Better tourism seen with new cultural treasure
August 29, 2011
MINALIN – The Sta. Monica Church here is seen as a source of pride for Pampanga, as it is expected to bring in tourists and pilgrims with its status as a National Cultural Treasure (NCT).
The National Museum (NM) has declared the Sta. Monica Church here an NCT on Saturday, securing the conservation of the entire complex and its liturgical objects as part of the country’s heritage.
“It will help make Pampanga more known the world over,” Governor Lilia Pineda said in a speech after National Museum Director Jeremy Barns signed the agency’s Declaration No. 9 Series of 2011 here.
This made the Sta. Monica Church the 139th NCT in the Philippines, according to Angel Bautista, head of NM’s cultural properties division.
Bautista said the NCT status qualifies the Minalin local government or the Sta. Monica Parish Commission on Cultural Heritage, Restoration and Conservation (CCHRC) to obtain grants from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.
Following a thanksgiving mass by San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto in the morning of the declaration, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo praised local officials for “preserving local heritage as a resource for development.”
“Ang yaman ng inyong bayan ay ang mamamayan (The treasure of your town are your people),” Robredo said.
Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who celebrated the Mass shortly before the declaration of the church’s NCT status, urged the residents to “guard the heritage of our faith and bequeath it to the next generation.”
The NCT status, said Mayor Arturo Naguit, also boosts the potentials of the church as a destination for pilgrims and the town as an eco-tourism site.
“When the local government worked to get an NCT status for our beloved Sta. Monica Church, the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) and I were very clear about our aims, which are to preserve local heritage to be able to instill a pride of place, and turn this into a resource for the town’s development,” Naguit said.
Because of that, Minalin will not only be known for the 1.5 million eggs that poultry growers collect daily or for the 30 tons of tilapia that fishpond operators harvest daily, Naguit said.
“We like Filipinos and foreigners to come visit our church as proof of our people’s strong Catholic faith. We like them to also enjoy our river cruises, local cuisines, fresh eggs and fish. These activities open livelihood opportunities for residents,” the mayor added.
After a year of evaluation, the National Museum has granted the NCT status on account of the three features of this authentic Augustinian church.
It has remained to be the only church in the Philippines left with four intact capilla posas (small chapels at the church’s plaza). Its façade looks like a giant retablo (images of saints in niches) and it possesses an antique La Consolacion painting on its interior retablo, according to Architect Owen Francis Canlas, chair of the Sta. Monica Parish’s Commission on Cultural Heritage, Restoration and Conservation (CCHRC).
The National Museum has appointed Canlas, a native of Minalin, as its deputy officer in the town. The church has other unique features including an old mural that depicts Minalin in olden times. A restoration project for the mural is underway.
The NCT status came three years before the 400th anniversary of the founding of Minalin in 2014. It was separated from Macabebe town in 1614.
Fr. Gregorio Vega, parish priest of the town, said the NCT status recognized the efforts of the laity and the Archdiocese of San Fernando (Pampanga) in protecting and preserving the church.
“The early Minalin residents first formed a community before they built the church. It has since become the symbol of our unity and our deep faith in the Lord. We thank the Augustinian Order, secular priests and diocesan priests who took turns in leading the Minalin flock to grow in faith,” said Fr. Vega.
Milestone
Pineda also described the declaration of the church as an NCT as “another milestone for Pampanga.”
“The declaration became possible with the effort Mayor Naguit and his people. It will be another tourist destination aside from being a place for deepening the faith in God,” said Pineda.
Meanwhile, Fr. Greg Vega, parish priest of Sta. Monica Church joined Minalin residents in parading the statue of Sta. Monica along the Minalin River.
Vega and Naguit released tilapia fingerlings at the river as expression of gratitude for the yearly bountiful harvest in the town.
Naguit said the 4th class municipality is the top producer of tilapia in Pampanga, producing 30 to 40 tons of tilapia per day.
Food and Wine Lovers of Manila, Tarlac, Subic, Pampanga Angeles City and Clark Philippines gather at the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga to wine and dine on B Y O B night during which guests are invited to bring their own bottle of wine and no corkage is charged. Some guests opt to buy wine at the famous wine shop in Pampanga, Clark Wine Center to bring to dinner at this fine dining Restaurant in Angeles City, Clark Pampanga.
Yats Restaurant is an excellent Restaurant to dine, a restaurant with good food, a good place to have birthday party and special events. A Kid-friendly restaurants in Manila
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
BYOB which stands for Bring Your Own Bottle, refers to a special treat that the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga offer to their valued customers to bring their own wines when dining at this top rated restaurant. Normally corkage fee ranging from p500 to p1500 per bottle is charged but on BYOB evenings which usually take place on Saturdays at this famous restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga, corkage charges are waived. Wine and food lovers from Manila, Tarlac, Subic, Pampanga Angeles City frequently take advantage of this special offer to dine at this restaurant in Clark Pampanga which is already well known not only for its award winning restaurant wine list but also its French Mediterranean cuisine that is always easy to enjoy and pair with fine vintage wine.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u5vLLIlNgw
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
For any assistance in planning and organizing a wedding ceremony, indoor or outdoor garden reception or to find other wedding service providers, Click here to contact us click here
For assistance in hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
To buy wine in Manila, Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark or Subic please log on to http://www. ClarkWineCenter.com
To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com
For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
