Inventory of Marinduque's cultural property, Certificate of Compliance, summary list and fast-facts on new entries

Through the combined effort of cultural agencies like the National Museum of the Philippines, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Archives, the National Library of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as well as the Department of the Interior and Local Government,  and the Provincial Government of Marinduque, the creation of an inventory and updating of cultural properties in the island-province has been undertaken.

The Official Submission of Local Cultural Inventory was accompanied by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 1286 series of 2021, endorsing the same together with the Summary List of LCI for 2021, and appropriate documentation.

NCCA formally transmits on 22 December 2021, to Gov. Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. the Certificate of Compliance for the LGU's annual submission by virtue of DILG-NCCA Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001 or the "Amended Guidelines on the Standardized Submission of Local Cultural Inventory under the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property for the Issuance of Certificate of Compliance to Local Government Unit". 

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE issued to 

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF MARINDUQUE

Summary List and Fast-facts on new entries in the inventory of Marinduque's Local Cultural Property.

Immaculate Conception Parish Church 

Location: Brgy. Mataas na Bayan, Boac, Marinduque

OPISYAL NA PANGALAN (Official Name): 1.            IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):                BOAC CATHEDRAL

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):                SIMBAHAN NG BOAC

Original state of the Boac Cathedral which with “palitada” as outer covering of the stone wall.  

It was heavily destroyed by a destructive Category 5 super typhoon “Herming” in 1987.

 In rehabilitating the Church at that lime, palitada was removed exposing the old stones or red bricks of the Church making it look more “authentic”. New bricks were added to the exterior. Physical changes were likewise made to the interior of the Church. 

Old interior of the Church.

Present interior of the Church

Unveilng on 16 February 2021, of the historical marker from the National Museum of the Philippines declaring Boac Cathedral  an Important Cultural Property (ICP).

Boac Cathedral, Important Cultural Property. Provincial and municipal officials attend unveiling ceremony on Feb. 16, 2021, together with officials of the National Museum of the Philippines and the Diocese of Boac led by Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio Maralit, Jr., Bishop of Boac.

Museo at Aklatan ng Boac

Location: Liwasan ng Kalayaan, Boac, Marinduque

OPISYAL NA PANGALAN (Official Name): 2.         MUSEO AT AKLATAN NG BOAC

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):              NATIONAL MUSEUM (NM-MARINDUQUE-ROMBLON AREA MUSEUM)

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):             NATIONAL MUSEUM

The building and lot was turned over to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in 1992 by the Municipality of Boac. The building was restored, and the museum was eventually opened to the public on February 22, 1995. 

On October 1, 2015 to February 27, 2019, the museum was renovated and retrofitted. It was reopened to the public on February 28, 2019.

The NM Marinduque-Romblon Area Museum that is permanently housed in this building now features, among others, ethnographic and marine archaeology exhibits showcasing the island-province’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

Before its conversion as a museum this old Spanish building was used as a prison, a boy’s school, a government office and library.

Museo at Aklatan ng Boac (National Museum), 2003

National Museum, 2011.

Labanan sa Paye Monument

Location: Sitio Paye, Brgy. Balimbing, Boac, Marinduque

OPISYAL NA PANGALAN (Official Name): 3.         LABANAN SA PAYE MONUMENT

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):              LABANAN SA PAYE

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):               LABANAN SA PAYE

 A National Historical Institute (NHI) marker was placed in 2000 near a portion of the riverbed where the encounter took place. The Level II - Historical marker reads:

LABANAN SA PAYE

NAGANAP SA POOK NA ITO ANG PANGALAWANG LABANAN SA MARINDUQUE NG DIGMAANG PILIPINO–AMERIKANO NOONG HULYO 31, 1900. NAGWAGI ANG SECOND GUERILLA UNIT (BAHAGI NG DATING SECOND COMPANY, INFANTRY BATTALION), MARINDUQUE REVOLUTIONARY FORCE, NA NAKATALAGA SA REHIYON BOAC–MOGPOG SA PAMUMUNO NI KAPITAN TEOFILO ROQUE LABAN SA COMPANY A, TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY, UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS, NA MAY GARISON SA BOAC SA PAMUNUNO NI TENYENTE WILLIAM S. WELLS, JR. NABIHAG NG MGA PILIPINO ANG 2 KABONG AMERIKANO AT 1 SIBILYANG INGLES.

