Angeles City—President Rodrigo Duterte has awarded the first Philippine Heritage Award to Angeles City during a ceremony held in Malacañang.
The award under the Heritage Program Support category was given to Angeles for its “serious commitment in the preservation and conservation of its cultural heritage, with the solid support of non-government organizations, business groups, institutions of higher learning and other private sectors of the city.”
Duterte gave the award based on the recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and Arts, which found the city’s extraordinary commitment to its rich heritage program.
The city entry entitled “Cultural Renaissance in Angeles City” portrays the serious collaboration of the first-class highly urbanized city with the private sector in promoting cultural awareness and appreciation including inclusivity.
The entry also named Councilor Amos Rivers as one of the individuals who piloted the project.
Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno and Councillor Edgardo Pamintuan Jr. received the award from the President in behalf of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and the people of Angeles.
Nepomuceno said the award “is a reaffirmation of our people’s active participation in embracing our cultural legacy for long period of time.”
“We also offer this award to our partners in the private sector manifesting our fruitful endeavours that has cultivated and installed among our people a sense of pride for our beloved city,” he said.
This heritage includes the 1898 Pamintuan House built by the wealthy farmer along the Miranda street. The house conveys Philippine history as the headquarters of the revolutionary army against the Americans, as the sites of the 1899 independence celebration, being occupied by General Arthur MacArthur in 1901 and Japanese Kamikaze pilots in 1944.
It was bought by the Central Bank in 1981. Today, the house remains standing on its hallowed spot “as mute witness to history of the Angelenos in particular and the Filipino in general.”
Other cultural heritage sites are the La Naval guesthouse, Bale Herencia, the 180-year-old Bale Matua (old house) on Sto. Rosario Street, the Holy Rosary Cathedral, the city museum, and other heritage spots.
Mayor Pamintuan created a working committee in 2011 to rediscover the heritage zone, to protect and manage the historical edifices, and preserve events with national significance.
The outgoing mayor of nine years said the heritage program must go hand in hand with urban renewal so Angeles will not be left behind by other cities in the fast setting global development.
“We will not only provide the physical need of the people like health, education, livelihood but also enrich their souls, spirit as well,” Angeles said.
Councilor Pamintuan Jr. also attended the ceremony with Dr. Richard Daenos of the National Commission on Arts and Culture on Monument and Sites and officers of the city.