Stone landmarks: Focus of History Week celeb

LAOAG CITY, Sept 13  — Students and teachers in Laoag City will look at history through stone structures as these take center-stage in this year’s observance of History Week.

This will be under the program of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in coordination with the Department of Education – Laoag City Division.

Teachers and students will learn about the cultural, historical and social significance of the stone landmarks during activities from September 15-22 said Dr. Lloyd Rosquita, education program supervisor and project coordinator.

“We have invited resource persons to speak about our historical landmarks, after which there will be a Lakbay Aral for the students and teachers. There will also be contests like Monologue, Photography and On-the-Spot Painting for elementary and high school students,” Rosquita said.

The seminar-workshops will be held at the Gabaldon Elementary School while the contests, at the Department of Education-Laoag City.

Among the stone structures that have shaped the province’s history to be featured are the Provincial Capitol, Museo Iloko, Tobacco Monopoly Monument, Hall of Justice, Gilbert Bridge, Gabaldon Elementary School, Shamrock Elementary School and Ermita Hill, the last being the site of Laoag’s first settlers.

Rosquita said this year’s History Week activities “will help the people reminisce and learn the past through these structures. This would also make them value the meaning and purpose of these historical structures which were made by our ancestors.”

“Furthermore, this will enhance the capabilities of our teachers in teaching history. The new K+12 program encourages local history and we are already implementing it,” he said.

The DepEd-Laoag has received a grant from the NCCA to implement a program for History Week. Last year, teachers had traced World War II history on a tour of historical places in Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, and Bataan. (ANL/CPC-PIA 1, Ilocos Norte)