As part of the year-long commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) launched Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan at the activity center of SM The Block in North EDSA.
Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan is part of the long list of activities and events slated in 2013 to celebrate the accomplished and heroic life of Andres Bonifacio, which culminates in the sesquicentennial of his birth on 30 November 2013. It aims to renew the public’s interest in appreciating and taking pride of the history of these often forgotten, if not overlooked, sites which played an important role in the life of the Supremo, Katipunan, and Philippine Revolution of 1896. It identifies 16 important sites tracing Bonifacio’s trail from his birthplace in Tondo, Manila; to the Katipuneros’ secret meeting place in Pamitinan Cave in Rodriguez, Rizal; to his place of martyrdom in Maragondon, Cavite.
Byaheng Bonifacio invites people to visit and take photos of the places featured. The first 100 participants to complete the pilgrimage shall receive a token and a Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan certificate. The competition is open to all domestic and foreign tourists.
Similar to Lakbay Jose Rizal, which was launched last year in commemoration of Rizal@150, Byaheng Bonifacio is organized in partnership with the NHCP and relevant local government units. SM has generously hosted the launching activity.
The DOT was represented by Assistant Secretary Rolando Canizal, who called on the public to visit the Bonifacio sites, get to know more about the hero, and discover one’s self better. Also present during the launch were NHCP Executive Director Leodovico Badoy, NHCP Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Projects, Arch. Veronica Dado, SM City North EDSA Regional Operations Manager Arch. Renee Bacani, SM City Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon, and one of Andres Bonifacio’s descendants, Atty. Gary Bonifacio.
NHCP Chair Dr. Maria Serena Diokno said that through Byaheng Bonifacio, it is hoped that people will not only get to see these places in light of Bonifacio’s heroic trail, but also realize the relevance of Bonifacio’s life, works, and achievements in their daily lives.
“Part of who we are today and what we feel today, we owe much to our heroic forebears who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. It is, therefore, the Department’s mandate to preserve our rich colonial history, our heritage, alive for the interest of the future Filipino generations. Byaheng Bonifacio is one perfect way to remember with deep gratitude one of the greatest heroes in our history,” Tourism Secretary Jimenez enthused.
For the complete details of the tour program, the public is advised to visit www.tourism.gov.ph and www.nhcp.gov.ph or contact the Office of the Historic Sites and Education Division of the NHCP at T.M. Kalaw Avenue, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila, with telephone numbers: 524-9952 and 523-1019.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
We are just so happy of our freedom that we forget the people behind the liberty that we are relishing. The problem is, many of us would rather play games in their gadgets than read books about our history. We allow modernization to hypnotize us, and we eventually forget the past of our country. Some may not even remember what the Kaputinero's did in Pugadlawin or what KKK stands for. Always remember where we came from. Some offered their lives to our country, so that we would not be called 'indios' anymore. They didn't sacrifice the greatest thing God has lent them to be just ignored.
ReplyDeleteI must say I haven't been in any of the 16 trails, but this will also contribute to our tourism.
Congratulations to the Department of Tourism and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, for launching activities like this, which would remind us of our heroes.
Ruth Angelique R. Pasos