ILOILO – How do you perpetuate local history and memorialize local heroes?
According to local historian Demetrio Sonza, creating a “historical committee” in each town could help.
The provincial government may also form a similar committee.
The historical committee would have the specific task of researching and recording local history, including local historical figures, said Sonza.
The chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) committee on culture, arts, history, and tourism, Sonza lamented that Ilonggos now appeared oblivious of local heroes or worse, do not have any idea about them at all.
“I’d like to propose an ordinance or resolution calling for the revival of historical committees in municipalities to research on local history and local heroes,” said Sonza.
The provincial government used to have a historical committee, said Sonza, and he even served as its executive secretary.
That committee, he said, produced several historical markers such as on the founding of towns like Santa Barbara and Alimodian.
The SP’s committee on culture, arts, history, and tourism could only do so much with its broad coverage, said Sonza.
There must be a body focused only on preserving local history for the sake of the new generation of Ilonggos, he stressed.
On Aug. 23, four days before the National Heroes Day celebration on Aug. 27, Sonza delivered a privilege speech honoring four Ilonggo army officers, among many others, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom during the Philippine-American War at the turn of the 20th century.
August was History Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 339 that then President Benigno Aquino III signed on Feb. 16, 2012.
Sonza lamented that Ilonggos have forgotten them – Captain Elias Magbanua of Pototan, Iloilo (who at 19 was the youngest Filipino military officer killed in action during the Philippine-American War just months after the Philippine Revolution against Spain ended); Captain Juan Magallon of Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Captain Agustin Tirador; and Major Marcelo Golez./PN
