The City Government of Bacolod and La Consolacion College Bacolod formalized a partnership Friday, Aug. 28, for the development of an augmented reality tourism mural designed to combine art, technology and cultural storytelling in promoting the city’s heritage and tourism identity.
The memorandum of agreement was signed at the Mayor’s Office by Bacolod City Mayor Greg G. Gasataya and LCC Bacolod President Sr. Flolyn S. Catungal, OSA, together with Dr. Baniline Jone Abantao, assistant vice president for academic affairs, and Bacolod City Tourism Officer Tere Manalili.
Academic administrators from LCC Bacolod’s School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Interior Design; School of Hospitality and Tourism Management; and School of Business and Information Technology were also present during the signing.
Under the agreement, the city government and LCC Bacolod will collaborate in the conceptualization, design, development and implementation of an Augmented Reality Tourism Mural that will showcase Bacolod City’s history, culture, heritage and tourism identity.
The project is envisioned as one of the flagship activities of Bacolod Tourism Week 2026 and will integrate a physical mural with an interactive augmented reality experience accessible through supported mobile devices. Its official unveiling and public launch is targeted for Sept. 14.
The collaboration brings together several academic disciplines of LCC Bacolod. The tourism component will develop the project concept, theme and narrative and help ensure that its content accurately represents Bacolod’s cultural and tourism identity. The Fine Arts component will lead the preparation and execution of the mural design and create the digital art assets needed for augmented reality integration.
The Information Technology component, meanwhile, will develop and integrate the augmented reality application, conduct testing and quality assurance, and provide technical assistance during installation, launching and initial implementation.
The City Government of Bacolod, through the City Tourism Development Office and other concerned offices, will provide the project venue, facilitate necessary permits and clearances, maintain the website hosting and digital infrastructure, coordinate implementation and lead the promotion and official launching of the project.
The partnership also highlights the use of experiential learning and community engagement, allowing LCC Bacolod students and faculty to apply expertise in tourism, visual arts and information technology to a public cultural project.
The agreement identifies the city government as the project proponent and implementing government partner, while LCC Bacolod will be recognized as the principal academic collaborator in the conceptualization, design, development and implementation of the project.
Once completed, the physical mural will form part of Bacolod City’s public tourism assets, while the augmented reality component is intended to enhance public engagement and appreciation of the city’s culture and heritage. The parties also envision the project as a continuing tourism attraction and educational resource beyond the Tourism Week celebration.