Street markers eyed to promote culture

CEBU, Philippines - To further promote Cebu City’s rich culture, street markers are proposed to establish to help inculcate to the public the history of each area.

  Clarence Paul Oaminal, the city’s anti-vandalism czar, said that putting up of a marker would best explain the named of each street to “awaken people’s love of their city.”

“Our streets must have markers narrating the story of why it is named after a great man or event. Take for example, Tres de Abril St. which is named after the battle launched by the Cebu KKK against the Spaniards on April 3, 1898,” he said.

A few city streets that are connected with the revolt against the Spaniards include Katipunan, Candido Padilla, Felipe Pacaña, Toribio Pacaña, Francisco Llamas, Andres Abellana, Luis Flores, and Arsenio Cabreros.

Oaminal believes that this idea would be an effective strategy in the campaign against vandalism aside from the fact that it would educate the people, especially the youth, on the history of the street.

He said that he would ask civic groups to sponsor the move for the establishment of street markers.

Oaminal, a lawyer, also said that they would conduct an anti-vandalism operation in the next Brigada Eskewala scheduled on May 21-25, 2012.

Favorite vandal sites, according to him, are schools, public markets and bridges.

Oaminal is now soliciting donation of paints and brushes from the private sector and is accepting volunteers for their projects.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier said that as much as possible, city funds should not be used in anti-vandalism campaign. — (FREEMAN)