May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

10 May 2009

Today, May 10, 2009 is the 112th death anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.  

The National Historical Institute (NHI) is the government agency tasked with protecting our cultural heritage and that includes national monuments such as the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also fondly known simply as the Monumento.

This is the link to the full NHI Guidelines on Monuments Honoring National Heroes:

I will quote here excerpts from the NHI's guidelines and show pictures of the Monumento for us to find out whether the NHI follows its own guidelines:

GUIDELINE

Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred or hallowed grounds andaccorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form of desecration against the monument, such as squatting, graffiti andimproper advertising commercialism shall not be allowed. (NHI Guidelines, Section 1, Definitions. Paragraph 4)

REALITY

GUIDELINE

Maintain a simple and unobstructed landscape development. Commercial billboards should not proliferate in a town center where a dominant monument is situated. (NHI Guidelines, Section 2, Definitions. Paragraph 4.2)

REALITY

This is what the National Historical Institute (NHI) website has to say about May 10:

If we zoom in on the relevant portion, this is what the NHI is saying:

That's right!  "10 May ... No Today in History events were found."

After coming out in force against performing artist Martin Nievera for alleged improper rendition of the national anthem before the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton boxing championship bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, what should officials of  the National Historical Institute (NHI) do regarding the Monumento? What is in their hearts and minds right now?  In fairness to Martin Nievera, I don't think anyone can say that he did not give his heart out in singing Lupang Hinirang in the Pacquiao-Hatton bout.

I believe NHI Chairman Ambeth Ocampo and the other Commissioners of the NHI owe all Filipinos an explanation as to why they are allowing the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be treated in this manner.

Perhaps the question equally important is: What are we, who call ourselves Filipinos, going to do about this?  Close our eyes and do nothing and be proud about it?!  

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Kapusong Gani Oro, Mabuhay Ka! Going on Air at DZBB 594kHz SuperRadyo

28 January 2009

This afternoon, I was blessed with the opportunity to what I set out to do -- to get on air via radio and what better place to do it than at   in Mr. Gani Oro's super program, Aksyon Oro Mismo.

I will be forever grateful to Kapuso Gani Oro and his staff, DZBB 594KHZ SuperRadyo and the entire GMA network for airing an urgent appeal for the Philippine government to cause an immediate suspension of the LRT-MRT3 construction near Monumento to give way to a public consultation that will spare the Monumento from further desecration.

True to Aksyon Oro Mismo's format, Ka Gani hosted a discussion on air between us and LTFRB Chairman and DOTC spokesman Thompson Lantion.  During the discussion, I was able to make the appeal for immediate suspension and public consultation.  Chairman Lantion asked me to write the DOTC.

To hear our on-the-air discussion:  

  

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Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, A Giant of Our Times

27 January 2009

Today I had the chance to personally hand over to the Bishop of Kalookan, the Most Reverend Deogracias S. Iñiguez, D.D., a copy of my appeal to government authorities to immediately suspend the LRT-MRT3 diggings near Monumento and to conduct public consultations that will allow our people to arrive at a solution that will spare the threatened Bonifacio Monument from further desecration.  

The good bishop promised to look into the matter and asked me to furnish him other materials that will support the call for public consultation and dialogue on the issue of the LRT-MRT3 closing the loop project at Monumento.

Bishop Iñiguez is a giant of our times.  I consider it a privilege just to stand beside him.  Here is a man who stands head and shoulders above ordinary mortals, exerting his spiritual and moral authority on earth for the good of God's people.

 

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Update to the online petition at www.gopetition.com

As of 11:26pm, 1 January 2009 (Philippine time), the Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign online petition at www.gopetition.com has thirty-nine (39) signatures.

Many thanks to those who have signed.  Mabuhay si Gat Andres De Castro Bonifacio at ang mga bayaning pinararangalan sa Monumento!  Mabuhay ang Pinoy!

A Blessed Happy New Year to all!

 

To sign the petition, please click this link:  www.gopetition.com/online/23996.

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Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign

Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign

No. of Signatures

Published by Rolando G. Ocampo on Dec 14, 2008 

Category: Culture

Region: GLOBAL

Host:  www.gopetition.com

Target: The Philippine Government and the UNESCO

Description/History:

The Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City is considered by many Filipinos to be the greatest monument to valor and to love of freedom on earth honoring as it does the Philippines' greatest revolutionary hero, Andres Bonifacio, and the brave band of selfless men and women who joined him in igniting the firestorm of the Philippine Revolution in August 1896.

Its creation was mandated by Act No. 2760 of the Philippine Legislature on February 23, 1918 to be a lasting monument to the memory of Gat Andres Bonifacio and to the Katipuneros he led in 1896 in Asia's first national uprising against European colonial misrule. Act No. 2760 predated by three years the passage of Act No. 2946 by the Philippine Legislature on February 16, 1921 making November 30 of each a legal holiday to commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio. Aside from Dr. Jose Rizal, Bonifacio is the only national hero to have a legal holiday marked in his honor. The passage in 1918 of Act No. 2760 is that much more remarkable and historic because, at that time, the Flag Law which forbade the display of the Philippine flag (and even emblems of the Katipunan) was still in effect and would be lifted only on October 22, 1919 when the Flag Law was repealed by Act No. 2871.

The Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign and this online petition signing effort are part of the year-long commemoration of the diamond jubilee (75th anniversary) of the Monumento which was completed by renowned Filipino national artist Guillermo Tolentino in 1933.

Today, the integrity of the Monumento, as the Bonifacio Monument is fondly called, is under threat with the closing of the loop of the LRT and MRT. It is ironic but the greatest monument to freedom faces the risk of being imprisoned by the light rail ring of concrete and steel that is steadily going up around it. Today, giant billboards have sprung up around the Bonifacio Monument thereby unduly diminishing its stature and importance.

Filipinos everywhere are called upon to appeal to the government of the Philippines and the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to save the Monumento from further desecration. The best way this can be done is by having the Monumento enshrined in its rightful place among the UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites. Andres Bonifacio gave us our freedom. The least that we can do is to defend the integrity of the monument that is the enduring symbol of our nation's honor and dignity.

We call upon the Philippine government and its various instrumentalities and the UNESCO together with its parent organization, the United Nations, to take every step necessary to ensure the eventual inclusion of the Bonifacio Monument in the UNESCO list of World Heritage cultural sites.

(Sgd.)
Rolando G. Ocampo
Founding Member, Caloocan City People's Council
Lead Convenor, Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign

This petition is supported by the Caloocan City People's Council and its component organizations, among them SAMATRIP and the PD 1517 Coalition, primary defender of the Heroes del 96 community. Heroes del 96 is the largest urban community nearest the Bonifacio Monument. The history of this locality is closely interlinked with that of the Monumento and its people are the proud bearers of a magnificent cultural heritage and identity. Host convenor of the Caloocan City People's Council is Mrs. Luz Ambre of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, Philippines.

Petition:

We, the undersigned, call on the Philippine government to support the campaign to have the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We likewise call upon the UNESCO including its Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Committee to assist the Philippine government and the entire Filipino people in achieving the dream of having the Bonifacio Monument recognized and included among the UNESCO World Heritage List of Cultural Sites.

To sign this petition, please click this link: www.gopetition.com/online/23996

For those who have already signed, many thanks.  Your support will go a long way towards heightening awareness about the Bonifacio Monument and the need to preserve and enhance it for future generations of Filipinos.  

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