The Museo Valenzuela Foundation together with the City Cultural and Tourism Office launched a series of round table discussion focusing on the history and culture of Valenzuela City.

Dubbed “Polohan,” the dialogue aims to induce topics for research which will eventually be collated to form a comprehensive historiography of Valenzuela City.

According to Mr. Uly Aguilar, the main objective of the project is to ignite interest in the City’s local history which may come across on regular conversations.  “The mere informality of these affair opens up the people to casual talk which generate more interest and exchange of information not found in rigid historical exchange like classrooms and lectures,” said the foundation’s Board Member.

Historians bound by the common goal of establishing the identity of Valenzuela City through culture and historical re-discovery presented papers on various topics about Valenzuela City during the pilot session  held recently.  Mr. Marcial Aniag of the Bulacan Historical Society discussed Polo history with his paper on “Ang Polo sa Bulacan, Ang Bulacan sa Polo: Kasaysayan at Kulturang Bulaqueño sa Lungsod ng Valenzuela.”

Mr. Joselito delos Reyes, a research instructor from the University of Santo Tomas and Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela Awardee for Journalism & Literature sparked popular discussion with his paper regarding possible  etymology of barangay[MSM1] names: “Dulas, Linta, Dalandan, Talag, at iba pang Pangalang Pananda at Pang-alaala: Panimulang Pag-aaral sa Etimolohiya ng mga Piling Lugar sa Valenzuela.”  

A Centennial Awardee for Literature from the University of the Philippines and also a Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela Awardee for Literature, Mr. Jerry Gracio presented the final topic in the discussion: “Ang pagkubkob sa Malinta noong 1899: Ang Valenzuela sa Panahon ng Digmaang Filipino-Amerikano.”

The discussions played host to historians, social studies teachers, local officials, City Government staff and the general public.  Among those that attended were Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela President Dr. Nedeña Torralba, District 2 Councilor Lorie Natividad-Borja, City Cultural and Tourism Officer Mr. Barcelito de Sotto, and former Councilor Elizabeth Chongco.

- Michael C. Urieta