Preservation of San Miguel Ancestral Houses: It’s complicated

By Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

There are still many ancestral houses in San Miguel in the province of Bulacan, and these mansions had either been connected to some important people in the past or given contribution to the rich history of the town.

Even though the current owners, usually the great-great-grandchildren, live in Manila or somewhere else, the houses are being kept well and maintained by caretakers or distant relatives.

The Miguel Siojo House.

Along Rizal St. in Poblacion, San Miguel in Bulacan lies behind tall walls the old house of Miguel Siojo built in 1903. His name is connected to Alfred Siojo-Lim Sr., the father and namesake of the former mayor of Manila City.

Walking on, it’s Narcisa Buencamino-De Leon’s House, the upper floor of which is repainted turquoise. Buencamino-De Leon is known as the Mother of Filipino Movie Industry, the founder of LVN Pictures, Inc.

The Ceferino De Leon House.

Next in line is the Ceferino De Leon residence. It housed the father-in-law of former President Manuel Roxas.

The Damaso Sempio House.

Across the street is Damaso Sempio’s house. He was the nephew of Gregorio del Pilar.

The Simon Tecson House.

The house used as headquarters of the first president of the Philippine Republic, Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the Simon Tecson house, still stands high and as elegant as ever.

The Valeriana Velayo House.

Lastly, along Payuwal St., we can find Valeriana Velayo’s old house. She was the founder of Liga Feminista.

However, some of them had been demolished already.

The Nicanor Abelardo Marker.

For example, in Payuwal St. also, the marker of Nicanor Abelardo is the last surviving reminder that he once lived there. The lot where his house used to be is now replaced by a new and modern one.

Moving on to Barangay San Vicente, Jorge Santos Viola’s house is nowhere to be found; there is no single marker of its previous existence before it was dismantled, its wood and other materials sold, about a year ago.

The Maximo Viola Marker.

On the other hand, the marker of Maximo Viola’s residences is the last remnant standing beside a Pastillas Store along the national highway.

The Tourism Officer of San Miguel, Teacher Boy Florencio, said that the municipal government cannot shoulder the expenses for the preservation of the ancestral houses.

“Personally, depende ‘yon. Kung nabubulok na, ano pang lalagyan (ng markers)? May mga lugar na masyado nang (sira). Mga hindi naman magagamit sa tourism,” Florencio stated.

He said that it costs millions to maintain one and much more to maintain at least 11 of the houses left.

The map showing the position of the ancestral houses of San Miguel provided by
tourism officer Boy Florencio. The red line shows the trail of the writer and
the highlighted houses are the ones featured in this article.

Teacher Boy says it only shows the priorities of the local government unit because preservation is not a simple matter.

Sometimes, political color is also involved.

And it is not in his power as tourism officer to decide about it; it is the decision of the present owners as well as of the mayor.

The Narcisa Buencamino-De Leon House.

Just like the Buencamino-De Leon house built in 1913 which was originally three storeys high and now modified to only two storeys high to lessen the cleaning job needed for it, said Josefina David, a great grandniece of Doña Sisang.

However, it does not mean that Florencio is not doing anything about it.

He mentioned giving a copy of the Heritage Act and proposals to the municipal mayor, along with some colleagues, if that is what it takes to have these houses preserved and turn the town into a heritage site.

Currently, there is no response yet.

But the Tourism Officer also mentioned Adaptive Reuse method.

This is a measure that can be applied to the old houses of San Miguel, in which if a house is already so old and is beyond repair, it can be torn down and then rebuilt, following the original design of the house.

Even so, the expenses will be worth millions. ###

Pambansang Pananda, ikinabit sa dating tahanan ni Soc Rodrigo

Ni Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

Ang unveiling ng pambansang pananda sa labas ng lumang tahanan ng dating senador
na si Soc Rodrigo na pinangunahan ni Gob. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado (kanan).

Itinaon sa ika-100 guning pag-alala sa pagsilang ni dating Senador Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo ang paglalagay ng pambansang pananda sa kanyang bahay sa Bulakan, Bulacan nitong ika-29 ng Enero, 2014.

