Heritage Conservation Advocates
 
 
 
Heritage Conservation Advocates
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Photo of Huluga settlement site

Photo is artist's concept of Huluga before project. Put mouse over to see present condition.


Huluga is an archaeological site in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Spanish missionaries described the area as a well-protected fortress on a promontory and led by Datu Salangsang. The place was discovered and studied in the 70s by scholars of Xavier University and the National Museum -- among them the archaeologist Dr. Erlinda M. Burton, who used to work with Dr. Louis S.B. Leakey.

In 1992, the National Museum gave Huluga accession numbers, giving it formal recognition as an archaeological site. But in 2003, Huluga was damaged by former mayor Vicente Y. Emano to give way to a bridge project, despite protest by the Heritage Conservation Advocates and other groups. The construction has no Archaeological Impact Assessment.

In response to widespread criticism, Emano hired a team from the Archaeological Studies Program (ASP) of the University of the Philippines to "conduct systematic research" on the site. Violating archaeological code of ethics, ASP issued a conclusion, after a superficial survey, that the site is only "a camp-like area".

Today, Huluga is exposed to quarrying under the administration of mayor Constantino Jaraula. Despite publicly acknowleding Huluga as an important cultural and historical site, Jaraula broke his promise to fence the area in 2007, and went instead halfway around the globe to Virginia, USA to forge a sister-city agreement, citing historical tie with Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

New Archaeological Site Discovered in Cagayan de Oro

By Antonio J. Montalvan II, PhDBones

September 29, 2009 -- A prehistoric graveyard intact with human skeletal remains and associated funerary materials has been unearthed in Cagayan de Oro. The site is part of the Huluga Archaeological Complex in sitio Taguanao, barangay Indahag about eight kilometers south of the city center.

Archaeologist Angel Bautista of the Cultural Properties Division of the National Museum visited the site last September 21 and counted about fifty-two individuals, all of varying ages of both genders, as having been buried in the site. [More]


The Heritage Conservation Advocates (HCA) campaigns for the preservation and promotion of historical and archaeological sites in Cagayan de Oro and vicinities. In 2003, it filed and won an administrative case against former mayor Vicente Y. Emano for the destruction of Huluga.
Child in Huluga
ABOUT THE LARGE PHOTO ABOVE: An image of a Hanunuo Mangyan is superimposed on Huluga, suggesting affinity with all tribes. | Website design and content are copyright properties of Elson T. Elizaga of Nazca Graphic Design & Photography, unless otherwise indicated. Articles are owned by respective authors. Please ask permission for use of any content in this website by sending email. | Published July 30, 2001.| News about government or private heritage projects are welcome. | Arrow refers to external websites.
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