PGIN promotes more heritage trails to remember FM

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

September 13, 2013

Sarrat, Ilocos Norte—The familiar sight of uniformed men and women wearing red shirts with bold letters “FIRM” or Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos seems to be thinning every year as they occupy street corners of Ilocos Norte every 11^th of September to commemorate the birthday of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Taking time out from his fishing livelihood, Janito Lasotan, 64, together with more than 300 barangay coordinators of FIRM from Leyte travelled by bus to Ilocos Norte to join the Marcos family celebrate his 96^th birthday.

“Since childhood and now that I am 64, I will forever be grateful to him [Marcos] because of his projects such as fishing livelihood which has nurtured my family over the years,” Lasotan said saying it is his first time to attend the Marcos Day celebration as they were invited by their national coordinators from Manila.

While hundreds join protests in Metro Manila, Ilocanos in this northern part of Luzon and some members of FIRM in other parts of the country gathered in Sarrat town to witness the opening of the newly-refurbished Marcos birthplace, a two-storey stone brick house that is now being showcased as part of the “Eastern Marcos Trail”.

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos greet schoolchildren waiting outside the Sarrat Central Elementary School during the launching of the Sarrat Heritage Walk, held September 11 in celebration of the birth anniversary of the late president Ferdinand Marcos who went to first grade in this school.Photo by Alaric Yanos

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos (front row, 2^nd from right) leads a walk along the heritage sites in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte during the celebration of the birth anniversary of President Ferdinand Marcos on September 11.  The New Sarrat Presidencia, a restored pre-Hispanic building, seen in the background, is the second of seven stops to make when touring in Sarrat.

Photo by Alaric Yanos

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos greet schoolchildren waiting outside the Sarrat Central Elementary School during the launching of the Sarrat Heritage Walk, held September 11 in celebration of the birth anniversary of the late president Ferdinand Marcos who went to first grade in this school.Photo by Alaric Yanos

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos greets schoolchildren and parents waiting for the opening of the new museum at the birthplace of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte on his birth anniversary September 11.Photo by Alaric Yanos

The “Marcos Trail” a continuing project of the Provincial Tourism Office to introduce more heritage sites in Ilocos Norte including the birthplace and the place of the early childhood years of President Marcos, which is the pride of local residents.

On early Wednesday, September 11, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos led the opening of the refurbished Marcos birthplace and launching of the Sarrat heritage walk.

The one kilometer “Sarrat Heritage Walk” comprises seven  stops, each featuring a time-sculpted infrastructure resounding the 18th-century Sarrat—from the earliest settlers, to the Spanish regime, noted government officials up to the Marcos-Edralin families.

Included in the walk are the Sarrat House Museum, originally Marcos’ birthplace, the New Municipal Hall, the Old Municipal Hall, Sta. Monica Parish Church, the Diocesan Museum, Sarrat Central Elementary School, and the Amparo Park or the Sta. Monica Riverview Deck.

Bishop Renato Mayugba blesses the opening of the new museum at the birthplace of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte on his birth anniversary.

Photo by Alaric A. Yanos

The first stop, the Sarrat House Museum, is the birthplace and the home for the young Ferdinand E. Marcos or “Andy” as his relatives, friends and the rest of Ilocanos would call him until he was in first grade.

Inside the Spartan dwelling are memorabilia, and age-old wooden furniture which depict the typical lifestyle of the Edralin family, all curated by Professor Erik Zerudo.

The New Municipal Hall formerly Irene’s Guesthouse is a two-storey Spanish-type building restored to house Sarrat’s local government after it was donated by the Marcos family in 1997.

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Irene Marcos-Araneta and Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr, view the displays at the newly opened museum at the birthplace of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. The museum was launched September 11, the 96th birth anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos.

Photo by Alaric A. Yanos

In the third stop, the Old Municipal Hall, the town of Sarrat’s monumental placement as the first capital of the Province of Ilocos Norte as well as the lost mecca of the pre-Spanish Ilocandia were reinstated.

With Catholicism in the province having Augustinian roots, the walk also includes the Santa Monica Parish Church, the largest Spanish-built Church in Ilocos Norte and the Diocesan Museum, formerly the convent which also once served as the municipal hall, a school annex, and the hall of justice—a perfect example of how the Church and State fused during the Spanish era.

Sarrat Central Elementary School of which Marcos was a former student is also included, with it unraveling its own history as the municipal hall during the 17^th century.

Amparo Park, a vista that offers the best vantage of the Padsan River, features the ingenious underground tunnel which served as food and supplies delivery system of the Spanish friars and illustrados and eventually, a hiding place and escape route by guerillas, completing the seven stop which is now part of the Marcos Trail, the most popular tour among visitors in Ilocos Norte.   

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos sign a memorandum of agreement between the Municipal Government of Sarrat, the Sarrat Central Elementary School and the Sta. Monica Parish for the management of the Sarrat Heritage Walk which has been launched Sept. 11 in celebration of the birth anniversary of the late president Ferdinand Marcos who went to first grade in this school.

Photo by Alaric A. Yanos

Unlike in previous years, former First Lady now Rep. Imelda R. Marcos (2^nd district Ilocos Norte) was not present at the thanksgiving mass held at the Sta. Monica church attended by the three Marcos siblings—the governor, Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Irene Marcos-Araneta including close family and friends.

Talks about his final resting place remains an unfinished business and when asked for comment, the governor said, “Hopefully in the true Christian spirit, my father will be finally buried” in Ilocos Norte where he is well loved by Ilocanos.

In a simple thanksgiving mass, Father Romualde Batoon, parish priest of Sta. Monica Church told mass goers, “May his legacy lives on and may he rest in peace.”

The weeklong Marcos birthday festivities started on Sunday with the President Marcos Cup (Marcos combat shooters) at the Plaza Del Norte, a job fair at the Imelda Cultural Center in Batac City where his refrigerated crypt remains open for curious visitors who often asked locals if it is really the President who is inside it.

Every year, Ilocanos are treated to a free concert titled “The Great Macoy”, this time Sponge Cola and Pooh from Manila performed at the Imelda Cultural Center in Batac City. After that, a flash mob composed of selected students from different schools in Ilocos Norte took centerstage.

“Imee Timepieces” composed of rare shopping collections at the Marcos museum in Batac City was also launched and a tree planting activity at a frequently visited typhoon-stricken Barangay Suyo, Dingras, Ilocos Norte was also held.

At the Centennial Arena’s Sirib Mile, a Macoy literary and art contests were also conducted on September 12 consisting of a quiz show on Marcos’ life, poster making, a creative talk show reminiscing the life of Marcos and the usual Imelda and Macoy sing-alike contest where cash prizes awaited winners.

There was also a free tour at the Marcos Heritage Trail on September 14 which started at the Provincial Capitol leading to his birthplace in Sarrat town to showcase his boyhood, his life and rise to politics at his hometown in Batac museum and ultimately, at the Malacañang of the North, which he himself was the architect. This is where his detailed and remarkable achievements as president were displayed. (With a report from Grazielle Mae A. Sales)