Ito ay dinaluhan ng kanyang naiwang maybahay na si Remedios Rodrigo at anak na si Atty. Francisco "King" Rodrigo Jr., kasabay ng kanilang pagtanggap sa nasabing pananda.

Kabilang sa mga dumalo sa pagtitipon si Veronica Dado, ikalawang patnugot tagapagpaganap ng Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas (PKPP) at Alex Balagtas ng PKPP-Bulacan at Zambales.

Kasama rin sa mga dumalo si Gob. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Bise Gob. Daniel Fernando, Bokal Ayie Ople, Punongbayan ng Bulakan Patrick Meneses, bise niyang si Albert Bituin at Konsehal Piccolo Meneses.

Ang maybahay ng dating senador na si Remedios Rodrigo (kaliwa)
at anak nilang si Atty. King Rodrigo (kanan).

Ipinaabot ni King Rodrigo, na nagsalita para sa kanyang ina, ang pasasalamat sa komisyon sa parangal na ibinigay sa kanyang ama.

"Ang mas makabuluhan pong pagdangal na pwede nating ibigay kay Soc Rodrigo ay ang tularan natin ang simulaing kanyang ipinaglaban para sa Diyos at sa bayan," turan niya.

Ayon kay King, ipinagkaloob ng Diyos sa kanyang ama ang katangiang ibinibigay lamang sa iilang tao: ang magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na gumawa ng tama kahit gaano ito kahirap.

Dagdag niya, kaya rin ng marami sa atin na baguhin ang ating kalagayan ng ating bayan kung tayo ay magsasama-samang mag-alay ng buhay.

Inihalintulad niya ito sa kwento ng isang heneral na nagsindi ng isang palito ng posporo at hinikayat ang kanyang libu-libong kawal na gawin din ito upang bigyan ng sapat na liwanag ang madilim na bulwagan, simbolo na ang pagsasama-sama ng maliit ay magdudulot ng malaking pagbabago.

Binanggit din ng manananggol na isama sa nilalaman ng pananda ang katagang 'makata' at ang pagtatapos ni soc Rodrigo sa pampublikong paaralang elementarya ng Bulakan.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Balagtas na pag-aaralan ito ng komisyon ngunit kung babaguhin man ang nilalaman ng pananda ay hindi muna ngayon dahil kalalagay lamang nito.

Sa kanyang pananalita naman, sinabi ni Sy-Alvarado na nasa dugo ng mga Bulakenyo ang katapangan at kadakilaan.

Ibinigay niyang halimbawa ang mga bayaning sina Marcelo H. Del Pilar at Mariano Ponce na pawang mga taga-Bulacan at nakapag-ambag ng malaki para sa bayan.

Samantala, nasa pag-aari ng pribadong pamilya ang bahay ng mga Rodrigo matapos itong maibenta.

Isa umanong hakbang upang maibalik ang pagmamay-ari ng bahay sa mga Rodrigo at maisama sa tala ng heritage houses ang paglalagay ng pambansang pananda, ani Balagtas.

Kasabay nito ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng komisyon sa kasalukuyang may-ari ng lumang bahay.

Subalit sa ngayon, sa tarangkahan lamang muna ng bahay maikakabit ang pananda.

Kung sakali umano na hindi mabili ulit ang bahay, ililipat ang pananda sa isa sa mga lupaing nasa pangalan ng mga Rodrigo o sa Bulacan State University-Meneses Campus kung saan ang lupang kinatitirikan nito ay donasyon ng pamilya ng dating senador.

Maari din umanong ilipat ito sa pinaplanong historical park sa harap ng munisipyo ng Bulakan kasama ang isang busto ng senador sa gagawing open museum, ayon pa kay Balagtas.

Dagdag pa niya, asahang gagawin ng komisyon ang lahat upang mapangalagaan ang hitsura ng bahay upang hindi ito masira.

