There’s a timeworn Filipino phrase, “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.”
Sadly, as we, Filipinos, strive to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of socio-economic progress, we have forgotten to preserve, much less remember, the mementos of the past that enable us to rekindle our pride as Filipinos and push us to strive for further development.
We’ve seen it not only in the current trend to discredit history and distort the narrative (to fit into the selfish agendas of certain individuals and groups) but also in our abject neglect, desecration and destruction of some of our most prized historical landmarks.
We are now in a trend of “cultural forgetfulness” when we lose touch of the things, the edifices, the monuments, that define us as Filipinos. And when we lose touch of what makes us uniquely Filipino, we lose the drive and the enthusiasm to make our country a better place.
There are notable exceptions in our local front, fortunately.
The recent win of the city government of Biñan in Laguna in the Galing Pook Awards for their programs to rekindle the city’s cultural heritage is a landmark example of how preserving our culture and economic progress go hand-in-hand.
Not only has the programs to restore important historical landmarks have made Biñan City a growing magnet for tourism in the province of Laguna – which ultimately translates to more business and employment opportunities for the locals – the city government’s drive to create a “unique” cultural identity for Biñan has made its residents proud to be Biñanenses.
And we can be all assured that when residents of a certain city or town has that kind of pride instilled in their consciousness, they will be more motivated to live in that area, to call it as their home and to become active contributors in the development of that area.
The case of Biñan City should be an example for other local government units in this province that, in our efforts to elevate the standards of living for our residents, let’s not forget our culture: the unique characteristics that binds us and gives our residents an identity that they can be proud of.