Mula Doon at Pabalik Muli: The Evolution of Pamana – Voices of Philippine Heritage

Arturo Joseph T. Tablan III1*, Gabrielle Anne B. Gascon2, and Rob Rownd3

Pamana: Voices of Philippine Heritage is a participatory heritage initiative developed through collaboration between archaeologists and Filipino communities. The project first emerged in Barcelona, Spain, in March 2022, where archaeologists and Filipino migrants worked together to create an exhibition responding to the limited visibility of Philippine history and archaeology within European museum narratives. Through guided museum tours, workshops, and a collaborative exhibition titled Movements and Trajectories of Philippine Identity, Pamana sought to reconnect diasporic Filipinos with archaeological perspectives on their heritage and to foreground community voices within heritage discourse. In 2024, the project was reintroduced in the Philippines, including public programming and exhibitions such as Trajectories & Movements of the Filipino People at Alliance Française de Manille. In this new context, Pamana was adapted to engage audiences within the archipelago itself. The Philippine iteration incorporated new elements: first, a traditional documentary film which included interviews with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipino citizens born to migrant parents in Asia, Europe, and North America; this was followed by community storytelling, and improvisational performances that continue to be staged in and around Manila. This presentation traces the evolution of Pamana from its origins in Barcelona to its Philippine adaptation, examining how participatory heritage initiatives transform as they move between diaspora and homeland contexts. It concludes by outlining future directions for Pamana as both a ‘live’ theatrical programme bringing student and general public audiences to the work, and an online platform linking archaeology, migration narratives, and community engagement through government and non‑government organisation (NGO) partners.