CITY OF MALOLOS— Bulacan history, culture and heritage books are now the newest library collection in an international museum in the United States.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando through the late Eliseo dela Cruz, then Bulacan provincial history arts, culture and tourism officer recently sent a set of provincial government-owned books to the House of the Philippines (HOP) in Balboa Park, San Diego, California in time for the Oct. 19 celebration of the Filipino-American History Month by the International Houses of Nations. The International Houses of Nations is composed of 38 countries with respective mini museums in Balboa Park.
Belle Lemoge, 2024 first vice president of the HOP received as gifts—Mojon: Mga Bulakenyong Bayani ng Kasaysayan by Jaime Salvador Corpuz; The Women of Malolos: Patriots and Feminists: By Nicanor Tiongson and Mary Arlene Torres; Mga Katutubong Awit sa Lalawigan ng Bulacan ni Marquez Cartel; Isang Maikling Talambuhay ni Heneral Isidoro Torres (1866–1928) by Martin Isidro; Sapang Palay: Hacienda, Urban Resettlement and Core of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan by Jaime Vieneracion; Remembering Lolo Simon Ocampo Tecson: Leader in the Siege of Baler by Luis Zamora Tecson; Tanghal Bayani by Joseph Cristobal; Sineliksik Bulacan: Sineliksik at Sagisag ng Kasaysayan ng Bayan Ko (Tomo I) ni Jaime Veneracion and Sineliksik ng Bulacan: Pamana ng Lahi, Yamang Aking Ipinagmamalaki (Tomo II) by Jaime Veneracion and Sineliksik Vol. 3 Bulacan Heritage Book set of books.
Also, Bulacan Salinlahi Inc. ( a history and cultural group in City of Malolos) donated “Goyo,” (Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, the young general) book.
According to Lemoge, the HOP is the only Filipino museum in the US. HOP is built by different groups of Filipino communities in San Diego to further foster patriotism and promote the country’s rich culture and tradition before an international avenue.
The donation of the book collection came two years after Myra Villafana, second vice president of HOP in 2022 sought the help of her former classmate Carmela Reyes-Estrope, correspondent of Philippine Daily Inquirer and owner and editor-in-chief of NEWSCORE to facilitate collection of Philippine history, heritage and cultural matetials for the HOP museum.
Bulacan, known as the cultural capital of the Philippines represents the rich culture, history and heritage of the country, Villafana said.
Estrope and Villafana are both Escolarians who graduated in Centro Escolar Univeristy (CEU) Malolos in 1990.
Estrope is also the secretary of Kabesera, the cultural and heritage group of Bulakan town. Bulakan is the old kabesera (capital) of the province of Bulacan.
