BIÑAN CITY, Laguna – The local government unit (LGU) officially opened its three-day annual celebration of Araw ng Biñan, on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Photo from Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (MANILA BULLETIN)

The ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the newly renovated Plaza Rizal was led by Biñan City Lone District Rep. Len Alonte Naguiat, Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, and other local officials.

Laguna Vice Governor Karen Agapay also graced the opening ceremony.

Photo from Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (MANILA BULLETIN)

During his speech, Dimaguila said the LGU didn’t spend on Christmas displays last December as it was focused on renovating the plaza, nestled at the center of the city’s historical district.

“Marami pong bayan ang nagpatayo ng magagarang buildings, mga istruktura na talagang mga kilalang arkitekto pa ang gumawa. Pero sabi nga ni BJ, isang bagay ang hindi nila kayang gawin – ‘yun ay bigyan ng kaluluwa ang bawat building na ginagawa nila (Many cities have built extravagant buildings, structures created by well-known architects. But as BJ said, there is one thing they could not do – give each building a soul),” Dimaguila said, referring to Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) head Bryan Jayson Borja.

The revival of Biñan Heritage District is one of the seven major programs under Balik-Biñan, a project named one of the Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs in the 2022 Galing Pook Awards.

One of the prominent buildings in the district is the Historic Alberto Mansion – the ancestral home of Dr. Jose Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso.

The opening ceremony was followed by a Grand People’s Parade.

Student scholars during Araw Ng Biñan Grand People's Parade (Carla Bauto-Deña / MANILA BULLETIN)

Various groups joined the parade, including city employees, local schools, youth organizations, socio-civic groups, and business establishments.

Araw Ng Biñan Grand People's Parade participated by city employees, local schools, youth organizations, socio-civic groups, and business establishments (Carla Bauto-Deña / MANILA BULLETIN)

Declaring Biñan’s heritage district as a national historical-cultural heritage zone

Rep. Alonte Naguiat filed a bill declaring the Biñan Heritage District as a national historical-cultural heritage zone, read on January 25 and now pending with the Committee on Tourism.

The newly-renovated Plaza Rizal in Biñan City (Carla Bauto-Deña / MANILA BULLETIN)

If the bill becomes law, Alonte Naguiat says local tourism will be further strengthened. But aside from the economic implications, the lone district representative says having a national historical-cultural heritage zone in the city offers an intangible benefit.

“The core of this bill is matututo 'yung new generation na mahalin ang bayan, makilahok sa mga programang makabubuti, hindi lang sa sarili pero para sa bayan (The core of this bill is for the new generation to learn how to love the city, join programs that will improve not only oneself but also the community),” Alonte Naguiat said during the event press conference.

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