CITY OF MALOLOS—This Bulacan’s capital where Barasoain Church is located and once the center of Philippine government as the birth place of the First Philippine Republic is now threatened to be delisted from the historical and cultural heritage landmarks in the country.
Ivan Henares, vice president of the Heritage Conservation Society disclosed Thursday their plan to remove Malolos from the country’s lists of historical and cultural heritage and resources because there were no efforts done by the local government and the people to preserve the marked structures.
Henares told NEWS CORE that structures like old houses and others which are included in the declared part of the historic town center of Malolos, Bulacan as a national historical landmark have been demolished and destroyed.
“Based on tours we have conducted, there were a number of these important structures which were destroyed and some are no longer being protected that’s why delisting of Malolos in the cultural and heritage sites in the country is now being planned,” he said.
In 2001, Chairman Pablo Trillana of the National Historical Institute (NHI) now National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) declared through Resolution No. 2, S as National Historical Landmark and a eritage Town, this historic town center of Malolos covered by the following areas: Paseo del Congreso from the church of Barasoain to Old Malolos Bridge; P. Burgos Street bounded by Enriquez Street and Old Malolos Bridge; Hipolito Street Bounded by P. Burgos Street and Enriquez Street; Cigarillera Street; Pariancillo Street; Santo Nino Street; F.T. Reyes Street bounded by Santo Nino and M. Tengco Street; M. Tengco Street bounded by F. T. Reyes Street and F. Estrella Street; F. Estrella Street bounded by Liyang River and Kanto Boy Street.
Also included in the preserved and declared heritage are the Santiago Cruz House at Jacinto Street, the Pineda House and Aldaba House at F. T. Reyes Street, the Water Cistern and Old Malolos bridge.
The plan delisting is up despite the fact that Malolos City is where the Barasoain Church is located, the site of the Malolos Congress, the Malolos Constitution and the first Philippine Republic later also known as the First Philippine Republic in Asia.
On Jan. 23, Mayor Christian Natividad, a lawyer, first time mayor of this city led the 112th anniversary celebration of the First Philippine Republic held at the historic Barasoain Church in 1899.
Jaime Salvador Corpuz, President of the Bulacan Heritage Conservation Society said Barasoain Church including the House of the Women of Malolos and several other ancestral houses of prominent people of Malolos were also declared as historical and cultural landmarks which have the markers of the NHI.
Corpuz said because of all the said historical significance of the said places and structures, Malolos should maintain its inclusion in the lists and that the local government including non-government groups should join efforts to thwart the plan delisting.
In December 2010, Mons., Angelito Santiago, Parish Priest of Barasoain Church who conducted signature campaign for the return of the church image at any Philippine peso bill was elated on the inclusion of the church picturesque at the front portion of the new P200 bill to be released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Henares said Malolos officials must act now to prevent them from pursuing their action plan to delist Malolos from the said list.
He said collective efforts must be undertaken.
“There must be efforts for us to see the local officials are doing,” he said.
Natividad however, who had renamed Malolos City under his new term as “The Renaissance City” said the destruction of the old structures did not happen during his term as he only assumed post in July 2010 after winning the mayoralty of this city last May elections.
He said they are now coordinating with the Bulacan Heritage Society for necessary actions to be done.
Some of the old structures were either sold to private businessmen and serve as sites of new modern buildings while the old houses were also destroyed as some private owners reportedly also sold them to investors.
The Paseo del Congreso Street has become a very busy major business site in this city where close to twenty bank branches and other huge commercial establishments have been erected for years.
Corpuz said they are now making recommendatory lists for Natividad and the rest of the local officials of Malolos to be done to retain in the lists of historical and cultural landmarks in the country.
Corpuz cited Malolos Cathedral in this city, Nicanor Abelardo nipa hut in San Miguel town, Maximo Viola house also in San Migue town including San Miguel town and San Rafael churches as among the other historical landmarks in Bulacan marked by the NHI now NHCP.
He said they are currently working for the inclusion of several other vital structures and places in Bulacan that are part of our country’s history to also be included in the NHCP lists.