BALIWAG,
Bulacan—Cemeteries must be preserved and developed into tourist destination, a
heritage conservation group based in Bulacan urged.
Jaime
Corpuz, chair of the Bulacan chapter of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) said cemeteries are not just home to dead loved ones.
He
said that it is a repository of images and artifacts with cultural and
historical, and resting place of people of importance.
“We
have so much to learn about cemeteries, but not too many government unit or
agency have seen its significance,” Corpuz said.
He
said that monuments like mausoleum and sculpture in cemeteries are good basis
for cultural and historical studies.
“Those
are historical time pieces that will tell us how our ancestors lived in the
past, and what are the influences of other countries to our culture by studying
architecture and sculptures,” said Corpuz.
He
stressed that cemeteries, especially those that are owned by the Church and by
local government be protected and preserved.
Corpuz
also proposed tourism programs like Lakbay Kaluluwa study tours be developed by
local government units.
The
same was echoed by Isagani Giron, the president emeritus of the Samahang
Pangkasaysayan ng Bulacan (Sampaka).
He
said that before a tourism program is developed, local government units must
join hands with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
and the Catholic church in conducting inventory of materials with cultural and
historical significance.
“We
only go to cemeteries during All Saints day, but it is good subject for
cultural and historical studies,” he said.
He
cited the Malolos Catholic Cemetery which was built in 1680 as one of the
oldest in the country and is the resting place of some of the remains of the
members of the famous women of Malolos.
He
also agreed with Corpuz that cemeteries are considered as second home to Filipinos,
thus, the construction of house like mausoleums.
“Mausoleums
are clear example of Spanish influence in our culture because native Filipinos
do not have cemeteries, instead, our ancestors used to bury their dead by the
river,” Giron explained.
For
his part, Father Ruel Arcega of the St. Augustine parish here said that going
to cemetery on All Saints day have deeper religious meaning.
““Ito
ay pagkilala natin sa muling pagkabuhay, at sa huling araw ng paghuhukom, ang
muling pagsasama ng kaluluwa at katawan katulad ng ipinakita ni Panginoong
Hesus at Birheng Maria,” said Arcega
With
regards to cultural dimension of mausoleums in cemeteries, the priest explained
that it’s a testament of the difference betweenthe rich and poor.
On
Saturday, the STAR took photos of the mausoleums inside the Sto. Cristo
Catholic Cemetery here.
Some
of the mausoleums even have a roof top and others were designed like a house
complete with power and water supply and comfort room. (Dino Balabo)
