CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Dr. Rosauro Sta. Maria, head of Laguna Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Trade Office (LTCATO) on Thursday called on present leaders and the young generation to revisit history and learn lessons from the mistakes and shortcomings of the past.
Sta. Maria made the call during an open forum at the lecture series for the “History Month” celebration at Gallery 6, Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba City (MJRC) here.
“Ang mga pagkakamali at pag-aaral ng ating nakaraan ang magsisilbing kagamitan natin ngayon para bumuo ng bukas para ating mga mamamayan. Kung susundan ko ang tema ng araw na ito, sinabi ni Rizal na hindi siya sumasang-ayon sa rebolusyon ng walang sapat na armas at paghahanda (The mistakes and study in our history serves as tool for us to chart the future of our people. Following today’s theme, Rizal said he was averse to a revolution without the sufficient arms and preparedness),” Sta. Maria underscored.
Sta. Maria said that while our national heroes fought against their common enemy in their struggle for freedom and independence, the present scenario has some misguided Filipinos fighting against fellow Filipinos instead of closing ranks to fight the common enemy.
Sta. Maria was one of the guest panel of resource persons during the “History Month” lecture series on “Pagbabalik-Tala at Tanaw sa Pag-uusap nina Rizal at Valenzuela sa Dapitan” (reminiscing and reviewing Rizal and Valenzuela’s talks while in Dapitan) Thursday afternoon at the Gallery 6, Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba City (MJRC).
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)-MJRC hosted the lecture series event reflecting the “History Month” theme “Kasaysayan: Tuklasin, Mahalin, Palaganapin” (History: Discover, Love and Promote) which around 70 teachers, students, local cultural heritage and history association members, Cultural and Arts Council officials and museum advocates.
Sta. Maria pointed out National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s views when he opposed any bloody revolution without the adequate preparation to stage an armed uprising during the Spanish colonial period.
“Hindi sapat ang tapang sa pagpasaok sa ano mang laban. Nararapat na may kaukulang paghahanda at armas upang mapagtagumpyan ang ano mang laban na ating susuungin (bravery is not enough to wage any war. It is appropriate that we have the necessary preparedness and arms to succeed in any battle we fight for),” he said.
He relayed Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez’ message expressing full support to continuing studies and research in history, and all other programs related to cultural and historical endeavors “to broaden knowledge and awareness of our history as a people, especially our children and the youth sector.”
“Sa kasalukuyang panahon nawa’y patuloy tayong humuhugot sa nakaraan upang mabuo ang mas matatag na bukas (at present, we hope to continue to draw inspiration from the past so we could chart a stronger foundation for the future),” he challenged, citing “activities like these would inspire our people to sustain the spirit of nationalism.”
He also called on Lagunenses to rally behind the fruits of development “because all of us have a stake in our history and the path towards our future” as Laguna was enriched by its history and is poised to chart a progressive future.
Meanwhile, Zarah Escueta, senior curator of the Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba, said the lecture series also highlights not only the “History Month” celebration but also the preparations for the 150th Birth Anniversary celebration of Dr. Pio Valenzuela next year.
Escueta described it as an opportune time for highlighting the talks between Dr. Jose Rizal and Valenzuela while Rizal was exiled in Dapitan around 1896.
“Sa lektura na ito ay hihimayin at lalapatan ng mga karagdagang tala o anotasyon ang nilalaman ng 1914 memoir ni Dr. Pio Valenzuela ukol sa Himagsikang 1896 na nalathala bilang isa sa mga apendiks sa “Minutes of the Katipunan” (National Historical Institute, 1978) – (in this lecture, the contents of the 1914 memoir of Dr. Pio Valenzuela will be scrutinized with the additional notes or annotations pertaining to the 1896 Revolution which was published as one of the appendices in the “Minutes of the Katipunan”),” Escueta said.
She said the lecture of Prof. Jonathan Balsamo on the Rizal-Valenzuela talks has provided new insights and depth from a young historian’s perspective, pertaining to Rizal’s position on armed revolution.
“Ang lektura ay uungkat partikular sa mga bahagi na may kinalaman kay Dr. Jose Rizal, gamit ang iba pang mga dokumento at panayam kay Dr. Pio Valenzuela at iba pang mga personalidad (The lecture hopes to uncover particular information about Dr. Jose Rizal, using as references other documents and interviews with Dr. Pio Valenzuela and other personalities),” Escueta added.
She said such revelations would be very useful for the students, teachers and the academe, which could use the lecture presentations as valuable reference materials.
She also thanked the Rizal kin – Gemma Cruz Araneta, great grand niece of Rizal and Ika laurel – and the museum advocates for assisting in the NHCP-run Rizal Shrine to stage the lecture series and other events.
Also gracing the occasion were City Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Sports Development Department (CATSDD) head Larissa Malinao; Mabini Shrine senior curator Olga Palacay; Agoncillo Museum curator Derek Villa; Raquel Claudio, president of Kababaihang Rizalista; Knights of Rizal commander Paciano Malolos; Calamba Cultural Heritage and Historical Society and culture and arts advocates. ( Saul Pa-a/PNA)
