Heritage and local tourism

This month marks the second year in existence of Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. If all the provisions of the law were followed strictly, we would have had the implementing rules and regulations within 90 days after the effectivity of the law. I imagine that the framework for the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property should be in place. This is supposed to be a registry of all cultural properties of the country deemed important to cultural heritage. The registry is supposed to be completed within three years from the effectivity of the law.

 The implementing rules and regulations were approved by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts only a few weeks ago and I await its publication and filing in the Office of the National Administrative Register at the UP Law Center.  With or without the implementing rules, the law is in effect but this hasn’t stopped both public and private persons from happily demolishing 50-year-old buildings and structures that are presumed to be important cultural property under the law.

 If I look into my email folder labeled “Cultural Heritage,” it is filled with emails with headings like these: “Municipio Demolished!,” “Capitol Torn Down!,” and “Work of National Artist Gone!”  Good news about cultural heritage is rare and most of the good news I get comes from Cebu. It helps that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s heritage program for the province started years ago and that some of the cities and municipalities which participated in the Cebu Heritage Caravan now have heritage programs of their own.

 Balamban is among the LGUs which have activities related to its cultural and historical heritage.  In its cultural heritage map posted in its website, Mt. Manunggal and the Magsaysay Shrine are included among the municipality’s heritage sites. Every March, the death anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay is commemorated with the Paghandum ni Magsaysay Annual Adventure Trek.

 Mountaineers supposedly made the Mt. Manunggal trek every March 17, Pres. Magsaysay’s death anniversary, even before it became an official event of the Municipality of Balamban. A lot has changed since Councilor Dave John Karamihan started spearheading it. Dave was my high school classmate and I have always known him to be someone who could get the job done without needing any fanfare.

 He envisioned the event to showcase the beauty and the eco-tourism potential of Mt. Manunggal and its environs.  Before he took over, it was just the hardcore mountaineers who could reach the place and set up camp.  Over the years, an access road was built and comfort room facilities added.  More and more weekend warriors or families who just wanted to go on a picnic started to visit.Dave also incorporated sports and cultural activities like the PNM (Paghandum ni Magsaysay) Adventure Race, an “Amazing Race” - inspired contest and an on-the-spot painting contest.

 He believes that with this development, locals have come to appreciate the economic potential of taking care of their surroundings.  While he is aware that there are a lot of things that need to be done to fully realize Mt. Manunggal’s tourism potential and to fully integrate the locals in the whole tourism cycle, he thinks that Balamban is on its way there.

 While President Magsaysay is often described as a beloved and very popular president, very little is taught about him in schools. Dave hopes that the annual Paghandum ni Magsaysay will not only raise awareness about President Magsaysay’s life and legacy but also put Mt. Manunggal in the map of must-see destinations for tourists in Cebu. As he correctly points out, if there is more economic activity in the area, there will be more consciousness about environmental issues for locals as they would be encouraged to take care of their resources to keep the tourists coming.

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