“Para sa bayan.”
For officials of Biñan City, Laguna, this year’s theme for Araw ng Biñan carries a lot of weight – and not just in the context of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, but also on what the future holds for the city and its people especially the youth.
As the country prepares to move on and recover from the impacts of the pandemic, it is more important, than ever, to remember – and celebrate – Biñan’s rich cultural heritage as a way of preparing for the future.
“Ano ba ang objective natin ngayon? Ano ba ang dapat iniisip natin ngayon? Dapat, ‘para sa bayan,’” BJ Borja, a prominent local historian and head of the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO), said.
Remembering the roots
In an interview with OpinYon Laguna, Borja said their goal for this year’s Araw ng Biñan is for the “new generation” of its youth to remember their roots, as they will soon inherit both the city’s glorious past and prosperous future.
“Ang goal natin ngayon ay makakuha ng mga aral mula sa nakalipas, paano natin ito dadalhin sa kasalukuyan at paano tayo matututo pagdating sa hinaharap,” he added.
Heritage
Celebrated every February 2 to 4, “Araw ng Biñan” aims to commemorate not only the city’s rich history and heritage but also its socio-economic achievements.
The festival is coincidentally celebrated on two landmark dates in the city’s history: February 2, when it gained cityhood status in 2010, and February 3, the day Biñan was liberated from Japanese forces during World War II.
This year’s festivities will be a special one as, according to prominent Lagunense historian Pepe Alas, the city will celebrate its bicenterquasquigenary (275th founding anniversary).
The numbering stemmed from the definitive year – 1747 – of the founding of the city that was decided by BCHATO and the local government, as per research conducted by Borja.
Year of creation
“I found a book by Agustin dela Cravada, nakasulat doon ang foundation years of the Laguna towns. Nakalagay, ‘Biñan: año de sucreation (year of creation), 1747,’” Borja had told OpinYon in 2020, when the city first started using that year as their “founding year.”
For years, there have been conflicting records on when the city was actually founded, Borja told OpinYon. Records available so far showed the city was separated from its mother town of Tabuko (now Cabuyao City) in 1688.
After further research at the National Archives in Manila as well as correspondence with the National Historical Commission (NHC), Borja and the local government decided to select 1747 as the most accurate foundation year for Biñan.
Festivities
According to Borja, this year’s celebration of the Araw ng Biñan will also serve as an extension of its celebration of the 150th anniversary of “Rizal in Biñan” last year.
The city’s celebration of the 150th year since national hero Jose Rizal completed his studies in the city was marked by a series of activities that culminated in a program at the restored school where Rizal first had his formal schooling last December.
“I don’t really believe kasi na na-celebrate natin fully at na-inculcate natin yun value ng activities last year, mainly because napakahigpit [ng protocols] gawa nga ng pandemya,” he explained.
Culture and history
During the interview, Borja also expounded on how the city’s “Big Three” leaders – Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, and Representative Len Alonte – have placed heavy support for his programs at the BCHATO.
“Naalala ko ang sinabi noon ni Senator JV Ejercito noong festivities ng ‘Rizal in Biñan, na bihirang-bihira ang mga bayan na nagpapahalaga sa kanilang kasaysayan and at the same time gumagawa ng mga proyekto sa kasaysayan,” he recalled.
“Sa totoo lang kasi, ang mga aktibidad sa kasaysayan ay hindi naman nakakapagbigay ng boto. Para pahalagahan ito ng mga lider natin – I think dito nagsisimula ang pagmamahal ng mga tao para sa bayan.”
Carrying the tradition
But more than simply celebrating milestones, Borja said the city government wants the city's youth to carry on the traditions and the heritage that had contributed to the city's socio-economic progress.
"Wala namang ibang magdadala ng sulo kundi sila," he explained. "Kung hindi kasi mai-involve ang mga bata sa mga usapin, sa mga activities, I don't think na may relevance ang heritage sa kanila."
The BCHATO head, who had been one of the active voices in preserving the city’s cultural heritage, believes the best way to keep history and culture relevant in the modern world is to continue to “talk about it.”
“We have to continuously talk about it. Kasi kung hindi pag-uusapan, walang saysay ang kasaysayan,” he stressed.
Remembering the present, preparing for the future
This was also the sentiment of Biñan City’s “Big Three” leaders, who said in separate statements that the “Araw ng Biñan” festivities are meant to rekindle the spirit of service and local pride among Biñanenses.
‘Nawa, ang Araw ng Biñan ay magpaalala sa bawat isa sa pagpupunyagi ng bawat isang mga taga-Biñan na ilagay ang ating lungsod kung nasaan man ito sa kasalukuyan,” Vice Mayor Gel Alonte told OpinYon Laguna.
“Ang mga aktibidades ng Araw ng Biñan ay mahalaga dahil muli nitong sasariwain ang mga aral ng kasaysayan, mula noong tayo ay ginawang bayan ng mga Kastila, sa paglaya natin sa mga hapon, hanggang sa naging ang bayan natin at maging isang progresibong lungsod,” he added.
Reviving interest
Meanwhile, Mayor Dimaguila was all praises to the BCHATO for its goal of reviving interest among the city’s youth in its rich history and culture.
"Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit buhay ang mga ganitong selebrayon sa Biñan ay dahil gusto nating patuloy na maalala at pahalagahan ng mga mamamayan ang kultura at kasaysayan ng lungsod," he said in a message to OpinYon Laguna.
"Sa pamamagitan ng mga ganitong selebrayon, nawa ay mas lalo nating mahalin ang tinatamasang kalayaan sa kasalukuyan at patuloy na magsikap para sa ating kinabukasan, para sa kinabukasan ng Lungsod ng Biñan."
The local executive also praised the frontliners who have "heroically" served the city's residents throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
"'Para sa bayan,' naipaglaban ng ating mga ninuno ang tinatamasa nating kasarinlan. 77 years ago, naging ganap na malaya ang Biñan at simula no'n ay patuloy na nakilala ang Biñan sa iba't ibang larangan lalo na sa dekalidad na edukasyon. Sa kasalukuyan, healthcare workers and frontliners ang itinuturing nating mga bayani. Nawa gaya nila, para sa bayan, mas maging mabuti tayong mamamayan ng lungsod at ng bansa. Mas maging kapakipakinabang sana tayo at lahat ng ating gagawin ay maging para sa Diyos at sa ating bayang mahal."
Rep. Alonte also gave great weight on the youth’s role in the city’s future – a role which, she pointed out, could be accomplished with education.
“Maraming salamat sa mga kabataan na patuloy na naniniwala at nagbibigay ng importansya sa kagalingan at kahalagahan ng edukasyon," she added.