Vol. 7 No. SI2 (2025): Reclaiming Roots, Reimagining Futures: Integrating Cultural Heritage and Practical Knowledge in Education and Community Development

This special issue explores the dynamic interplay between tradition and transformation in Philippine society by highlighting research that integrates cultural heritage, historical consciousness, and local knowledge with contemporary practices in education, food safety, language development, and technical-vocational training. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the imperative to preserve cultural identity while fostering innovation has never been more urgent. The papers in this issue underscore the need for an educational framework that is not only globally competitive but also deeply rooted in local contexts.

The featured studies span a wide range of disciplines yet converge on a common purpose: empowering communities through culturally responsive pedagogy, sustainable food practices, the revitalization of native languages, and the contextualization of technical and livelihood education. By foregrounding Filipino values, historical narratives, indigenous knowledge systems, and grassroots innovations, the contributors advocate for an inclusive and transformative approach to education and development.

This issue is particularly relevant in the context of current efforts to decolonize curricula and to promote heritage-based learning that bridges generational knowledge with 21st-century skills. It reflects a collective scholarly endeavor to integrate theory and praxis, bridging the academy and the community, and affirming the role of education as a vehicle for cultural sustainability, economic resilience, and national progress.

Dr. Alma B. Manera
Editor-in-Chief

Published: 2025-07-01

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