ANGARA PURSUES DEVELOPMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE

Senator Edgardo J. Angara is hoping that with the increase in the budget of the country's cultural institutions under the newly-signed national budget for 2008, the Philippines will regain its lost glory in the fields of arts and culture.

The P1.227-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2008 was signed into law yesterday. Angara was among those present during the signing of the budget.

Angara, the Chair of the Senate Subcommittee C on Finance has increased the budget of the country's cultural institutions, particularly that of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), National Historical Institute (NHI), the National Museum and the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP).

He increased the budget of the NCCA by a total of P11 million, P10 million of which will be used in providing assistance in the design and training of staff and providing cultural and educational material in foreign countries.

During the budget deliberations in the Senate last year, Angara said, "it is high time we start preserving our cultural and historical heritage, as it seems to be something many of us take for granted, something we let fade through time. Many of our irreplaceable historical and national treasures either lay in shambles or are subject to constant neglect."

"Only in the Philippines can you find colorful and creative lanterns, the delicious bibingka and the culture of a strong family bond. These, and many more, affirm the Filipino's ingenuity and rich values which should be fostered and preserved."

The remaining P1 million of the budget will be used to acquire and conserve the Maranao Torogan, an architectural heritage which used to be the meeting place when the Maranao Sultan calls for conferences.

Angara also increased the National Museum's budget by P28.4 million. Twenty Million pesos of this increase will augment the museum's operations in researching, acquiring and maintaining national artifacts While, the remaining P8.4 million will go to training of provincial museum curators.

"We should train our provincial museum curators to foster our cultural heritage in the province. This would also promote culture as a key driver in our tourism industry," said Angara.

"The most successful tourist destinations - countries like Italy, Spain and France - capitalize on their history, culture and natural beauty."

Angara has also funded the maintenance, preservation, rehabilitation and servicing of archival records and documents, increasing the National Archives of the Philippines's budget by P10 million.

"The Philippines has many Spanish colonial documents that Spanish scholars visit to research on. These documents may soon perish because they are not properly stored."

The Senator is also asking the Spanish government to help digitize these colonial documents and provide its modern translation.

Angara also allotted an additional P10 million pesos to the National Historical Institute for the celebration of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, of which the senator is instrumental in establishing.

A patron of culture and the arts, Angara authored the legislation that created the NCCA and has long been an advocate of promoting cultural tourism in the country. (30)