Bukod sa pagiging senador, si Soc Rodrigo ay isa ring manananggol, guro, makata at manunulat. Nakipaglaban siya sa panahon ng Batas Militar at itinaguyod ang wikang Filipino sa kanyang mga panulat. ###

Big names from mass media inspire BulSU CAL students in MediArts 2014

By Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

Three respected and well-known mass media personalities shared their personal experiences and delivered inspiring words to the students of Bulacan State University (BulSU) College of Arts and Letters (CAL) for the MediArts Exposition last January 24 in Malolos Sports and Convention Center (MSCC).

Remus Villanueva: "To be! Oh yes!"

Theatre artist Remus Villanueva kept the audience alive as he talked about his knowhow in the arts, the challenges he has faced throughout his career and about making sense of decision-making.

“The most important is for you to tell the whole world that ‘Hey, this is what I want to happen,” he said after he asked the members of the audience to shout out what they wanted to become following their graduation.

“Everything depends on you. Everything depends on your mind set. If you like something, then you like it,” Villanueva imparted.

Oscar Oida during an ambush interview by
the Mass Comm students of BulSU.

Next in line to speak was GMA News reporter Oscar Oida who related to the mass communications students the story of how he got into media, despite having the childhood dream of being a lawyer, and how he grew to love the profession of journalism.

He said he is motivated to stay in the media because of the opportunity given to him every day to be significant to the people by delivering them news and information they need.

“Just make sure, if you enter this job, you have the heart for this,” said Oida in a separate interview after his talk on stage.

“Madaling magsulat, madaling magbalita, madaling humarap sa TV. Pero kung wala ‘yung puso mo sa pagbabalita, iiwanan at iiwanan mo ‘to, eh.”

Ramon Bautista giving his lecture to the
students of CAL.

Drawing the loudest cheer from the crowd was internet icon and writer Ramon Bautista, charming the students and professors as he shared the easy steps to be successful in the field of media.

He also let the audience watch some of his most viewed videos from YouTube like “Sino si Ramon Bautista?” and a commercial film for a brand of coffee with the late Master Rapper Francis Magalona.

“Tayo ‘yung taga-inspire ng mga tao para ‘yung mga engineer, mga architect, mga doctor, alam nila na sa Pilipinas dapat sila magtrabaho at pasulungin nila ang bansa natin,” said Bautista, emphasizing the role and importance of mass media to the society.

After each of the guests’ turn to speak, students were given opportunities to ask questions in an open forum.

This year’s MediArts Exposition was organized by the Journalism department headed by Ethel Cruz-Jovito and assisted by the senior journalism students. ###

Strengthening of the Angat Dam on the way

By Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado. FILE PHOTO.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado revealed he had talked with high officials of the national government and that the Angat Dam will be rehabilitated soon.

He said this during the 115th Anniversay of the First Republic held last January 23 in Barasoain Church in the City of Malolos.

The governor also announced that the replacement of the rubber dams in Bustos is to be started around the middle of the year.

"The Bulacan Bulk Water right, ipagkakaloob na sa mga taga-lalawigan ng Bulacan," added Sy-Alvarado during his speech before he introduced Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno who attended the event as the guest of honour.

"For the first time tayo ang nag-aari ng Angat Dam, ng ating tubig, subalit tayo, sa underground nagmumula ang ating inumin," he said.

Apart from the mentioned projects, Sy-Alvarado told the crowd that the Pampanga River Control System, as well as other rivers, is going to be revived and dredged, as mandated by the law.

"Ang ating post-industrialization program kasama ang ating Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa na kung saan everybody now is looking north of Metro Manila, pinaghahandaan po natin sa ating agenda at dito po sa lalong madaling panahon ang declaration ay pipirmahan ng ating Pangulo (Benigno Aquino III), declaring Malolos," Sy-Alvarado stated (sic).

Bulacan is also going to upgrade its jewelry and pyrotechnics industries, the latter through the help of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The governor promised a strict implementation against illegal importations; more agro-industrial developments in the towns of Norzagaray and Dona Remedios Trinidad; road networks from San Jose Del Monte to the province of Aurora; North Luzon Railways; and coastal highways.

"Ito po ay magkakaroon ng katuparan," Sy-Alvarado said.

