CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – This first class city, founded as a “pueblo” (town) by Spanish gubernatorial decree on Aug. 28, 1742, is institutionalizing its Culture and Arts Council in pursuit of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2017-133, which enjoins all local government units (LGUs) to establish local culture and arts council.
In an executive order signed by Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco as chairperson, the Culture and Arts Council (CAC) met for the first time Wednesday at City Hall to enjoin stakeholders’ support in building the 276-year-old LGU as a cultural institution to ensure protection, preservation and promotion of its cultural heritage.
Councilor Ma. Virginia Alcasid, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Tourism, Culture and Social Events and CAC vice-chair, told council members the need to focus on the historical treasures, more than just being the birthplace of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal and other heroes.
“We need to improve our culture and arts not only on the life and works of Rizal but also on other interesting historical events and insights about our city,” Alcasid stressed, as he urged members for their inputs and plans for the council.
Larissa Malinao, head of the City Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Sports Development Department, said the council was established following Section 16 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, which mandates LGUs “to ensure and support the preservation and enrichment of culture to encourage the participation of the people in the developmental programs for the preservation of their historical identity”.
Malinao said the CAC has embarked on the inventory of cultural properties beginning 2017.
She said they have already asked the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for a Memorandum of Agreement with the city government to undertake cultural mapping.
CAC member Ricamela Palis, also a member of the Executive Council of the NCCA’s Committee on Cultural Education, said that the country’s Philippine Development Plan has included culture and arts in its social development agenda as driver of development.
“Isa na itong industriya (this is already an industry) as culture and arts reflect the creative expression of the people for their distinct mark to take care and preserve their cultural identity, legacy and heritage,” Palis said.
She said that based on UNESCO’s delineation on cultural heritage, the cultural mapping falls into four categories – which include tangible, immovable properties like historical structures, buildings; tangible movable properties like artifacts and museum pieces and collections; natural heritage such as land and water forms associated with ancient or early settlements, historical sites and the intangible heritage like stories, legends, music, beliefs, oral traditions, games, practices, rituals and even culinary.
“Ang mga ito ang magiging yamang bayan ng isang lugar at ang mga ito rin and pagmumulan ng turismo, edukasyon at mahalagang bahagi ng land use plan (These are the national treasures and source of tourism, education and a significant part in the city’s land use plan),” she pointed out.
She said that cultural mapping uses templates and instruments to be able to establish these culture and arts data that have significance to the place and would require home-grown engagement among the communities and multi-sector undertakings.
“Cultural mapping is a very enlightening experience and the scooping of these rich historical information and data have to pass through validation before these are entered in the registry of cultural heritage,” she added.
She also spelled out the outputs of the cultural heritage mapping such as establishing a community museum; conduct of cultural and history lectures and clinic; publication of stories; production of musical albums and collections; enrichment of the city’s “Buhayani Festival;” form creative industries for tourism and helping the DepEd city division of schools in developing instructional materials for their curriculum.
Meanwhile, CAC member Msgr. Jose D. Barrion, director of the Diocesan Shrine and Cultural Heritage Commission of the Diocese of San Pablo, shared the need to explore the uniqueness of the city being known for its derivative name “kalan-banga” (clay stove and pot).
“Ano yung laman sa banga, na pwede nating malaman at impresenta (what are inside the pot that we need to know and offer),” the prelate said in jest suggesting to go beyond the annual “Buhayani Festival” and the St. John the Baptist “Basaan” (water-dousing) Fest by staging other festivals similar to how the Laguna town of Pakil has sustained its religious-cultural or faith-based tourism like the “Turumba Festival” for many years.
Calambeño professor Ramon Lijauco Sr., a musician and the composer of the Calamba Hymn, also proposed the enrichment of the city’s musical heritage by establishing more than just the city brass band. He said a symphonic orchestra had to be established and young enthusiasts had to be taught to appreciate music like choral singing and playing musical instruments.
DepEd-Calamba city division of schools representative Joel Libranda said the city government is beefing up its high school for the arts in line with the DepEd’s K to 12 Program’s Arts and Design tracks.
Sarah Escueta, curator of the Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba, also disclosed that they are now organizing the Calamba Historical Society and intensifying their arts and culture activities like the Backpack Artists to engage the millennials. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)