Truth: Metro Manila people, including too many members of the LGBTQIA community, have budget and time to head to Starbucks in Tagaytay and Antipolo. For sure, these locations of the giant coffeehouse chain have appeal (e.g. they allow us to escape Metro Manila’s humidity, they allow us to take Insta-worthy shots, et cetera), but if we are so willing to support a foreign company that has labor and human rights issues (check HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, among others), then surely… SURELY, we can allocate the same to visit the Angono-Binangonan petroglyphs.
Petroglyphs are – simplistically – antiquated artworks carved into rock formations.
In Binangonan, Rizal, you go through a tunnel before you see 127 human and animal figures dating back to the late Neolithic period, or before 2000 BC. They may look like kids’ sketches of humans, frogs, lizards, et cetera, but these are the oldest known artworks in the country.
As FYI: the late National Artist of the Philippines Botong Francisco was the first to report the petroglyphs to the National Museum. That was in 1965. By 1973, it was declared as a National Cultural Treasure.
To be blunt, this place needs fixing – e.g. it is not exactly easily accessible (public transport going to the place is s.h.i.t.; it’s hard to find as there aren’t any signs leading to it; the “parking” (if it can be called that) is in a swampy area; erosion’s gravely affecting the petroglyphs, et cetera. If those millions spent for Duran Duran were, instead, donated here, this place could have greatly benefited from such a financial injection.
Filipinos do not pay attention to their history as much as they should. Our choices in who should lead us is proof to this (e.g. alam na nga na magnanakaw, binoboto pa rin, OMG). In the LGBTQIA community, so many can name all those drag queens who claim to be in the advocacy (even if they’re really there just to profit off it/you), and yet do not know that LGBTQIA Pride in the Philippines did NOT start with Metro Manila Pride.
Truly, history matters. Start your learning with the petroglyphs. Baka maliwanagan ka na, simplistic they may be, but they show that we have a rich – and long – history. Know it to celebrate it. – WITH ARTHUR ABAD NWABIA
