July 7, 2009 — Today is the 117th Founding Anniversary of the Katipunan — Binigyang-Pansin Po Ba Ito ng NHI?!

7 July 2009

One hundred seventeen years ago today, on July 7, 1892, Andres Bonifacio and a few friends met secretly in a house on Azcarraga St. (now Claro M. Reco Avenue) to establish a secret organization that will eventually free the Philippines from foreign rule.  That organization was the Katipunan.

My good friend, Prof. Ding Reyes, reminded me of today's significance in our nation's history in his email which I reproduce in full below:

ngayong hulyo 7, 2009, ika-117 taong kaarawan ng pagkakatatag ng Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, kilalanin natin ang esensya ng papel nito sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

 

basahin ang tungkol sa hamon sa atin ng La Liga Filipina at ng Katipunan sa kasalukuyan. buksan ang http://readdingz. blogspot. com

 

Sinimulan nang iserye saa internet ang nilalaman ng aklat kong Kartilya Ngayon! (2007), buksan ang http://kartilya. 8m.net

 

Dakilain natin sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabuhay ang diwa ng Katipunan!

 

read MY BLOGS at http://readdingz. blogspot. com & view my books in on-line catalog, http://bookmakers- phils.8m. net. See alsohttp://kamayanforum .8m.net; and http://sanibdasal. 8m.net.  

One would normally expect our country's National Historical Institute (NHI) to remember this date in its website with all the due prominence that it deserves.  Alas, this is how the NHI website's home page looks as of today July 7, 2009, 10:20am:

Wouldn't it have been better, even just for today, if the NHI had emblazoned on its home page a fitting artwork that would have remembered the Katipunan's founding on this date one hundred seventeen years ago?

Wala na nga pong karampatang pag-alala sa website ng NHI eh ganito pa po ang nangyayari sa Monumento ngayon.  Isa na itong "Vanishing Monumento (I took this picture along EDSA about 200 meters away from the Monumento several days ago)"

Kailan po kaya personal na magsasalita ang ating mga Senador sa bagay na ito?

At this point, please allow me acknowledge to the attention given to this issue by the Office of Senator Loren Legarda through his Chief Legislative Officer, Atty. Antonio Paredes, Jr. and one of his able legislative staff members, Mr. Jet Pacapac.  

Senator Legarda's office sent letters to the Office of Chairman Ambeth Ocampo of the NHI, Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri of Caloocan City and several others expressing concern about what is happening in Monumento and endorsing my Open Letter for the consideration of these government officials. (I'll post scanned images of the other letters when I return; the one below is addressed to Chairman Ambeth Ocampo of the NHI; please click on the image to enlarge).  

I also like to thank the Office of Senator Mar Roxas which several months ago also wrote letters to our authorities about the Monumento upon my request.  None of these authorities have replied.  One had me called up but they have not bothered to make any written replies.

I approached Senator Gordon after the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing yesterday and he promised to look into the matter.

We were at the NHI yesterday and it's an enlightening experience.  I have a lot more to say about this when I return. 

Here is a teaser of what is there to discuss (please click on the image to enlarge):

It's a photograph I took yesterday of an NHI memo written on September 4, 2007 by NHI Director Ludovico Badoy addressed to Mr. Melquiades Robles of the LRTA regarding revised plans for the Monumento. 

Thank you for bearing with me.  

Huwag po nating isuko ang dangal ng Pilipinas sa Monumento!

To God be the glory!

Naalala ko po tuloy ang awiting "Kahit Konting Pagtingin," ito po ang lyrics niya: