Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The National
Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) unveiled a commemorative marker
of the 100-year-old Ilocos Norte Capitol building to the public.
The marker recognizes the
Capitol’s historical significance to the lives of the Ilokanos in this northern
gateway of Luzon.
Builders completed the Ralph
Harrington Doane-designed structure in 1925. Engr. Jose Paez, who became Public
Works Director in 1919; and two more notable architects, Tomas Mapua and
Antonio Toledo helped in the Capitol’s design.
The new and present-day
Capitol was also one of two new provincial buildings that would stand as
monuments of architectural beauty and models for other provinces, according to
a 1917 Report of the Governor General of the Philippine Islands to the Secretary
of War. The other was the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol.
During the time of the
Japanese invaders, historians say then Ilocos Norte governor Roque B. Ablan Sr.
left the Capitol and continued provincial government service in the mountainous
village of Maananteng in Solsona, Ilocos Norte. The United States Army Forces
in the Philippines recaptured the Capitol on February 13, 1945.
Major remodeling and
expansion transformed the building in 1957, with the Corinthian columns and
pediment featuring relief art by Ricarte Purugunan of Dingras. Former President
Carlos P. Garcia was in attendance when Ilokanos inaugurated the building on
December 27, 1958.
The Capitol compound
underwent another major change in 2010, at the start of the administration of
Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos. She ordered the walls
enclosing the compound taken down, and the renovation of the front grounds to
give the Capitol a more “park-like appearance”.
Attended by Philippine veterans,
provincial and municipal officials, students, government and non-government
organizations, the NHCP led by Chairman Rene Escalante turned over the marker
on March 1, 2018 to the Ilocos Norte government, led by Ms.
Marcos.
As a model of beauty and
architecture in the entire province, Mr. Escalante hopes the people of Ilocos
Norte will take good care of the historical marker and preserve it for future
generations.
For her part, Ms. Marcos said
the sturdy, old Capitol building of Ilocos Norte that has seen so many changes are
testament to the remarkable history of the Ilokanos.
“I am certain that in the
next 200 years, we add more to that history—glorious, triumphant, and truly
united at last,” said Ms. Marcos citing the old building stand tall amidst all
the difficulties and struggles because of the unity and heroic deeds of the
Ilokanos.
As the historic Capitol
building played an important role in the lives of the Ilokanos as well as other
heritage buildings in other towns and cities here, Marcos urged all officials
and residents to “start conserving and preserving these historical assets that
are repositories of racial consciousness and identity”.
The Ilocos Norte Capitol’s
centenary coincides with the province’s own bicentennial foundation
celebration. Also, last September 2017, another NHCP installed another marker
at the “Daytoy ti Bannawag” monument. (With a report from PGIN-CMO)
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