Cultural Heritage Caravan Seminar with Onsite Immersion
NCCA-PIA Culture & Arts Promotion in Luzon
April 25-30, 2017
An experiential learning visit on the culture, arts and heritage sites in the participating Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5 and CAR as a joint project of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Information Agency.
What did I learn from the tour? It is the importance of knowing how to look back to our heritage for we are not who we are right now, if not for what our heritage had left for us.
We had visited structures that speaks the history of the past and linked it to present time, from churches, towers, lighthouse, house, village, train station, museums, bridge, windmills, cultural presentations and a lot more.
One thing I considered as the most touching statement, is when the Vice Mayor of Lal-lo, mentioned how their town was once a city but the cityhood was transferred to Vigan, thus it shows how a person gives glory to his heritage by the efforts of their townspeople to get back the glory of their former city and make everything be back with their unified efforts to make Lal-lo a community who preserved their heritage but also embrace development.
Another thing that I learned is that food is an essential part of touring the country since if you have great food, it will make you remember more about the place survived through the years with the food industry as part of their heritage.
Among the foods that I considered special are the pancit batil patong of Cagayan, that shows the trade industry of frequent Chinese visitors in the place and left the people with their noodles as a meal and now a booming business thru the years., then another one is the famous empanada of Ilocos served in Bangui that fills-up our tummy as we enjoyed the scenery. I also observed that longanisa is indeed a popular breakfast meal since almost all the provinces we had visited had served it to us and they have different tastes that are unique in every province making them to have their own identity.
This experience of touring is not just about visiting places but rather looking back at our past and realize that what makes us is what we have in our past.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Philippine Information Agency Region 1 for choosing me to be the delegate from La Union to take part in the Cultural Heritage Tour Caravan organized by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Information Agency.
I learned so much from the experience and it indeed will help me as a blogger to discover new knowledge that surely develops me to be a better person and a better social media personality.
I would also acknowledge the support I got from CJ Makil Concrete Products & Aggregates, Villa d' El-lita Hotel, Resort and Restaurant and ZTL Yadao Concrete Products and Aggregates as well as Sudipen shirt. I am so grateful for the assistance you have extended to me.
Special mention to Dyem Quintero for the kindness.
Now, here are the places we had visited and some background about them so you can get some info and be encouraged to visit and promote our heritage sites.
St. Peter Cathedral
The Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral, tagged as the Tuguegarao Cathedral, is located along Rizal Street, Centro 10, Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippines.
It is an 18th century Baroque church, was originally built by Dominican friars, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, and considered as one of the largest churches in the Cagayan Valley.
A historical marker of the history of the church was installed in 1982 by the National Historical Institute.
Ermita De San Jacinto
St. Hyacinth Church (San Jacinto Church) or the Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto (Stone Chapel of San Jacinto) is an elevated historic chapel established in 1604, 100 years older than the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral. American soldiers during the Philippine-American War used it as headquarters in 1899. St. Hyacinth is the patron Saint of the city whose feast is celebrated every August 15 coinciding with the Pav-vurulun Festival.
The oldest brick structure in the city is the first parochial building built by the Dominican fathers in Tuguegarao. The current structure is the latest in a process of rebuilding beginning in 1724, in 1892 after it was destroyed by an earthquake and reconstruction after the World War II. The chapel was not heavily damaged during the war and as a result retains its original wooden retablo which dates back to the 18th century.
Our Lady of Chartres Chapel
The Our Lady of the Chartres Chapel (OLCC) is the University Chapel of St. Paul University Philippines. It is a replica of the Cathedral of the Diocese Chartres in France.
It was built through the initiative of Sr. Remy Angela Junio, SPC, the then University President. It was consecrated on February 2, 2011 by Msgr. Diosdado Talamayan, DD, the Archbishop Emiritus of Tuguegarao.
The relic of the St. Teresa de Avila was enthroned by Msgr. Giuseppe Pinto, DD, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines on December 8, 2011.
Located at the heart of the SPUP campus, the OLCC is considered one of the finest models of architectural ingenuity. It stands as the open arms of Christ welcoming and blessing all those who enter the University.
Unveiled on February 11, 2013, the National Historical Marker, bestowed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, is a recognition of the significant contributions of SPUP in the fields of education and service to the province, the region and the country.
Old San Jacinto de Polonia
The San Jacinto de Polonia Church is home to the oldest Catholic Church Bell in the Philippines. Camalaniugan Bell is housed on the topmost section of a 3 stores square belfry clad in red bricks. The bell, also called the Santa Maria Bell or Bell of Antiquity, was forged on 1595 making the antique the oldest in the Philippines, and in the entire Southeast Asia. A significant heritage passed down by our Spanish colonizer to the proud townsfolk of Camalaniugan.
The Ruins of the old church serve as a centerpiece to a public park where locals could relax and spend time.
St. Dominic De Guzman Church
The church is located in Lal-lo, Cagayan, which was established as Nueva Segovia, one of the first 4 cities in the Philippines, and reigned as Cagayan's provincial capital for over two and a half centuries before the seat of power was moved to Tuguegarao.
The Spanish colonial church stands boldly, clad in red bricks, and situated just along the National Highway.
Miguel de Benavides, O.P. Was the founder of the oldest active university in the country but before he constituted the Dominican school, the Spanish friar was elected the first Bishop of the Nueva Segovia Diocese, Lal-lo, the 4th City of the Philippines. Nueva Segovia Diocese was later moved to Vigan and still remains to this day.
Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
The Patapat Viaduct is an elevated road which is 30 meters above sea level. The 1.3 km long coastal bridge connects the Maharlika Highway in Laoag to the Cagayan Valley, a busy street above the coastal areas of Pagudpud. The fourth longest bridge in the country, this winding concrete beauty is said to be the northernmost roadway part of Ilocos Norte.
Bangui Windmills
The very first wind power plant in the Philippines known as Bangui Wind Farm or Bangui Windmills of Ilocos Norte. The wind farm houses and uses 20 units of 70 meter (230 ft.) high Vestas Wind Systems. These wind turbine systems are arranged in a single row that stretches in the 9 kilometer shoreline of the Bangui Bay facing the West Philippine Sea. Forty percent of Ilocos Norte'selectricity is supported by Bangui's Wind Mills.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, is the light station built during the Spanish time in the province of Ilocos Norte, specifically on a hill on the town of Burgos. Its purpose is to guide vessels faring through the West Philippine Sea from Babuyan Channel to the body ports of Luzon's western seaboard, which includes the ports of Manila and Subic.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte that was established during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892 and is set high on Vigia de Nagparitan Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After 100 years, it still function as a welcoming beacon to the crown international ship that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.
Paoay Church
One of the oldest colonial churches in the country built during the Spanish era. It is built of coral blocks and stucco plastered bricks, the architecture is a unique combination of gothic, baroque and oriental. Construction of the church was started in 1704 and completed in 1894. A few meters away is the coralstone bell tower which served as observation post of the "Katipuneros" during the Philippine Revolution, Paoay Church is included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Vigan Conservation Museum
This complex houses three museums, a repository of achieves, a conservation school and a dormitory. The 3 museums revolve around the concepts of the city's Pammati ken Kari (Devotion and Power), Ciudad Lungsod (Outlining the city) and Casa Bigueno (the revolution of the Vigan House)
Tam-awan Village
It gives one a feel of life showcasing the traditional Ifugao Huts and Baguio's art and culture scene. Established by National Artist Ben Cabrera in 1998 with Chanum Foundation to promote the local artists. Tam-awan is a local word which means "vantage point". There is a Cafe where you can get a taste of Cordillera flavors.
Museo Kordilera-UP Baguio Ethnographic Museum
It recently opened features the arts and culture materials of the Cordillera. It is aimed to serve as repository of tangible and intangible heritage of the region.
Mini Forest Park
It is beside Baguio Convention Center reminds the public on how it is saved from a building construction project, the advocacy to reforest it and what tree species are within the area. The Baguio Convention Center is a convention facility and it was the venue of the 1978 World Chess Championship series between 2 Russian grandmaster Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi.
Casa Vallejo
The declared heritage site is along Upper Session Road and among the oldest buildings in the city. It was refereed to as Dormitory 4 constructed by the Americans to house construction workers who helped Baguio City.
Session Road Rotonda,
With the eight rock formation art design installed by Igorot stone sculpture Gilbert Gano, represent the eight members of the Philippine Commission who used to hold their summer sessions in Baguio in the early 1900s.
Baden Powell Hotel
The site of the first Philippine Commission
Baguio Museum
It is located within the Tourism Complex, displays a variety of artifacts and relics that speak of the cultural heritage, customs and traditions of the Mountain Province with each display focusing on an indigenous group.
San Fernando railway Station
It is a part of the Ferrerocarril de Manila-Dagupan, the first railway system in the Philippines built in 1892, spanning 195 kilometers from Tutuban in Manila to Dagupan in Pangasinan. This National Historical Commission of the Philippines site is one of the five stations which can be found in the province of Pampanga. The other four stations are located in Apalit, Sto. Tomas, Angeles City and Mabalacat City.
On the 27th of June 1982, Dr. Jose Rizal disembarked at this station to meet the new members of La Liga Filipina from Pampanga. After 50 years, in 1942, this place became the final stop of the 102 kilometer death march of Filipino and American prisoners of war from Bataan, before being transferred to their last destination, Camp O'Donnel in Capas, Tarlac.
Manila Cathedral
Also known as the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica, had been a venue for papal Masses in the country, with Blessed Paul VI in 1970 and St. John Paul II in 1981 saying their masses. It is located at Plaza de Roma in Intramuros, Manila and its current rector is Monsignor Nestor Cerbo.
It was initially built as as simple parish in Manila in 1571 by Juan de Vivero, a secular priest, and was dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Back then, it was simply made of nipa and bamboo. On December 21, 1581, its status was elevated to a cathedral by Bishop Domingo Salazar. The promotion happened two years after Pope Gregory established the Diocese of Manila, which was put under the supervision of the Archbishop of Mexico. The bishop reconstructed it from wood, nipa and bamboo.
San Agustin Church
The San Agustin was the only building left intact after the destruction of Intramuros in WWII. Built between 1587 and 1606. It is the oldest church in the Philippines. The massive facade conceals an ornate interior filled with objects of great historical and cultural merit. Note the intricate trompe l'oeil frescoes on the vaulted ceiling and the tropical cloisters as well as the slightly shabby gardens out the back.
The present structure is actually the third to stand on the site and has weathered seven earthquake, as well as the Battle of Manila. It's an active church and much in demand for weddings and other ceremonies.
As a giving back to NCCA and PIA, I will be posting a lot of photographs of heritage sites in my social media accounts so I can encourage other people to be part of the conservation campaign for our heritage and for our future generation..
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