WV first to form reg'l body on culture, history
National Historical Institute Executive
Director Ludovico Badoy presents the
Certificate of Affiliation recognizing the
Western Visayas Historical and Cultural
Council (WVHCC), to Antique Governor
and RDC 6 Chair Salvacion Z. Perez.
Witnessing the presentation are RDC VI
Co-Chair Wilfredo Homicillada and
Mr. Demy Sonza – Co-Chair, WV Historical
and Cultural Council. WVHCC is the first
ever regionwide historical and cultural
council in the country.
The Regional Development Council of Western Visayas (RDC VI) chaired by Antique Gov. Salvacion Z. Perez made another first as it launched the Western Visayas Historical and Cultural Council (WVHCC), last August 18 at the Educational Media Center of the Central Philippine University in Jaro, Iloilo City. This launching was done barely a month after RDC VI also pioneered the first ever search in the country for best public sector projects in the region.
The creation of the WVHCC aims to preserve, promote and enhance the historical awareness among the people of the region, through its rich cultural and historical heritage. As a special body of RDC VI, it has the mandate of formulating policies and ensuring the preservation, promotion and development of the region's cultural and historical richness. WVHCC will also serve as the advisory council of the RDC and will ensure that relevant information is available to legislators in the region and even in congress on matters relevant to the region's history and culture.
The WVHCC will be headed by Gov. Perez as chair of the RDC, with Iloilo's former Vice Governor Demy Sonza as Co-Chair. The Regional Director of the Department of Education (DepEd) will serve as the secretariat. Other council members are Regional Directors of CHED, Department of Tourism, DILG, PIA, representatives from the provinces of Western Visayas (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental), and local chief executives of the two highly-urbanized cities, Iloilo and Bacolod. There will also be 1 to 2 representatives from NGOs who will be appointed by the RDC to promote culture and heritage. The council will also have committees on Education, Preservation, Monuments and Heraldy, Research and Publications, whose members, preferably from the private sector, will be appointed also by the RDC.
RDC 6 Chair Perez underscored that the WVHCC will serve as an umbrella organization of all historical and cultural councils in the region. As a prime mover of Antique's cultural and historical awakening, she believes that arts, culture and history should be given the attention they deserve. She further asserted that the solution to today's problem is cultural and not political, as "culture unites while politics divides the people, not just of the region, but of the country in general".
A Certificate of Affiliation from the National Historical Institute was conferred by Executive Director Ludovico Badoy in recognition of WVHCC's legitimacy. He lauded RDC 6 for organizing the council that supports the national government's thrusts of making its people active members of the society, by awakening their sense of nationalism through historical and cultural awareness. He also pledged to present RDC VI as a model in the Federation of RDCs, to encourage them to form their own councils.
Commissioner Cecile Guidote-Alvarez of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts was represented by Ferdinand Isleta and Lutgardo Labad. NCCA pledged to strengthen and support the council. Also present in the launching were Luzviminda dela Rosa of the DepEd Special Event Unit and Dr. Juanito Acanto – CPU President.
The launching of the WVHCC was concurrent with the kick-off for the 150th Birth Anniversary of Graciano Lopez-Jaena and fund campaign for the restoration of a shrine in his honor which will also house the memories of other heroes of the region. Antique, through Gov. Perez, had earlier donated P200,000 for the project. The celebration will serve as the take-off activity of WVHCC.
Perez said that RCD 6 is living up to the expectations of President Arroyo who referred to RDCs as her true partners in development. The notable "performance of RDC 6 is our answer to all the political noise and criticism in imperial Manila", Perez further asserted.
(PIO)