The province's patriarch also expressed wishes that the 23rd of January will be made an official holiday. ###

CJ Sereno: Malolos Constitution embodies democracy, freedom of Filipinos

By Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno giving her
message during the 115th Anniversary of the
First Philippine Republic in Malolos City, Bulacan.

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan—"Hindi man ito naipatupad dahil sa pagputok ng digmaan sa pagitan ng mga Pilipino at Estados Unidos, sinasalamin ng Konstitusyon ng Malolos ang masidhing pagnanais nating mga Pilipino na magkaroon ng pagbabago sa pamahalaan."

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno made this statement during the celebration of the 115th Anniversary of the First Philippine Republic where she attended the event as guest of honour last January 23.

The highest leader of the Judiciary explained to the people gathered in the patio of the historical Barasoain Church the relevance of the Malolos Constitution of 1899 to the present Constitution of 1987.

Sereno said that the First Republic shows the aspirations of our Filipino ancestors to have their own government that is free from the dictatorship of the tyrants.

It also provided foundation to the Constitution currently in effect and observed in the country.

"Sinasabi ko po sa ngalan ng buong Hudikatura na marami po kaming utang na loob sa mga konseptong inilatag ng ating mga magigiting na ninuno noong 1898 hanggang 1899 sa pamamagitan ng Konstitusyon ng Malolos," Sereno mentioned.

Even though the 1899 Constitution was short-lived and adapted from the different constitutions of other countries, Sereno emphasized that the First Republic was created by Filipinos and Filipinos alone.

"Testamento ang Konstitusyon ng Malolos sa hangarin ng ating mga kababayan na magtransisyon mula sa diktaturyal at rebolusyonaryong pamahalaan na kinakailangan noong panahon ng digmaan patungo sa sistema ng republika na may malinaw na pagtatakda ng kapangyarihan at pananagutan ng bawat isa," the Chief Justice explained.

Sereno said that the First Republic is a reminder of how our ancestors valued democracy and this should be continued up to the present.

"Mula sa mga tagapagbuo ng Konstitusyon ng Malolos, natututunan rin po natin na dapat ipaglaban at laging pahalagahan ang kalayaan," she stated.

"Malinaw rin po ang ipinagtitibay ng pakikipaglaban nila, na dapat po tayong maniwala sa ating sariling kakayahan para mag-asam ng kalayaan at panagutan ito."

Apart from the Chief Justice, Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito also attended the event, together with her wife, Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Sanchez-Ejercito.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado was also present as well as Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad and Vice Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Ludovico Badoy.

Mayors from the different municipalities of the province were also part of the audience, along with war veterans, the employees of the local government unit and students who joined in with the celebration. ###

A balance of everything: Tan juggles between acads and Peys

by Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

Do not take more than you can chew.

But Pacesetter's Editor-in-Chief Jasmin Lorraine Tan has proven that she can take everything—what with being the head of Bulacan State University's official student publication, ending up as the individual highest pointer in the 13th Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) and acting as the Associate Producer for a Sibul short film entry—on top of being a senior journalism student who is currently writing her thesis paper.

It is a question then of how can she handle the amount of works she has every day.

"Sabi ko nga, 'pag nasa [Pacesetter] office, hanggat may liwanag nag-a-acads (academics) ako tapos pag dumilim na, do'n ako nag-e-edit hanggang hindi na matulog," the 20-year-old EIC shared to the 3rd year journalism students in an interview.

When the publication is busy over campus journalism works, she rarely goes home.

"Nung nakaraan, mula sem-break hanggang January 5, I think, mga Saturday [and] Sunday lang ako nasa bahay," she recalled.

"Naiintindihan nila (family). Basta tuwing umaalis ako, sinasabi, 'Mag-iwan ka ng picture ha,'" she quipped.

But these efforts and sleepless nights paid off when she won in three categories she participated in during the RHEPC held last January 15-17: first place each on Sports Writing (English), DevComm Writing (English) and Opinion Writing (English) categories, naming her the Individual Highest Pointer.

With the mind-set that they really should finish as champion this time, Pacesetter ranked number one in the standing of school publications in Region III after three years of falling second behind Bataan Peninsula State University.

