-- SELECT SPEAKER HERE -- Regie Marie Plana-Alcuaz Azevedo, Inês Marcial R. Batiancila Jody Beenk Lionel E. Buenaflor, PhD Gianina Angela Celine O. Cabanilla P.Chellappandi, PhD | J.P.S.Kumaravel, PhD Lucya Dhamayanti Nolie G. Enem, PhD Julia Gelfand | Anthony Lin Hiroko Honda Margareta Aulia Rachman S. Hum Christine Ianna Mary Ann M. Ingua Lauren P. Kipaan Eimee Rhea C. Lagrama Li Jia, PhD Brendan Luyt, PhD Allan August P. Malig, CISSP Sherwood McCaskie Corazon M. Nera Selina Owen Yona Primadesi Marian S. Ramos-Eclevia Diljit Singh , PhD Y. Sumaryanto Wawta Techataweewan, PhD

Lionel Buenaflor, PhD

University of Batangas

A Multidisciplinary Research Program for Sustainable Development of Mataasnakahoy, Batangas: Batangas Heritage Center’s Initiative towards Tourism Enhancement and Cultural Preservation

LIONEL ENRIQUEZ BUENAFLOR, PHD is the Head of the Batangas Heritage Center and an Associate Professor at the University of Batangas. He has a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the de La Salle University. He has written several books on Philosophy and published many articles and research papers. A prolific writer, he has several materials and research that are awaiting publication. He is a member of a number of associations but he is an officer in three of them. He is the PRO of the Kapisanan ng mga Bahay Saliksikan sa Bansa (KABANSA), Association of Local Studies Centers in the Philippines, Chairman, Committee on Cultural Heritage, Network of Calabarzon Educational Institution (NOCEI), and SECRETARY, Board of Governors, Philippine National Philosophical Research Society (PNPRS)

Abstract

This paper deals with a study on how a local studies center like the Batangas Heritage Center of the University of Batangas, can contribute to the development of cultural preservation and tourism at the local and national levels. The activities planned and organized by the Batangas Heritage Center include socio-economic researches, ecology and natural resources management, socio-cultural activities for cultural preservations, environmental sustainability, and tourism development and sustainability of the Municipality of Mataasnakahoy in the Province of Batangas.