EDITORIAL - Leaders for Heritage

Heritage Month is starting with several heritage churches ruined or slightly damaged by the recent powerful earthquakes. In the old districts of Manila such as Binondo and Intramuros, there are old structures that deserve to be preserved and restored but are in danger of being demolished. The old train station in Paco has been razed.

In other countries, many cities have Old Towns – historic sections where buildings, landmarks and even original pavements and street lamps are preserved. There are also traditional villages outside urban centers where the art, architecture, public works, local culture and traditional lifestyles are preserved as living history. Some of these villages have been declared as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO has listings even for traditional celebrations, or Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, such as Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead, which is a more elaborate version of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days in the Philippines. There are heritage listings for traditional food such as Turkish coffee and Washoku or Japanese cuisine.

Then there are nature’s blessings, which the Philippines has in abundance. The country is home to some of the world’s most extensive wetlands, which are protected by an international convention. The newest – the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area in Manila Bay – deserves nurturing. Manila Bay itself, where the view of the sunset is a source of national pride, deserves to be saved from further pollution and reclamation activities.

Forests, coral reefs, the rich biodiversity, beaches – these are as much part of our national heritage as the man-made structures that need protection and expert restoration.

We’re all custodians of our national heritage. It’s a responsibility that the country cannot afford to take for granted. Celebrated since 2003, this year’s theme for this special month is “leaders for heritage.” Every Filipino can be a leader in preserving the heritage not just of the country but of humanity.