Tan was not the intended contender for DevComm and Opinion categories but conflicting schedules made way for her to take up the spot and drop News Writing and Editorial Writing categories.

"We have been called the weakest batch, ang daming tawag sa atin, tapos parang ang daming fall back, tapos ang daming failures. Tapos nung nag-champion, parang, ito na yun e, ito na 'yung lahat ng hindi natin itinulog, lahat ng panahon na hindi tayo umuwi, lahat ng panahon na kailangan mong i-sacrifice yung acads mo and everything," she said.

The self-proclaimed Sports Writer was later nicknamed "Monster" for garnering awards in the competition, a label she could not quite grasp yet.

"Parang hindi ako makapaniwala na ewan kasi nga dati lagi nga lang akong talo and everything tapos ngayon... parang, sabi ko nga bawing-bawi yung pagkabigo ko mula kinder," she stated.

Tan: "Never think that God's delays are God's denials."

Tan revealed that she never won in any of the previous writing contests she joined in her elementary and secondary years, and she was also not accepted to join the high school publication even after three tries that she almost lost the drive to write.

But she never gave up.

She believes that her failures from the past are her biggest motivations.

"Kailangan, kung ano 'yung effort na ginawa mo sa unang contest, sa kasunod dapat mas malaki, mas mabigat. Kasi siyempre, hindi ka naman matatalo nang walang dahilan, hindi ka naman dinaya lang," she imparted.

Tan added, "Basta dapat 'yung sarili mo 'yung ka-compete mo lagi. 'Yung ginawa mo dati, dapat better yung gagawin mo sa susunod."

Because of her struggles on her way to success, she thinks the Jasmin now is "definitely stronger" than the Jasmin before.

"Kung dati hindi ko kinakaya yung mga problema mag-isa, ngayon wala ka kasing ibang choice kundi kayanin para do’n sa mga taong umaasa sa'yo," Tan told the juniors.

Now that this cum Laude candidate is almost at the end of her stay in the university, she expressed feeling sad and afraid at the same time about leaving Pacesetter behind.

"Nakakalungkot kasi syempre, family ko na 'yung mga tao dun. Tapos nakakatakot kasi—hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala sa mga iiwan ko do'n, hindi naman sa gano'n—pero siyempre, paano 'pag inapi-api sila ng mga nasa labas? Kasi ngayon, nandito ako, kahit paano maproprotektahan ko sila, 'di ba?" Tan said.

She disclosed that she was planning on taking a rest for a month before looking for work in a broadsheet or sports magazine.

"Kasi buong school life ko naman, pagod na pagod na pagod na pagod ako," she joked.

She advised the junior class to stay only in the course if they really want it.

"Ako kasi, kaya ko rin nagawang mag-stay dito na kahit na nahihirapan ako na sabay 'yung campus journalism at being journalism student kasi gusto ko talaga ‘yung ginagawa ko. Gusto ko talaga ng nagsusulat, nag-iinterview, everything," the EIC imparted. "So kung hindi mo talaga gusto 'yung ginagawa mo, doon ka na lang, doon sa gusto mo. At least, sa huli hindi ka magsisisi, naghirap ka man."

Lastly, Tan thanked her professors.

"Kung hindi kami hinayaan nila Sir (Dino Balabo) dati na nasa field kami...Siguro mas hindi ko makakaya 'yung mga works as campus journalist kasi siyempre wala namang ibang magtuturo sa inyo, kayo-kayo lang," she said.

"At least natuto akong maging independent, dumiskarte sa sarili na kahit walang magtuturo sa'yo exactly kung paano 'yung gagawin mo." ###

Bulakenyos pray with the nation, for Angat Dam

by Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER. Bulakenyos praying as one nation.

Bulakenyos gathered last January 20 in Mini Forest within Bulacan Provincial Capitol Grounds for a morning of prayer.

This is in connection with the National Day of Prayer and Solidarity initiated by President Benigno Aquino III in commemoration of the lives lost to many disasters that occured in 2013.

