Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo is hoping that Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, will become a “heritage city”.
In a speech during the local celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Wednesday evening, Mayor Remollo said it is his administration’s collective desire to make the city truly a heritage destination.
Dumaguete City was chosen among 63 landmarks in key areas in the country to take part in the simultaneous lighting up of these landmarks to mark the golden jubilee year of the ASEAN.
The celebration here was held at the foot of the city’s landmark, which is the Campanario de Dumaguete, also popularly known as the bell tower or belfry, which is situated close to the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral.
To date, the city is known worldwide as the gateway to so many beautiful tourist destinations in the province including Cebu and Siquijor, like the world-renowned Apo Island, Lake Balanan, Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao, dolphin watching in Bais and Manjuyod, whale shark-watching in nearby Oslob, Cebu as well as the famous beaches in Siquijor Island, the mayor noted.
But with the establishment of the regional museum in Dumaguete City as a repository of archaeological findings as far back as 500 BC, a refurbished plaza plus the lighting of the iconic bell tower at the Cathedral Church, Dumaguerte City is a tourist destination in itself as a heritage city.
According to Mayor Remollo, the restoration of the old city hall will start in November this year which is funded by the national government at P50 million.
The mayor said many things are happening in Dumaguete and he believes in the restoration of the past and honoring the city’s past.
“Knowing our past mistakes is important because it will guide us to the future”, Remollo told last night’s crowd.
He said Dumaguete was fortunate to be one of the sites chosen all over the country to light up a historic and iconic structure.
Remollo said Dumaguete is not only a city of gentle people but a place of educated and cultured people.
The Philippines is one of the founding members of ASEAN along with Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in 1976.
Five more countries joined the regional bloc: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
