THE Metro Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), in collaboration with the provincial office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other partner-entities has launched a project meant to “discover Laguna’s heritage” through the lenses of professional media photographers.
Dubbed “Discover Laguna: a Heritage Photo Walk Tour,” the event also involved assistance of the tourism offices of the province, as well as Biñan and Santa Rosa City.
The MPT South invited photo enthusiasts and selected media partners to take part in the project. Which started in Biñan, with a quick tour of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) from Mamplasan to Silang-Aguinaldo exit to highlight its features as a green expressway which makes the segment self-sustaining.
The participants were also taken to the coastal Biñan Esplanade where they got the chance to see the Hispanic-inspired coastal architecture and a panorama of Laguna Lake, the country’s largest freshwater basin.
Heading to the city’s población, they got the chance to explore and capture one of Biñan’s historical landmarks, the Alberto Mansion, Teodora Alonzo’s ancestral abode, the mother of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. They also seized the moment, learning the footprints of Dr. Rizal’s maternal and paternal lineage sketched around the city center.
As they head to Sta. Rosa, the participants were also pleased with the homey Filipino food served for lunch at ‘PansEAT,’ one of Sta. Rosa’s oldest restaurant.
After the lunch, they were briefed by the local tourism officers with the historical evidence found in the city’s museum, and century-old church, the Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish Church, which was built in 1792; the impressive Spanish and American ancestral houses along Zavalla Street adds to the historical significance of the city; and the infamous landmark and identity of Sta. Rosa, the Sta. Rosa Arch.
The photographers captured different heritage sites and historical landmarks in the middle of the bustling metropolis of Biñan and Sta. Rosa; enjoyed the local delicacies such as puto Biñan and fried okoy, or shrimp fritters; and got to learn its historical significance which displays the tapestry of culture, arts, and heritage it embodies.
The photo enthusiasts who took part in the event shared their most exquisite captures of the day during their photo walk of the two cities, which was judged by MPT South and other partners in government. After their careful deliberation, the judges concluded that the winning photograph was from participant Sarah Lou Berdinardino, who garnered the highest score for her photos captured in Biñan and Sta. Rosa.
“The heritage photo walk tour signified MPT South’s dedication to foster awareness in the preservation of our cultural heritage and appreciate the significance of the past in today’s everyday endeavor,” said MPT spokesperson Arlette Capistrano.
