ILOILO City — The National Museum of the Philippines-Iloilo is intensifying efforts to deepen public appreciation of Western Visayas’ cultural and natural heritage through a region-wide educational quiz and lecture event this National Heritage Month.
Dubbed “Panimád-on: Quiz on Art, Nature, and Culture of Western Visayas,” the May 28, 2026 activity will bring together students, educators, heritage advocates, and the general public at the NMP-Iloilo Seminar Room along Bonifacio Drive here for a full-day celebration of the region’s rich history, biodiversity, and cultural identity.
The event, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., aims to strengthen awareness on the importance of preserving both tangible and intangible heritage through lectures and quiz competitions focused on the arts, culture, and natural history of Western Visayas.
“Panimád-on is a Hiligaynon word for ‘experience, observation, knowledge, intelligence, common sense, practical knowledge, or wisdom.’ The word also denotes observation or awareness,” NMP-Iloilo stated on Facebook.
The museum said the activity is designed to educate participants on the value of heritage preservation while promoting deeper understanding of the region’s identity through academic discussions and interactive competition.
Among the featured speakers are Prof. Randy Madrid of the University of the Philippines Visayas, who will discuss cultural studies and local art forms; Prof. Joyce Christine Colon of West Visayas State University, who will tackle the region’s ecological diversity; and Ms. Rona Joy Loma of the Zoological Society of London Philippines, who will speak on biodiversity conservation and its connection to cultural identity.
The competition will have School and Open categories.
Invited schools may send representatives to the School category, while the Open category is open to individuals and groups from the public. Teams must consist of at least two members.
Interested participants are encouraged to register through the National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo Facebook page on or before May 20, 2026, as slots are limited.
The event forms part of the nationwide observance of National Heritage Month under Presidential Proclamation No. 439 issued in 2003 to strengthen public awareness, respect, and pride in the country’s cultural legacy.
This year’s celebration carries the theme “Roots and Horizons: Our Shared Heritage, Our Collective Future,” emphasizing the role of history and tradition in guiding future generations and encouraging communities to help preserve historical sites, artifacts, traditions, practices, and indigenous skills./PN
