Saving the past for our future

A. Paulita Roa

DO you know that there was once a fort here in Cagayan de Oro that was designed and built by the Recollect priest, Fray Agustin de San Pedro, who was known as the legendary El Padre Capitan and was the first parish priest of Cagaiang in the mid 1620s? El Padre Capitan built forts in each place he was assigned by the Recoletos. His first fort was constructed in Butuan and the second one was in Cagaiang (CdeO). But it is his fort in Romblon that can be seen to this day. Incidentally, this was his last fort for he died there at the age of fifty four. I would love to see this fort in Romblon because not only will I see his handiwork but I will perhaps see a replica of the 16th century fort that he built here in Cagayan.

Sadly, much of our early Kagay-anon history can only be read in books and documents for there is no edifice like the Romblon fort nor artifact and  the like that goes back even to the prehispanic or early Spanish colonial period that can be found to this day here in our city. And to think that the present site of Cagayan de Oro was founded in 1624 and previous to that, there was the Himologan fortress where Datu Salangsang ruled and whose grandmother was a Bol-anon princess. So, does this mean that we do not have a cultural heritage? Dili oi! So what are the meanings of culture and of heritage?

The word heritage in our present context implies a gift for the future generations and benefits for the community. The other word for heritage is inheritance. While culture is the sum total of all the non-biological traits of a race or a group of people–and these are the social forms, material traits, religious practices and beliefs, customs and traditions that distinctly define them as a people.

There are three classes of heritage, namely:

• the immovable heritage are the landscapes, buildings like the old tangke or water tower that is now the site of the Cagayahn de Oro City Museum;
• the movable heritage are the old documents, costumes, paintings or sculpture;
• the non-material heritage consists of our local music, food,local dances, language, customs and traditions.

From these three classes, we gleaned another definition of heritage and that is, anything of value from the past that provides identity to the present and can give inspiration to future generations.Just by these examples, we know by now that our local heritage is very rich.

There are many excellent reasons why we need to preserve our heritage. Take for example our natural heritage (which falls under the immoveable heritage category) like our Cagayan, Iponan and Cugman rivers, the Macahambus cave, hill and gorge, the Monigue caves and the Bayanga underground river. All these provide a wide range of environmental services that help to protect our city’s aquifer and our ecosystems. We have to be always vigilant in protecting and conserving these natural heritage sites from the threats of industrial and urban development and the greed of man.

Our heritage gives us a sense of belongingness and identity as Filipinos in general and Kagay-anons in particular. Like in the conservation of our local historical sites that can help provide a sense of time to illustrate the past stages of our history. Here in our city, we are blessed to have five markers from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines formerly the National Historical Institute. The presence of such markers indicate that some of our local historical events are now included in the mainstream of our national history. These special markers are found in Gaston Park, near the mouth of the Macahambus Cave,in  Agusan Hill, the Sia ancestral house, in Macabalan wharf and in front of the City Hall. We also have our monuments in Divisoria, the local historical markers at the City Hall and the old Puericulture Center. Then, there is the Plaza de los Heroes, Mindanao’s only Philippine-American War Memorial. It is near the Pueblo de Oro corporate office along the Masterson Avenue. All these help create the priceless public memory of our patriotic past and the preservation of the ideals of our revered Kagay-anon heroes and leaders.

Lastly, heritage gives us guidance, timeless values that enriches our place and ourselves. There is a great need for public awareness and appreciation for our local heritage for this can generate strong community support towards its conservation. We must know our history and culture and zealously guard how these are presented least it will be bastardized and we lose a part of our Kagay-anon soul. We must take time to know our historical sites, our local heroes and other cherished Kagay-anon customs and traditions. Let us be proactive in local heritage causes that can unite us as one people and not leave this noble task to a small group of individuals only.

We have to save our past for our future, if we dont, nobody will!