Tarlac State University's Center for Community and Local Governance Studies and Policy Development and the local government of Moncada Tarlac signed a memorandum of agreement on May 31, 2024 at the Moncada Municipal Hall for the town's sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary.
The project, dubbed "Preserving Moncada’s Legacy: A Path to 150 Years (Moncada@150)," aims to publish a book spanning 1874-2024 containing Moncada town's heritage, history, and traditions through the help of Dr. Lino L. Dizon, former commissioner of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and former director of TSU Center for Tarlaqueño Studies.
"...We believe that this is not only an intelligent concept but is full of wisdom because we will be inviting our (former) commissioner, Prof. Lino Dizon, who is not tired of searching for truth, patiently packaging the history of Tarlac. Now, he belongs to our team, and we will package not only recalling the past of Moncada but also establish and package for our future generation," Dr. Cynthia Quiambao, CCLGSPD director, said.
Moncada mayor Hon. Estelita Aquino commended the university's effort in helping them preserve the town's history.
"TSU is not just committed to providing us with the services of being able to put up or write [the] correct history of Moncada, but they are even committing to spend their own fund for this program," Mayor Aquino said.
According to Asst. Prof. Bryan Jan Dizon, project leader, the partnership will revolve around six components namely: archival research, cultural mapping, community workshops and awareness, Moncada cultural identity and branding, educational initiatives, and digitization of archives.
The book will include traditional landmarks and some stories of the residents who contributed to the town’s history. The project will also have community workshops and awareness, providing an avenue for the other residents to narrate their stories.
“We affirm our commitment on behalf of Tarlac State University. We commit our university to be doing the tasks as (stated) in the MOA that was signed – functions namin, obligations. And I trust this endeavor for God’s intervention and we know that this will be materialized in due time,” TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco said.
Activities like educational tours and interactive exhibits for visitors will be conducted together with artifact preservation in materializing cultural importance.
The university will also help digitize archives for online historical data that will be accessible to researchers, students, and the general public.
"Once this document is released to the public, fortunately, we have very competent people who will be able to educate the community, and this book will be brought out to the public. We can publish it naman po for us to be able to educate our future members of the community," Dr. Murphy P. Mohammed, Vice President for Research Development and Extension, said.
"Ang kailangan po natin dito ay magtulungan po tayo dahil even though we have the financial resources, we will not be able to get all this proper information without the cooperation of the different people as well as the agencies," VP Mohammed added.
The project will run from April 2024 to April 2026.
"We may not be born here in Moncada but rest assured that from this day forward, all of us, the technical working committee involved, TSU, and also our experts, we are now Moncadeños by heart," Dr. Quiambao said.
Photo by Jodie Andrea G. Pangilinan
