A lecture was conducted in Guiuan, Eastern Samar as part of advocacy to increase awareness on the importance and significance of their town in the liberation of the country during World War II.
“The problem with commemoration is we commemorate annually but we forget its historical significance or importance. When we commemorate, is to preserve the memory, but if you don’t understand that memory it is hard for you to celebrate,” Kinna Mae Kwan, a noted local historian, said.
The lecture, attended by local tour guides, focused on the contribution of Suluan raid to the liberation of the Philippines during the Japanese occupation and on the establishment of a naval base in the town.
“Our tourism officer wanted the lecture to focus to our tour guides so that they will know what stories to tell when tourists come to our town,” Kwan said.
Knowing their local history and what stories to tell helps not only enriching the knowledge of the tour guides and at the same time they will also be able to share the tourists who visits Guiuan.
Kwan added that in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), through the use of modules, they are incorporating the historical significance of their local history for students to see and learn the importance events that occurred in their municipality.
“With this knowledge, this also makes the person have a pride of their place. This is what we are trying to inculcate in our partnership with DepEd,” she said.
Suluan is an island village in the Pacific that is part of Guiuan town. This tiny island has a big contribution in the history of the country being one of the islands mentioned in the chronicle of Antoni Pigaffeta when the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the country.
The Suluan raid happened in October 17, 1944 or 77 years ago.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
