SAN NICOLAS, Batangas – Presidential political adviser Secretary Francis N. Tolentino has expressed support for the creation of a Department of Culture, but with an expanded version that will include Filipino heritage.
Tolentino was guest of honor and keynote speaker of the town’s 11th “Maliputo Festival,” which coincided with San Nicolas 63rd Founding Anniversary last Aug. 9.
He proposed the creation of a Department of Culture and Heritage that will focus on and supervise the country’s festivals and set aside funds for this purpose.
He said there is no particular department that manages Filipino culture and heritage, citing the Maliputo festival and some discoveries of even ancient towns like Rizal in Kalinga province – which unraveled lately interesting artifacts that date back hundreds of years ago.
Several bills are now being heard in Congress, which seek the creation of a new Department of Culture (DOC) – such as House Bills (HB) 6113 and 6260, authored by Sorsogon 1st district representative Evelina Escudero and Pangasinan 4th district representative Christopher de Venecia, both bills are known as the “Department of Culture Act of 2017.”
Tolentino wants the bills expanded to include “Heritage” to focus on supervision of cultural festivals.
As he expressed support to the proposed Department of Culture (DOC), he also called for the promotion of the country’s various festivals like the “Maliputo Festival.”
The yearly Maliputo Festival promotes the town’s endemic “maliputo” fish species that abound in the brackish waters of the Pansipit River and Taal Lake.
He also said that national government support should benefit the cultural festivals observed in various local government units (LGUs) to boost tourism and promote the Philippines to the world, based on the uniqueness and diversity of the cultural and tourism festivals celebrated by its people.
“Limang festivals lamang ang alam kong tinutulungan ng national government at ang mga ito ay Masskara Festival ng Bacolod City, Ati-atihan Festival ng Kalibo, Aklan, Sinulog Festival ng Cebu, Kadayawan Festival ng Davao at Sandugo Festival ng Tagbilaran City, Bohol (I happen to know only five festivals that are supported by the national government such as the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City; Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan; Sinulog Festival of Cebu; Kadayawan Festival of Davao and Sandugo Festival of Tagbilaran City, Bohol),” he pointed out. (Saul Pa-a with reports from Maroe T. Genosa/PNA)
