TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Inc. (LSHSI) will hold its first “Pagsubay han Aton Kabilin: A Leyte-Samar History and Heritage Forum” with national artist for literature Resil B. Mojares, as the keynote speaker on June 6-7, 2024, at the Hotel Alejandro here.
“It’s high time that the stories of Leyte and Samar are brought to the forefront,” said Prof. Joycie Dorado-Alegre, LSHSI president.
“Our history is rich, vibrant, and deeply intertwined with the nation’s past, yet it remains underrepresented in mainstream education,” said Dorado-Alegre, a professor at the University of the Philippines-Tacloban College.
The forum addresses a critical gap in the current Philippine historical narrative, which often overlooks the significant events and cultural contributions of regions outside Metro Manila.
Aside from the arrival of Magellan in Homonhon on March 16, 1521, the First Mass in Limasawa on March 30, 1521, and Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Leyte Landing on October 20, 1944, no other historical events in Eastern Visayas were featured in basic and secondary education materials, the group said.
Even the 1901 victorious Battle of Balangiga, fought by Samar freedom fighters, and the brutalities committed by the U.S. army against the people of Eastern Visayas were excluded from the mainstream historical narrative of our country, they added.
“Even more alarming is the absence of a discourse on culture and heritage in schools. Culture and arts activities are relegated to ‘intermission numbers’ and isolated to Buwan ng Wika programs. In effect, generations and generations of formally educated Filipinos are unaware of our local history, heroes, and heritage,” Dorado-Alegre said.
The event, aimed at reigniting interest in the rich history and heritage of Eastern Visayas, features a comprehensive program of panel discussions, cultural presentations, and expert talks.
The forum seeks to correct these omissions by providing a platform for local historians and scholars to present their research and perspectives, ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate Eastern Visayas’ local history and heritage.
Leyte 3rd district Rep. Anna Veloso Tuazon, will also deliver the keynote speech for the first day. Frances Ann Petilla, lead consultant of the Leyte Provincial Tourism and chairperson of the Leyte Provincial Boy Scouts Council, will give the inspirational message.
