Tomas Pinpin book, Bataan’s cultural treasure

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – In 1610, Tomas Pinpin, a Filipino and a native of Bataan, was for the first time, allowed to write a book for his fellow Filipinos, by the Governor General and the Archbishop of Manila. Prior to this, only Spanish friars were allowed to do as such.
In 2008, Mr. Robbie Reyes, the owner of Limbagang Pinpin and a native of Abucay was able to get hold of the original copy of the said book, “Librong Pag aaral ng mga Tagalog sa Wikang Castila” thru an auction in New York (USA).
Reyes has already informed Gov. Abet Garcia, Board Member Aris Gaza, chairman Committee on Tourism and Board Member Dexter “Teri Onor” Dominguez, also a native of Abucay regarding the book and they all have
signified interest in really promoting, preserving and declaring important cultural properties of Bataan.
Furthermore, Reyes said the discovery of the original copy of Tomas Pinpin’s book is of great importance that he hopes that it will be declared a cultural treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Library, as the first ever recorded material published in Abucay.
Likewise, Reyes said that he is hopeful that the Sangguniang Bayan of Abucay could pass a resolution to be concurred by the SangguniangPanlalawigan of Bataan declaring the book as Bataan’s cultural treasure.