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[av_heading heading=’ RURAL UPDATE | Rosendo M. Mejica Street’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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Tuesday, June 6, 2017
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THIS STREET eastward from the first gate of Baluarte Elementary School up to the junction of Infante Avenue in Molo, Iloilo City. It was named Rosendo M. Mejica Street under Resolution Ordinance No. 00-114 enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Sept. 6, 2000.
Rosendo M. Mejica was born in Molo in 1874. He was a nationalistic journalist, labor and civic leader, publisher and writer. He founded the patriotic newspaper Makinaugalingon, one of the most widely-read and influential newspapers published in Iloilo before World War II. It was credited as the newspaper that defined the moral and nationalistic aims and standards of Philippine Journalism.
The paper was also recognized for its contribution to the Golden Age of Hiligaynon literature in the early decades of the century. Through its literary supplement, Ang Domingo sang Makinaugalingon, many Ilonggos were given the opportunity to launch a writing career.
Mejica led the establishment of Baluarte Elementary School in 1909 by donating the land and funds for its construction, supplemented by contributions from the community. This is the first public school set up in the Philippines.
Today, we still have the Makinaugalingon Printer and Bookbinder in Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City run by Rosendo G. Mejica III, a direct descendant and namesake of the honoree. He converted the family’s century-old residence in the compound into a museum to house the memorabilia of the great Ilonggo journalist.
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After our articles calling attention to the rehab and maintenance of the IIoilo and Batiano rivers, we express here again our appreciation for the prompt response of our city government by creating the Iloilo River Patrol as a multi-level agency composed of seven institutional bodies to continue monitoring the condition in our twin-river system.
Now we are returning to our advocacy of Writing History in our Streets®, hence we featured above Rosendo M. Mejica Street in Molo where we will also undertake the project, at the same time with that of Manduriao.
Once we finish with the construction of the two model markers in Mandurriao, we think the committee can now take advantage of gathering historical data of city streets in other districts for a faster turnover in the project but keeping its identity and uniformity throughout the city.
We will make it a point, however, to publish the data on the street names so the public will gain knowledge and more so with the residents of the street to comment if they find any error or inaccuracy in the facts cited.
With regular classes back, we will be able to ask again our history students at A. Mirasol Memorial School to help in our research on the remaining streets of Mandurriao, namely, Oñate, De Leon, A. Mirasol, and Guzman-Jesena. We need appropriate biographical data to be written on the street markers. We intend to do the same in other areas where there are schools with history classes.
Please expect us in the committee of Writing History in our Streets® to visit your school soon for this purpose. (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com/PN)
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