Cultural heritage represents a collection of important cultural assets of a community. This may be classified as either tangible or intangible. Tangible cultural assets constitute movable and immovable heritage objects. On the other hand, intangible cultural assets include non-physical intellectual wealth such as songs, dances, folklore stories, language, traditions, rituals and social interactions. These assets, both tangible and intangible, offer the presence of the past, that are now part of the present, and suggest the future’s continuity (Taylor, K., 2013).

The province of Ilocos Norte is home to 21 municipalities and two cities. Featuring its vast landscape, pristine beaches, extreme adventure, and rich culture, one can simply say that the number of opportunities that can be done and experienced is just limitless. The unique culture that this province boasts stems from a network of beliefs, customs, and traditions cultivated by their ancestors. The practices that were passed down from one generation to another, originating from diverse populations (Galeon, K. 2019), remain valuable as they serve as a guide to the Ilocanos.

One of the youngest towns of this province is the municipality of Marcos. The town is situated in the southeastern part of Ilocos Norte. Being a 4th class municipality serving a small population, Marcos has been awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance in 2023. This eligibility simply shows that the municipality upholds integrity and good performance and reveals the progressive efforts of the municipality to improve the services for its constituents. This also discloses the outlying chances for this small town to flourish even more with the resources that it contains. With its distinct culture at the forefront, several developments can be done. And to further recognize and appreciate the municipality, mapping of assets would be vital.

Cultural mapping is an ‘action journey’ undertaken specifically to identify, investigate or reclaim your strengths, whether corporate or personal (Estacio, D., Gopez, M. T. & Parungao, M., 2021). According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through cultural mapping, communities can identify the distinct cultural resources of their community and at the same time can properly record a heritage resource for future reference. Specifically, mapping non-physical cultural resources, known as intangible assets, will provide a better understanding about the municipality, aside from its infrastructures that portray cultural significance and economic relevance. It is through cultural mapping that communities are provided with a platform for their voices to be heard, and proclaim and elucidate what they deem to be significant (Romualdo, 2024). Being knowledgeable about a community’s traditions, practices, languages, rituals, and arts and crafts give locals a sense of identity, pride and belonging.

However, based on the records of the LGU in 2023 on the inventory of cultural properties, there are only four identified assets, namely, the Don Mariano Marcos Monument, which is the only tangible-immovable property, and the Mannalon Festival, Lantern Parade Day, and Founding Anniversary Celebration. With these records at hand, it shows that there are only three intangible cultural assets known in the municipality and it only covers the festivals celebrated annually. No other documentation and recording of the municipality’s rich intangible cultural heritage, such as practices, earthly beliefs, meaning of dances are available. Hence, cultural mapping of the intangible cultural assets is proposed as a strategy to create a profile for the municipality of Marcos, Ilocos Norte.