RENOVATION. The bust monument of national hero Andres Bonifacio undergoes renovation in the Municipality of Sibalom in this photo taken on Sept. 17, 2023. Engr. Jonathan De Gracia of the Sibalom Tourism Council said in an interview Friday (Sept. 29, 2023) that they target to complete the renovation before the centennial commemoration of its installation on Nov. 30, 2023. (PNA photo courtesy of Engineer Jonathan De Gracia)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The restoration of the bust of the Father of Katipunan Andres Bonifacio is eyed to be done before the centennial commemoration of its installation in Sibalom, Antique, on Nov. 30.
In an interview on Friday, Engr. Jonathan De Gracia of the Sibalom Tourism Council said the renovation started on Sept. 17 this year, using the PHP1 million fund from the local government of Sibalom.
The council assists the Municipal Tourism Office in identifying cultural and historical heritage and makes recommendations to promote the tourism potential of the municipality.
“The bust monument of Bonifacio is already leaning towards the southwest direction because of its age and the pedestal where it was mounted," De Gracia said, adding that the nose made of cement has already peeled off.
The monument was considered rare and precious when awarded to Sibalom after winning the cleanup contest of the province through a donation by Antique Rep. Angel Salazar in 1923.
It was first mounted in the northern part of the town plaza but was transferred to the intersection of Avenida-Quezon, Morales, and Bonifacio Streets in 1952 for historical reasons.
The streets were the first route of Katipuneros when they assaulted the Spanish convent during the revolution.
The late Eugenia Lagasca-Magbanua donated the lot where the monument stands in the name of her husband former Sibalom Vice Mayor Fernando Magbanua.
Provincial government consultant on history, culture, and arts Errol Santillan said the monument placed on a concrete pedestal that measures seven feet is not only significant but also unique.
In Panay, most Bonifacio monuments are life-size carrying the Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangan Katipunan nga mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) flag and a bolo, the primary weapon used by the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution.
He believed the bust monument may be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in the country.
Back in 2021, when he was still a provincial board member, Santillan sponsored an ordinance that declared the monument an important historical landmark and cultural heritage in the province.
“I laud the Sibalom local government unit (LGU) for being attentive to the historical structure,” Santillan said.
He added the centennial committee composed of representatives from the provincial government and the municipal government of Sibalom are now preparing for the commemoration program. (PNA)
