Young Roots
Saludo Casa Real!
By Johanne R. Macob
I always passed through our Poblacion, and nothing much changed over the months and years – from the moderate to heavy traffic jams depending on the time of the day, to the problematic parking scheme. Include the presence of the majestic Church and the fair plaza, and the still closed, new wet market. Nothing much was changing in this capital town until early this week when I noticed something different – the ruined building, better known as the Casa Real, located beside the Municipal Hall and Provincial Jail was fenced off! The renovation of the royal house has really kicked off. Now, this is one good change I personally am excited about!
Actually, the project’s startup did not come as a complete surprise since P85 million in total allocation from the Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and P5 million counterpart from the provincial government. Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, one of the prime movers of the project, said the estimated cost of the restoration is at least P50 million. Thus, the budget is fairly enough for its completion. It’s a good thing, too, that the informal settlers living at the back of the building had agreed to be relocated to a new settlement area. I hope there will be no other challenges will be raised to hamper the ongoing works.
Once all the renovations get done, fellow Pangasinan natives and other people who are interested to learn more and have an interactive experience of the province’s history inside the Casa Real, which, by that time, would have already be transformed into a provincial museum. It’s expected to house old books, documents, artifacts, archaeological relics, and other materials of historical and cultural value of the third most populous, not to mention history-rich, province in the country. This is a good additional reference to those who like to study our inspiring local culture.
Here’s a briefer on the two-story Casa Real. It was constructed in 1840s, was the seat of provincial government during the Spanish era until the present Capitol Building was built in 1918. The Casa Real once served as sala of judicial courts, as a public elementary school, and as municipal government offices before it was totally destroyed by Typhoon Cosme in 2008.
According to historical accounts, Casa Real was witness to provincial and national historic events, having provided shelter to locals, Spanish, and American fighters and other personalities. It served as the station for Spanish soldiers and their native recruits who helped fight the Katipuneros during the revolutionary war against the Spanish rule. Moreover, upon the organization of Pangasinan as a civil province in 1901 by the Taft Commission, the royal house was the venue for a grand reception to Judge William Howard Taft and his commissioners.
I’m certain this restoration project will only make us Pangasinans even prouder as locals and lovers of this province. As the DOT Region 1 Director Manuel Valera also put across, the restoration would primarily promote “pride of place” among us community members.
With the joint efforts of the DOT and the provincial government, I believe this project will be nothing but a success. So as early as now, I am giving my saludo!
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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