De La Salle University-Dasmariñas has become the recipient of the Cesar E.A. Virata collection, an assortment of books and references on local and national history and culture and on the modernization of Cavite.
In a brief ceremony follo-wing the tribute to Amadeo histo-rian Honesto Bayot held at the Zaguan, Museo De La Salle on July 8, Hon. Cesar Virata, Cavite Historical Society president and former prime minister of the Philippine Republic, turned over his collection to DLSU-D. The collection was donated to the school to assist researchers and promote studies on the history and culture of Cavite.
Dr. Estrellita Gruenberg, executive vice president, accepted the donation on behalf of the university. Likewise, Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, Cavite Studies Center director, assured the former prime minister that the institution will look after the latter’s donations.
Hon. Virata, Dr. Gruenberg, Dr. Calairo and Mr. Antolin Gemanil, CHS assistant secretary, signed the deed of donation in the presence of local history supporters from Tanza, Amadeo, Cavite City and members of CHS.
The Virata collection is now housed at the CSC together with the other collections of the center. CSC has a small library with rare books and archival documents. The collections are expected to aid the faculty and students in the conduct of their research and studies.
On the same date and place, CHS convened a meeting where the members voiced their concerns on the present state of some historial sites in Cavite. They discussed historical information which may serve as springboard for publications and activities to be undertaken.

To further enhance public knowledge on the value and role of studies centers in the Philippines, Cavite Studies Center Director Dr. Emmanuel Calairo delivered a lecture that tackled the ABC’s of local studies centers. He further explained the centers’ role in promoting nationalism vis-á-vis the cultural diversity in the country. Citing his experience in the development of the CSC, Dr. Calairo informed the audience on the factors which affect the success of the center such as its vision-mission, personnel, budget allocation, research, publications, programs, events, and linkages.
The CSC Director’s lecture was part of a series of sessions during the 2nd Tayabas Province Studies Conference held on August 19-21 at the Nawawalang Paraiso Resort, Tayabas, Quezon. Conference sponsors were the Metropolitan Museum, the Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Institute (NHI), the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Tayabas Studies and Creative Writing Center. Some of the speakers were Prof. Arnold Azurin (Center for Integrative and Development Studies, UP), Dr. Ricardo Nolasco (Komisyon ng Wika, UP), Prof. Vim Nadera (Creative Writing Center, UP), Dr. Regino Paular (NHl), Dr. Conrado Dayrit (National Academy of Science and Technology), Dr. Jaime Veneracion (Department of History, UP), Dr. Hilarion Salvana (Enverga University), Mr. Ino Manalo (Metropolitan Museum), Mr. Roy Alvarez (Mother Earth Foundation), and Dr. Felipe de Leon, Jr. (NCCA).
During the open forum, Mrs. Rizalina Fedelino and Mrs. Evelyn Rocha, both delegates from Marinduque, expressed their intention of setting up a Marinduque Studies Center in Marinduque State College through the help of the CSC. Likewise, Prof. San Fermin of PAREF Woodrose School, Inc. at Ayala Alabang Village, asked the CSC director to assist them in establishing the South-East NCR Studies Center which will encompass studies in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pateros, and Taguig, among others. Related to this event, the Nueva Vizcaya State University delegates requested the CSC to aid them in setting up the Nueva Vizcaya Studies Center in their campus at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Also, faculty from the University of Batangas have already been conferring with the CSC in establishing the Batangas Heritage Center in their campus at Batangas City.