Labanan sa Paye historical marker in 2012

By the river bank where the Labanan sa Paye marker once stood.

Liwasan ng Kalayaan in foreground, (and Casa Real in background)

Location: Liwasan ng Kalayaan, Boac, Marinduque

OPISYAL NA PANGALAN (Official Name): 4.            LIWASAN NG KALAYAAN,

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):               BOAC PLAZA

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):               PLAZA NG BOAC

 Local revolutionary heroes, including Hermenegildo Flores, were massacred at Casa Real by Spanish soldiers on October 10, 1897, and in another encounter on  November 1, 1897. This is the significance of 10 de Octubre and 1 de Noviembre Streets nearby.

But many do not know who is Hermenegildo Flores. He has not been given proper due recognition by any cultural agency.

Liwasan ng Kalayaan, aerial view. Casa Real at bottom, basketball court on top, Casa Emilio at left, National Museum at right. Photo: ctto

Flores

Hermenegildo Flores, the forgotten hero from Bulacan who eventually led the revolutionary struggle in Marinduque, wrote the poem “Hibik ng Filipinas sa Inang Espana” that elicited poetic responses from two of our foremost national heroes, Marcelo H. del Pilar with “Sagot ng Espanya sa Hibik ng Filipinas” and the Great Plebeian himself, Andres Bonifacio, who wrote “Katapusang Hibik ng Filipinas”, a historic poetic triad. Historical accounts about Flores are, to a large extent, limited only to that stirring poem he wrote that led to the Bonifacio poem, described as “the climactic moment to the history of Tagalog poetry during the 19th century” (Mabangio). He is not written about as a hero, no monument, no bust, no significant marker for Filipinos to know who he really was.

But there was more to him. Hermenegildo Flores was killed as a prisoner of war at the Casa real in Boac. Because of his writings and his role as the leader of the revolutionary struggle in Marinduque during the Filipino-Spanish war he suffered extreme cruelty. His corpse was not given the last rites of the Church, rites that normally constituted a mark of respect.  Unlike his comrades who were buried at the Cementerio de Boac. Instead, his remains were dragged from the Casa Real to the Boac riverbed nearby and burned to ashes.

Maximo Abad surrender

Liwasan ng Kalayaan is also the site of Col. Maximo Abad’s and his remaining troop’s surrender.  Photo below shows him signing his surrender papers in an “impressive ceremony” according to U.S. accounts. 

The National Historical Institute (NHI), marker installed at the Casa Real on 6 December 1975, Level II – Historical marker; Category: Sites/Events; Type: Sites; reads:

LIWASAN NG KALAYAAN

DATING KINATATAYUAN NG CASA REAL NOONG PANAHON NG MGA KASTILA AT PAGKATAPOS AY NAGING PRESIDENCIA, SA POOK NA ITO PINATAY ANG MGA REBOLUSYONARYONG KINABIBILANGAN NINA KAPITAN HERMENEGILDO FLORES AT REMIGIO MEDINA NOONG 1897. DITO RIN NILAGDAAN NI KORONEL MAXIMO ABAD AT KAPITAN H.H. BANDHOLTZ NOONG IKA-25 NG ABRIL 1901 ANG KASUNDUANG NAGWAKAS SA DIGMAANG PILIPINO–AMERIKANO SA MARINDUQUE

Col. Maximo Abad surrender, April 15, 1901, at the Boac Plaza (Liwasan ng Kalayaan). House in the background is the Lardizabal-Trivino house that’s still stands there today.

 (Photo colorized by Kinulayang Nakaraan).

Casa Real (Boac)

Location: Liwasan ng Kalayaan, Boac, Marinduque

OPISYAL NA PANGALAN (Official Name): 5.           CASA REAL

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):               CASA REAL

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):               CASA REAL

The architecture of the new Casa Real was inspired by the 18th century design of the original Casa Real which was gutted by fire in 1912. This used to be the official residence of the gobernadorcillo and the Spanish governor during his annual visits.  Many other historical events transpired here, among them a bloody siege of the building by revolutionaries during the Filipino-Spanish War.

Located at the town center, it is now used as a multi-purpose building and venue for hosting various exhibits, and cultural events.

The historical marker, “Liwasan ng Kalayaan” previously installed at the Rizal monument was moved to the “Casa Real” when the new building was finished.

A major tourist attraction located at the center of the historic town of Boac  where many cultural and artistic events are held now and then.

(to be continued)