Comelec provincial officer and pastor, Atty. Elmo Duque graced the event as the guest speaker and delivered words of God to the crowd with the theme "If...Then."

UNITED IN PRAYER. Atty. Pastor Elmo Duque, Bishop Edilberto Chan, Pastor Cesar Sacdalan, Bishop Efren Perez, Reverend Joel Lombon and Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado linked hands as they lead the prayer with the Bulakenyos.

Bishop Edilberto Chan who chairs the Baptist Church, Pastor Cesar Sacdalan of ABSP, Interfaith of Bulacan president Bishop Efren Perez and Reverend Joel Lombon lead a group prayer with the local government unit employees fronted by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and the students of Bulacan State University (BulSU) who participated in the said rally.

"'Yung prayer kasi, 'yan ang connection natin sa Panginoon. Parang 'yung anak, naglalambing sa tatay," Duque said in an interview after the prayer rally. "Napakahalaga [ng prayer] kasi ipinapaalam natin ang ating saloobin sa Panginoon."

Duque: "This province is a blessed province because there are Godly people."

The reported possibility of Angat Dam break was emphasized in the assembly.

"Isa sa mga kritikal na isyu (Dam Break) dahil dam 'yan e. Anytime, 'pag hindi na-repair 'yan e isang malaking disaster ang idudulot niyan," the pastor and Comelec official stated.

"Via social network siguro other than this prayer rally, sa mga peer grouping ninyo ay pwede nating ipaalam sa kanila, [imulat sila tungkol sa] danger na nakaamba diyan sa issue ng Angat Dam," he added.

Because of this, Duque encourages the political leaders, the students and the youth to be prayerful.

Gov. Sy-Alvarado, meanwhile, revealed in his speech about the plans to have larger prayer assembly in February to call the attention of the national government and have the Angat Dam repaired immediately. ###

Calasageños unperturbed by probability of dam break

by Minde Nyl Dela Cruz

Residents of Barangay Calasag in San Ildefonso, Bulacan are not much bothered about the possibility of Angat Dam break.

Because San Ildefonso is elevated and rarely experiences flooding even in strong typhoons, some inhabitants are not troubled about deep flooding that the dam may cause if it cracks.

“Malayo naman tayo sa Angat Dam e,” said Gerardo Castro, 71, farmer. “Hindi gaanong [aabutin] siguro kasi ang ilog, ang Angat, malayo sa atin.”

Tricycle driver Alfredo Santos, 54, thinks the same.

“Tiyak namang hindi aabutin itong [San Ildefonso]. Iyang parte ng Baliuag, lahat ng mababa [ang aabutin],” Santos said. “Parang baha lang dito sa atin. Hindi kamukha sa kanila na lubog sila roon. Mababa e.”

“’Pag ito’y (San Ildefonso) lumubog, e mamamatay nang lahat ng nand’yan sa Baliuag, lahat ng mababa,” said Regina Victoria, 70, weaver. “’Pag ito’y lumubog, marami nang mamamatay sa paligid.”

However, Gladys Pineda, 29, storeowner, expressed, “Hindi rin naman tayo dapat pumanatag… Talagang hindi mo masasabi kung kalian [darating ang mga kalamidad]. Kung anong ginawa ng tao, siyang ibabalik ng kalikasan.”

“Dapat asikasuhin nila [ang Angat Dam], iyon ang dapat nilang bigyang-pansin para hindi naman tayo shock na shock sa mangyayari. Para kung may tendency na masisira ‘yun… lahat naman tayo mapeperwisyo.”

Likewise, Irene Padilla, 35, also a storeowner, said “Dapat pagtuunan nila ng pansin kasi nga ‘pag iyon (Angat Dam), nasira, maraming maapektuhang bayan.”

For housewife Cristina De Guzman, 34, the government should have teams of rescuers at the ready.

“’Yun ang pinakamahalaga kasi hindi naman natin inaasahan kung anong araw, anong oras darating lalo na ‘pag gabi. Kailangan ang gobyerno, nakahanda rin sila para rumescue sa mga nasalanta,” De Guzman stated. ###