SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA: The University of Antique (UA), the sole state university in the province, has unveiled plans to establish a Kinaray-a Center. This initiative aims to encourage and grant students access to books and manuscripts that delve into the rich history and culture of their home province. According to Philippines News Agency, UA President Pablo Crespo Jr. announced on Thursday that preparations are underway for the center, with a focus on securing funding support and developing an organizational structure, all with an eye towards a 2025 launch. Crespo highlighted that the Kinaray-a Center will house a collection of books on Kinaray-a studies and the history of Antique. Kinaray-a is a prominent Visayan language and the major dialect spoken in the Antique region. Crespo emphasized that the center will provide invaluable resources for students, faculty, researchers, and historians, facilitating the preservation and promotion of Antique's historical and cultural heritage. He noted that the idea f or the center was initially proposed by Senator Loren Legarda, recognizing UA's unique role as the province's only state university. The university is further motivated by the encouragement from National Artist Virgilio Almario, who has urged UA's academic community to engage in more research on Philippine history, including Antique's. Almario, who recently launched his book "Lemlunay" at UA, stressed the importance of historical research and its role in fostering national pride and understanding. The book launch was held at UA, with Almario's work being supported and inspired by Legarda and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. "Lemlunay," meaning paradise in T'boli, represents a collection of poems and articles written by Almario in Filipino with English translation. The event underscored the ongoing need for research and publication of significant historical narratives within the Philippines.