EDITORIAL - For the benefit of Asean, not for our own selves

One of Cebu's most distinctive historical landmarks, the Cross of Magellan, is also one of the most neglected. But that is not surprising since, with a few notable exceptions, most Philippine landmarks suffer the same fate of negligence.

It is also not surprising to Cebuanos that suddenly somebody remembered to give the Cross of Magellan a grand makeover. They know at once that something must be cooking. Otherwise, nobody would care if the landmark got swallowed up by filth and grime.

What is cooking is the Asean Summit to be held here in December. And because the Asean is not just a political grouping but a regional organization that also embodies culture, history and education, the landmark suddenly assumed an air of importance.

To see workers sprucing up the Cross of Magellan is a wonderful sight. That must be made very clear. Our dismay stems from the fact that this concern about the landmark is an occasional thing and, worse, stems from the wrong reasons.

Actually, we can live with occasional displays of concern for historical landmarks such as the Cross of Magellan, provided the concern is sincere, limited only in its manifestation by such understandable constraints such as lack of funds.

But we know for a fact that it is not any lack of funds that causes the neglect of our historical landmarks but plain and simple apathy and a disturbing lack of self-respect and appreciation for our history and our culture.

In other countries, and in even the smallest towns in these countries, historical sights are always a source of local pride. And because there are sources of pride, they are pushed as proud attractions, consequently earning their own upkeep.

But in the Philippines, we remember our landmarks only when we need to showcase them, in which case the concern springs not from true pride but born of a temporary urge to embellish ourselves.

How sad then that we are sprucing up the Cross of Magellan for the benefit of our Asean neighbors and not for our own benefit as wellsprings of national pride that remind us of what we are as a people and what a glorious heritage we really have, if only we truly cared.