“HOW beautiful Pangasinan is!”

This unsolicited adulation from Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat set the tone for the occasion when she joined Governor Amado Espino III and other local officials for the unveiling of the marker for the newly restored historic Casa Real in Lingayen on June 21.

They were joined by National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairman Rene Escalante, DOT Regional Director Joseph Francisco Ortega, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, Second District Rep. Jumel I. Espino, and Fourth District Rep. Christopher De Venecia.

Built in mid-19^th century, the Casa Real was the first Provincial Capitol in Pangasinan, and declared by the NHCP as a National Historical Landmark being the only Provincial Capitol in the Philippines built during the Spanish era.

As the oldest building in the capital town of Lingayen and in Pangasinan, Casa Real was declared a historical landmark by NHCP sometime in 2002, said Escalante.

Escalante added that historical infrastructures like Casa Real are witnesses to the rich history of the town of Lingayen.

Abandoned and left at the mercy of the elements for a long time, Casa Real in its dilapidated state finally got the attention that it deserved during the administration of Governor Amado Espino Jr., who set aside P5 million to clear the area which was once teeming with informal settlers.

Given the seed funding, then Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil worked on more funds to further support the restoration of the edifice. Then, the provincial government under Espino III turned to the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority, an arm of the DOT, to join the initiative and completed the project.

Secretary Puyat commended Governor Espino for the continuous support of the provincial government to boost the tourism sector in the province.

Governor Espino responded with his gratitude to the DOT and other partner agencies for their support in restoring the Pangasinan Casa Real to be developed as a Provincial Museum.

Espino also thanked agencies and persons, particularly, Mayor Bataoil, who became a part in realizing the dream of his father, former Gov. Amado Espino Jr., to give back to the new generations so that they will know the glorious days of the past.

The provincial chief executive said the provincial government will relocate the Provincial Jail and to renovate the building believed to be older than the Casa Real.

Lingayen Mayor Bataoil said the restoration and opening of the Casa Real as a provincial museum presents a good opportunity to develop it as a popular museum in the country. (Leonardo Micua/PIO/PJS)

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