In a landmark step toward cultural preservation through innovation, three deputy mayors representing Davao City’s ethnolinguistic groups joined a 14-day seminar in Beijing, China, aimed at exploring how digitalization can empower cultural industries and heritage.
Held from May 28 to June 10 at the Central Academy of Cultural and Tourism Administration, the “Seminar on Digital Cultural Industry Development for ASEAN Countries” brought together delegates from Southeast Asia, including Deputy Mayor Sheirelle Uy-Anino of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe, Deputy Mayor Erwin Adolfo of the Bagobo-Klata tribe, Deputy Mayor Rahima Usman-Polao of the Bangsa Maranao, and Davao City Economic Enterprise Manager Maximo Macalipes Jr.
The initiative, supported by the City Government of Davao, reflects a growing recognition of the need to adapt cultural preservation to the digital age. With the proliferation of globalized media and the rapid evolution of technology, the challenge of transmitting traditional knowledge to younger generations has become more urgent.
During the seminar, the delegates were introduced to China’s strategies in integrating technology with cultural preservation. Topics such as technology-driven innovation, digital thinking in cultural industries, and safeguarding intangible heritage through digital platforms were extensively covered.
Macalipes and Uy-Anino noted that site visits were among the most eye-opening parts of the experience. Delegates toured leading institutions such as Tencent Technology Group, the Beijing Automobile Museum, and the 798 Art District — a thriving hub where modern art and digital creativity intersect. These firsthand experiences demonstrated how innovation could coexist with, and even elevate, traditional cultural expressions.
Deputy Mayor Adolfo highlighted the paradigm shift required within communities when introducing digital preservation. “Many elders still believe that traditions should remain within the community and are only showcased during festivals or special events,” he shared. “But we need to embrace modernization, integrate it into our practices, and use it to uplift our culture so the younger generation can appreciate and continue it.”
Adolfo underscored that digitalization could serve as a bridge between the wisdom of the elders and the curiosity of the youth, especially in a world increasingly influenced by hybrid cultures. “Dapat i-embrace, i-integrate sa culture and tradition ang modernization para mas ma-uplift nato ug makuha nato ang interest sa younger generation (We have to embrace and integrate modernization in our efforts to preserve culture and tradition to further uplift it as well as capture the interest of the younger generation),” he added.
For Usman-Polao, the digital shift is timely and necessary. She emphasized that digitizing cultural heritage aligns not only with Davao City’s broader push to modernize public services but also enhances efforts to preserve Indigenous knowledge systems. She believes that making culture accessible through digital means — whether through multimedia, virtual exhibits, or online archives — is a vital tool to ensure that the voices of Indigenous Peoples remain heard in the digital age.
The City Government of Davao, in collaboration with its 11 ethnolinguistic groups, remains committed to community-centered cultural programs. The participation of the deputy mayors in the seminar is seen as a significant step forward in shaping strategies that blend innovation with heritage preservation.
As the world grows more interconnected, Davao’s leadership understands that protecting Indigenous identity doesn’t mean resisting change — it means evolving with it, so that stories, songs, rituals, and values live on not only in memory but in every corner of the digital world.