ANGELES CITY -- In recognition of this city’s successful cultural heritage revival, President Rodrigo Duterte accorded the first-ever Philippine Heritage Award to the local government here during a fitting ceremony held at the Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, October 25.
The award was received by Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno and Councilor Edgardo Pamintuan Jr., in behalf of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and the people of Angeles City.
Angeles was cited by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) under the Heritage Programs Support category for its “extraordinary commitment and active involvement of organizations, local government unit, or corporation in supporting the heritage programs” of the city.
The city’s entry, “Cultural Renaissance in Angeles City”, highlights how the collaboration of the local government and the private sector works in promoting cultural awareness, appreciation, and inclusivity.
“The award is a reaffirmation of our people’s active involvement in embracing and protecting our cultural legacies that have withstood the test of time. We also offer this award to our partners in the private sector manifesting our fruitful endeavor that has cultivated and instilled among our people a sense of pride for our beloved city,” said Vice Mayor Nepomuceno.
In 2011, Mayor Pamintuan signed Executive Order No. 36 which calls for the creation of the Angeles Heritage District Working Committee which includes various government agencies, religious and private organizations in the city.
The goal of the EO is to plan the rediscovery of the city’s heritage zone, the protection of numerous historical edifices, and the preservation historical events of national significance. The plan also sparked the renewed interest of the Angeleños to the cultural values of the city while maintaining order, cleanliness, and traffic discipline.
In 2015, the city council passed the ordinance creating the Angeles City Heritage District.
In addition, various legislative measures were also passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to ensure the safekeeping of the Angeleño cultural identity such as the original “Sizzling Sisig Babi”, the Angeles Traditional Parul and Lubenas ning Pasku, and the establishment of “Kapampangan” as an official language of the city alongside existing national and official languages.
Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO) Head John Montances said that no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines shall confer the award as stated under Republic Act 1006.
ACTO Deputy for Heritage Joy Cruz attributed the award as the “ultimate recognition” for what the city has attained in terms of heritage preservation.
The ceremony was held simultaneously with the awarding of the National Artists, Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), and the Philippine Merit Award.
Mayor Pamintuan extended his congratulations to the steering committee for a job well done.
“Our urban renewal and heritage conservation efforts have been consistently cited by various national and even international institutions prompting them to invite us to talk about it. We have placed Angeles City on the map of LGUs with successful tourism and heritage conservation programs- all because of political will,” said Mayor Pamintuan.
“We will not only provide for the physical health, education, and livelihood of our citizens but their souls as well. The old buildings are the soul of the city while culture, arts, and heritage are the people’s,” Pamintuan added.
Also present during the awarding ceremony is former Tourism Officer now City College of Angeles and NCCA Commissioner on Monuments and Sites, Dr. Richard Daenos.
The entry also named Councilor Amos Rivera as one of the individuals who piloted the award-winning project.