CULTURAL HERITAGE. The convent of the San Isidro Labrador parish in Lazi, Siquijor (in photo) has been around for centuries and is one of the tourist attractions of the island. The Diocese of Dumaguete endeavors to continue its conservation efforts of heritage structures such as this convent as it connects people to their past. (PNA photo by Mary Judaline Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – As the country celebrates its 126th Independence Day on June 12, the Diocese of Dumaguete said Filipinos should ponder this year's theme, "Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan" (Freedom, Future, History) and how this connects to heritage conservation as part and parcel of the country’s history and identity.
“Conservation of historical and heritage structures is a part of our past and symbolic of Filipinos’ identity despite the influence of Spain and other countries,” Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, chair of the diocesan committee on church cultural heritage, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Heruela said that aside from age-old structures, other tangible and intangible cultural practices speak of a vibrant Filipino heritage that has been passed on from one generation to another.
“These connect us to the past and we learn of our history not only through books and stories handed down to us but also from the structures such as churches that reflect the Filipino’s talents and unique characteristics,” the priest said.
“Despite having gone through hundreds of years of influence during foreign occupation such as the Spanish era, the Filipino identity remains steadfast and alive today as can be seen in schools and elsewhere," he added.
Heruela said the diocese is unwavering in its education and information campaign to educate and improve the awareness of the people on the importance of heritage conservation.
Accordingly, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has chosen the province of Siquijor, which is part of the Diocese of Dumaguete, for its “Conservation Goes to the Province” seminar/workshop/training in August, this year.
Local heritage workers will be prioritized in the activity that will include lectures and hands-on training on the conservation and preservation of wood, paper, textile, and stone – some of the materials used in the past hundreds of years in churches, convents, as well as movable and immovable objects.
The five-day activity will be held at the convent of the St. Isidore, the Farmer parish complex in Lazi, Siquijor.
Built in the middle 1800s, the Lazi Church has been declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. (PNA)
