From November 21 to 24, 2023, seven librarians representing various campuses of NEMSU (NEMSU-Cagwait, NEMSU Lianga, NEMSU Cantilan, NEMSU-San Miguel, and NEMSU Tandag) embarked on a journey to the Culinary Heart of the Philippines—the Province of Pampanga. Their destination: the 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗜 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, themed "𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗸𝗮𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻: 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘. 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗢𝗡. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗬." The congress unfolded at the SMX Convention Center Clark Field, Pampanga, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝟵 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝟮𝟮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟭 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Among the distinguished Keynote Speakers was 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗼, a Professor of History and the Humanities at Ateneo de Manila University. Ocampo, a renowned Public Historian, Independent Curator, scholar, and prolific writer, addressed the congress on the topic "𝑳𝒊𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈 𝒔𝒂 𝑫𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒎: 𝑳𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏." 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑬, Prof. Ocampo emphasized that being a public historian requires a collective effort, stating that libraries are torn between sharing and selfishness. On the theme of 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗢𝗡, 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗬𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮, Chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians, concluded in her keynote address that "HORIZON represents limitless possibilities, unexplored territories—the uncharted or unknown services still to be discovered in providing assistance to users and the transformative power of our profession." Granda encouraged embracing historical, technological, cultural, and educational horizons, paving the way for a challenging, more inclusive, and more enlightened future for LIS in the Philippines.

A significant highlight of the event was the signing of an agreement between the 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. (𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗜) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 (𝗣𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟). This agreement marks a crucial step toward fostering a collaborative partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to the promotion and cultivation of media and information literacy in today's dynamic and information-rich environment.

To foster 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗬 and a sense of unity and shared enthusiasm, the 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 were also part of the program. During this event, librarians and information professionals showcased their vibrant Filipiniana attire, adding a cultural touch to the congress's atmosphere.