Defense structures made in the 19th century
TACLOBAN CITY – The Samar provincial government, in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (UST-CCCPET), launched on Wednesday, Dec.4, the “Safeguarding the Sentinels of the Samar Seas: Conservation of the Samar Fortifications.”
The $245,000(approximately P14 million) project is funded through a grant from the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation under the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
This conservation initiative stems from a comprehensive cultural mapping effort that began in 2017, which led to the discovery of numerous fortifications or “baluartes” in nearly all coastal towns in the province.
A total of 22 defense structures were documented during the cultural mapping. These include 13 sentinels overlooking sea or river routes, seven fortifications, one naval garrison, and one undetermined structure.
The identified structures are located in the provincial capital of Catbalogan and the towns such as Gandara, Zumarraga, Tarangnan, Jiabong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Santa Rita, Basey, and Pagsanghan.
The project prioritizes the preservation of two key fortifications: a naval garrison and watchtower located on Sta. Rita Island in Sta. Rita town, and a medium fortification and watchtower in Gandara.
These fortifications were vital to the early settlers of Samar, serving as protective structures against Moro raiders in the 19th century.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Executive Director Eric Zerrudo urged the people of Samar to protect these heritage structures, which serve as vital links to the province’s history.
“This is your role—to be sentinels and stewards of this heritage. Always capture that moment where your past can lead to a promising future,” Zerrudo said.
Before becoming the NCCA executive director, Zerrudo was part of the UST team that conducted the cultural mapping in Samar.
National Historical Commission (NHC) chairman Regalado Trota Jose echoed Zerrudo’s sentiments, emphasizing that understanding the past is key to safeguarding these fortifications.
“We need to study the sources and dominate the knowledge of Samar by learning the sources in their original language,” Chairman Jose said.
He advised the provincial government to send scholars to the Franciscan archives in Spain, where significant historical documents about Samar are preserved. He stressed that information gathered must be passed on through education to ensure future generations understand and appreciate the importance of these fortifications.
“Everything that contributes to our history must be collected and made accessible to as many people as possible,” Jose added.
He also mentioned that the NHC plans to install markers at the identified fortifications.
Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes expressed gratitude to the Samar provincial government for involving their agency in the project.
“We at the Department of Tourism (DOT) are very fortunate to be part of this journey with Spark Samar. This significant project is meant to preserve our heritage, which we must protect for future generations,” she said.
She added that as the lead agency promoting tourism, the DOT is committed to supporting preservation and conservation efforts and to sharing the stories of Samar’s past and present.
Governor Sharee Ann Tan, in her message, thanked all agencies and individuals who contributed to fulfilling the cultural mapping project. She highlighted the importance of educating the younger generation about Samar’s history in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd).
“I always believe that everything we do in the province must be backed by proper research. We share this with DepEd to help the younger generation appreciate our history,” Governor Tan said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
