The Library of Islamic Heritage, Arts, and Language (LIHAL) has officially commenced its first phase with a series of community needs assessment activities conducted in selected areas of Sulu from July 22 to 25, 2025.
Led by the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), the initiative aimed to collect baseline data and establish local partnerships to ensure the project is grounded in the actual needs, aspirations, and capacities of the communities it seeks to serve. The LIHAL project is anchored on the commitment to preserve and promote Sulu’s rich cultural heritage, including the historical narratives of Lupah Sug.
The fieldwork revealed key insights into existing educational gaps and the urgent need for cultural preservation in both public and private institutions across the province.
Preliminary findings show that many students in remote area, such as Sitio Sionogan in Indanan, have never set foot in a library or museum, despite already being in junior high school. Some public schools, including the nearest one to the sitio, do not have a library. In contrast, private institutions like Notre Dame of Jolo College have better resources, including a Heritage Hub, which serves as a mini-museum showcasing historical exhibits and rare book collections. However, access to such facilities remains limited, especially for students from underserved communities, as shared by the teachers. They have also expressed the need for capacity-building programs for history teachers and heritage workers, particularly in curation, documentation, and the dissemination of local cultural knowledge.
Meanwhile, institutions like the Lupah Sug Provincial Library and the National Museum branch in Sulu, both located in the heart of the province, have played a significant role in promoting cultural education. Through school immersion programs and educational tours, they have broadened students’ exposure to local heritage. However, these institutions, much like most school-based libraries in the region, suffer from a lack of relevant reading materials, particularly those that feature Sulu’s history and arts authored by local writers. This highlights the urgent need to support local authorship and provide training opportunities and publishing platforms for emerging writers in Sulu.
The assessment engaged key stakeholders, including teachers, librarians, students, library clients, and community leaders. Participating institutions included Sulu National High School, Notre Dame of Jolo College, the Lupah Sug Provincial Library, and the community of Sitio Sionogan.
Following the fieldwork, the UP IIS team is set to release a comprehensive report featuring policy recommendations and educational program proposals based on the collected data. The report will also identify potential partners and collaborators to help develop and sustain a community-based library model tailored to the unique context and cultural landscape of Sulu.
Beyond data collection, the project also gathered meaningful stories from the people of Sulu, reflecting their cultural pride and hopes for the future. These narratives will help inform efforts to support local education and heritage preservation.
LIHAL is an extension project of UP IIS funded by the UP Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development.
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Article by Camz Bello | Photos by Nash Rasul and Kristine Sulla