Talisay wants youth to value city's history

CEBU, Philippines - In the hopes of saving the city's heritage and landmarks, the Talisay City government is set to launch an information dissemination campaign with regards to its past.

City administrator Richel Bacaltos said city officials ask Talisay City Schools Divisions officials to include in the subject History the story behind the Liberation Park in barangay Poblacion and other stories that give a picture of World War II.

This drive came after the seven life-sized statues of American soldiers that the city placed at its Liberation Park in barangay Poblacion were vandalized; a replica of a gun held by one of the statues is missing.

Bacaltos said that with this idea, they hope to teach the youth the value of their own history and the significance of these statues in their own city.

This is not to mention the hefty sum that the city had paid for these monuments.

The city spent P5 million for the expansion of its liberation park in 2009, which now includes these statues, where visitors and even locals would pose for souvenir pictures.

The city administrator said the lack of knowledge of their history could be blamed why it is easy for youngsters to deface these statues, which are worth P3 million.

This is however not the first time that the liberation park has received such treatment from bystanders.

Shortly after the statues were placed there in 2009, gun replicas and some enhancements attached to the statues were stolen.

Some of the statues have also lost their hands, which drew amusement from visitors.

Bacaltos said the youth should be told that these statues are not just mere decorations but were placed there to honor the American and Filipino WWII heroes who landed on their shores in March 26, 1945.

In 2009, the place was even declared a national shrine by the National Historical Institute.

These statues were installed in April 2009, replacing the original ones that first became the butt of jokes because of their long necks and comedic looks.

Bacaltos said they will restore the entire place before the commemoration of the March 26 liberation landing comes.

The city has allocated P500,000 for that day's event.  (FREEMAN NEWS)