STORIES CAPTURED BY WORD OF MOUTH CULTURAL HERITAGE BUILDING THROUGH ORAL HISTORY

Christine M. Abrigo  Karen Cecille V. Natividad De La Salle University Libraries Oral History, still relevant? (Santiago, 2017)

• Addresses limitations of documents • Gathers insights and sentiments • More personal approach to recording history Oral History in the (Foronda, 1978)

There is a scarcity of studies and literatures on the status and beginning of oral history in the country. DLSU Libraries as repository of institutional and national memory

Collects archival materials and special collections as they are vital sources of information and carry pertinent evidences of culture and history.

Oral history is one of these archival materials. Purpose of this paper

This paper intends to document the oral history archival collection of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Libraries; its initiatives to capture, preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage and collective memory to its users through this collection, and the planned initiatives to further build the collection as a significant contribution to Philippine society. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION (OHC) OF THE DLSU LIBRARIES Provenance

The core OHC came from the family of Dr. Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr., a notable Filipino historian and from the Center for Oral and Local History of the university, which was later named in his honor, hence, the Marcelino A. Foronda Jr. Center for Local and Oral History (MAFCLOH). Collection Profile

FORMAT Print transcript Audio cassette tape Collection Source (in volumes) (in pieces ) Foronda Family 1,011 1,011 Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr. Center for Local and Oral 1,009 749 History (DLSU) RANK THEME AS SUBJECT 1 Authors (Philippines) 2 Chinese (Philippines) 3 De La Salle University Faculty 4 Philippine History Revolution, 1986 (EDSA People Power) 5 Politicians (Philippines) 6 Painters (Philippines) 7 Healers (Philippines) 8 Composers (Philippines) 9 Journalists (Philippines) 353 themes/topics 10 Poets (Philippines) (to date) 11 Political Activists (Philippines) 12 Spiritual Healing (Philippines) 13 Actors (Philippines) 14 (Philippines) 15 Motion Picture Industry (Philippines) 16 Motion Picture Producers and Directors (Philippines) 17 Priests (Philippines) 18 Sculptors (Philippines) RANK PERSONALITIES AS SUBJECT THEME 1 , Jose 1861-1896 Philippine revolution 2 Aquino, Benigno S., 1932-1983 Political Activists 3 Bautista, Cirilo F. Poets 4 Ramos, Narciso Diplomats 5 Agcaoili, Fidel Political Activists Political Prisoners 6 Bautista, Nicolas, Fr. Priests 7 Cordero, Auggie Fashion designers 8 De Leon, Felipe Composers 9 Diesto, Severino De La Salle University Faculty 10 Elorde, Gabriel Boxers (Sports) 11 Foronda, Marcelino A. De La Salle University Faculty 12 Gamboa, Joonee Actors 13 Kasilag, Lucrecia Composers; Pianists 14 Lagdameo, Ernesto R. Diplomats 15 Lava, Jesus Communism 16 Lopez, Salvador P. University of the Philippines President 17 Lumba, Enrique Fernandez Philippine literature 18 Luz, Arturo Sculptors 19 Marcos, Ferdinand E., 1917-1989 Politics and government Notable subjects

• - former Senate President, Martial Law veteran and known as “The Nation’s Fiscalizer” • Jose W. Diokno- one of the most notable human rights advocate in the country, especially during Martial Law in the Philippines. “Ka Pepe", as he was fondly called was one of the most admirable senators of the Philippines. • Magdalena Jalandoni- first woman writer in Western Visayas • - conferred the National Artist for Literature (1976); Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalisms, Literature and Creative Communication Arts (1996). His works present diverse heritage of the Filipino people • F. Sionil Jose- Philippine National Artist for Literature (2001), • Jose Joya- Philippine National Artist for Visual arts (conferred in 2003) • - Vice-President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 • - Philippine Master Rapper Format and current condition ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED 1. Processing and Retrieval

Print transcripts had been cataloged and included in the main database.

• Processing of the OHC had been put aside for years as other archival projects were prioritized • 17% of the collection had been processed 2. Preservation

• Sound recordings are also not stored and shelved in controlled temperature and humidity conditions as there is no provision for such facility • The collection thrives under the building’s existing temperature (21°C-25°C) and lighting conditions 3. Access and Dissemination

• OHC access is restricted until permission is obtained from interviewees who are still alive, and in the case of deceased informants, from heirs • As the collection sits on the library shelves, the legacy of the voices and words lays dormant, unless researchers physically go to the library to listen to the recordings and read the transcripts themselves PLANNED INITIATIVES Initial OHC building strategies DLSU Libraries’ Institutional Repository (IR) Project

• IR project launched in 2014 (in progress) • digitized theses and dissertations were uploaded, to be followed by faculty publications, photos, and other archival materials – OHC Collaborative OH project

• Conducting oral history sessions or structured interviews with identified individuals or groups, then later capturing their stories in an audiovisual databank • Collaboration with the university’s historians, particularly, of the Center for Oral and Local History, who is working towards building/reviving oral history projects Vision

OHC as national cultural treasure CONCLUSION References

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Christine M. Abrigo [email protected] Karen Cecille V. Natividad [email protected]