cebu City, providing a platform for young leaders to deepen their understanding of Cebu’s cultural heritage and their role in preserving it for future generations.

As one of the country’s richest centers of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, Cebu continues to strengthen efforts to protect its cultural assets while encouraging greater community participation. The forum addressed key priorities, including strengthening youth engagement in cultural governance, advancing cultural mapping initiatives, promoting sustainable heritage tourism, and integrating heritage conservation into local development planning.

The initiative also supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 11961, or the Philippine Cultural Mapping Law, which institutionalizes cultural mapping across local government units, as well as the Local Government Code of 1991, which recognizes the role of local governments in protecting and promoting culture and heritage.

For RAFI, supporting initiatives like the Youth Forum on Heritage reflects its long-standing commitment to developing young leaders while preserving the stories, traditions, and places that shape Cebu’s identity.

Through programs that promote leadership, education, and culture, RAFI continues to create opportunities for young people to become active contributors to community development. By supporting initiatives that connect youth with heritage, the Foundation helps cultivate leaders who value the past, engage with the present, and contribute to building stronger and more resilient communities.

The Youth Forum on Heritage reflects a shared vision among government, civil society, and community partners that safeguarding culture is a collective responsibility. By equipping young Cebuanos with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to participate, the initiative helps ensure that Cebu’s heritage remains a living legacy—preserved not only through policies and institutions, but through the people who will carry it forward.