I believe that cultural heritage is important in identity formation and development as our cultural traditions, practices and customs shape the people we would be and how we act. The values contained within these traditions would influence the way we behave and deal with other people as well. 

Given this, I believe that the photo I’ve included which shows the ancestral veneration site at my school, an example of tangible cultural heritage as it can be perceived through my sense of sight, is not extraneous to my previous points. The act or tradition of ancestral veneration is an integral part of Chinese culture. Pictures of the deceased are put on display, usually beside incense or food. Through this, it allows me, as a Filipino-Chinese to honor my ancestors. It instills within me the virtues of reverence and respect, which would hopefully carry over to other aspects of my life.

Globalization and modernization have definitely impacted cultural heritage, over recent years. These things have made it easier to spread one's traditions and culture all around the world. The advent of new technology and social media has allowed for the easier spreading and circulation of ideas. This is why things like Kpop have drastically increased in popularity over recent years.

For example, globalization, the interdependence of the world’s economies and cultures, which has allowed for advancements in technology has made it easier to consume media and listen to songs. This applies to OPM music as well, which includes Freddie Aguilar's "Anak", a song that contains Filipino values of familial love and sacrifice for those we love. The song incorporates traditional Filipino elements as well through the use of Tagalog, whilst using digital music streaming services like Spotify to allow for easier access. It is through said services that other OPM music, which can be classified as intangible cultural heritage due to it being perceived by one's sense of hearing, is made widely available to people, allowing for the spread of Filipino culture. 

Efforts in preserving and maintaining cultural heritage could be seen in paintings, other works of art, and media like songs, movies, among others that display one's culture. 

In this case, the painting by Lawton Ladao, an example of tangible cultural heritage as it can be perceived through sight or touch, showcases certain aspects of Filipino culture, as it features a sorbetero or ice cream vendor serving sorbetes, which is the Philippines’ traditional ice cream. The vendor as well as one of the buyers is wearing a sombrero, a native hat of the Philippines which is typically made of straw. They are also wearing some sort of garment on the neck, which could be a bandana, something that has been widely incorporated in Filipino culture as a fashion trend. The one on the right seems to be wearing the traditional Filipino blouse, a baro’t camisa. This first emerged during Spanish occupation of the Philippines. In the end, it is through these works that Filipino culture is preserved until the present day. Once people look at these works of art that showcase Filipino culture, they will be able to get a glimpse or idea of our distinct cultural heritage. 

I can contribute to promoting and preserving cultural heritage by speaking my native language, listening to OPM music, eating Filipino food and by continuing to practice cultural traditions and customs. Through this, I would be able to express my own culture and help in its preservation. 

The picture features food like lumpiang shanghai, pancit, ube ice cream and shrimp. This is an example of tangible cultural heritage as it can be perceived through my sense of taste, sight and touch. Lumpiang shanghai features a filling of ground pork, mixed with vegetables which is then wrapped in a thin crepe and fried. It was introduced to the Philippines by Chinese settlers, which is why it has a resemblance to Chinese egg rolls. Pancit is a Filipino noodle dish that was again introduced by early Chinese settlers. It represents good health and a long life, which is why it’s served during birthdays. It has a savory and rich flavor. Ube ice cream is a Filipino ice cream flavor which is prepared using purple yam. It is typically used to make the halo-halo dessert and tastes quite sweet. It was introduced to the Philippines by Japanese Migrants in Quiapo, Manila. Hipon or shrimp is widely consumed in the Philippines, making it a staple in Filipino cuisine. This can be attributed to the geography of the Philippines and it being an archipelago, therefore having a vast coastline, which is rich in marine life like shrimp. This is also the reason why Filipino cuisine features a lot of seafood. All of this shows how Chinese culture as well as other cultures have been  incorporated into Filipino culture, over the years as a result of globalization and other factors. 

Music, V. (n.d.). Vinyl of Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak.” Facebook. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/VicorMusic/videos/vinyl-of-the-day-anak-by-freddie-aguilar/1101170147070390/.

Ocampo, A. (2012, August 31). Japanese origins of the Philippine “halo-halo.” INQUIRER.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/35790/japanese-origins-of-the-philippine-halo-halo

Pancit history: Origins of the famous Filipino noodles. FOODICLES. (2021, March 26). https://foodicles.com/pancit-history/

Pawlowski, J. (n.d.). Authentic Filipino Food. Adobe Stock. Retrieved from https://stock.adobe.com/ph/search?k=filipino+food&asset_id=309460231 .