Gov. Abet, on preserving our identity, culture and heritage

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – The Bataan Peninsula Tourism Foundation Inc. (BPTFI) in coordination with the provincial government of Bataan has officially launched the cultural mapping project aimed at discovering and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the province.

“In this modern time when there is globalization, rapid integration of goods and services between nations, there is this fear that we may lose our identity,” Gov. Albert Raymond S. Garcia said.

The governor said that the youth are engrossed into social media and may soon forget and learn nothing about the past. “We have to do something to preserve our identity, culture and heritage,” he said.

Garcia said the province is opening its economy but at the same time the citizens should learn who they are to have complete development. “We should not be like a headless chicken or a lost soul,” the governor said.

Associate Prof. Eric Zerudo of the University of Sto. Tomas lectured on cultural heritage that he said Bataan has plenty to be proud of. Zerudo is Director of UST Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics. He made mention as an example the cenakulo or street play on the Passion of Christ as part of Bataan’s cultural heritage that has to be brought to national and even international attention.

Techie Banzon, consultant for the Bataan Peninsula Tourism Foundation, said on October to November this year, public school teachers will be busy making the rounds of communities to record unique recipes, the oldest man and woman, old cemeteries, undiscovered caves, falls, and many more, in addition to old churches and monuments already documented. Mrs. Vicky Garcia, the governor’s mother, is chair of the BPTFI.