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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Saturday, February 18, 2017
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ILOILO City – A National Museum of the Philippines official appealed to the Roman Catholic Church to help the government preserve and protect Filipino cultural heritage, including religious structures.
Director Jeremy Barns particularly expressed disappointment on the excavation for alleged treasure at the camposanto (cemetery) in the municipality of San Joaquin in Iloilo province in February last year.
While admitting that he “[doesn’t] know the whole story,” Barns blasted the suspected mastermind, San Joaquin parish priest Father Nelson Silvela.
“We have not heard his side. But I’m very disappointed that he fell prey to the lure of treasure,” said the National Museum director. “I thought our priests are not materialistic like that.”
Barns was in this city yesterday to lead the inauguration of the newly restored Old Jaro Municipal Hall in Jaro district as the National Museum of the Philippines’ satellite office in Western Visayas.
“I really appeal to the bishops and the priests to help us, the state, in the constitutional duty of preserving and protecting the pamana ng buong sambayanang Pilipino (heritage of the entire Filipino people),” Barns told the press.
Ten men were arrested for the unauthorized excavation at the camposanto in February last year. They and Silvela were charged with violating Republic Act 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
But the 10 diggers were released from detention after posting bail in March.
Silvela’s whereabouts remains unknown as of this writing. He took an indefinite leave of absence on Feb. 27 last year.
The San Joaquin Camposanto is a National Cultural Treasure. The town’s last Augustinian parish priest, Fray Mariano Vamba, started its construction in 1892.
Barns stressed his appeal goes to all priests and the Archdiocese of Jaro.
He believes the National Museum, through its satellite office, will be more knowledgeable about similar incidents in the future and quickly respond to them.
NATURAL THREATS
Natural calamities such as earthquakes, typhoons and volcano eruptions also threaten the country’s cultural heritage, Barns said.
“This is a nightmare for us who are responsible in preserving cultural heritage,” he said.
Local government leaders must give more attention to disaster risk management and reduction, stressed Barns.
“Kasi nakapa-vulnerable, hindi lang socially or our communities, kundi ang mga built heritage natin,” he said. “This is really a priority concern for us in the national government. Our mandate [is] to increase the resiliency of our heritage.”
Aside from illegal activities, other man-made threats to cultural heritage include pollution, encroachment and fire, said Barns.
“Again, the main thrust is public awareness and information strengthening in partnership with law enforcement agencies, local government and allied agencies,” he said./PN
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