BARASOAIN CHURCH FOR CENTENNIAL, ERAP RITES
Malolos, Bulacan, May 16, 1998 - The Barasoain Church is all spruced up and ready for the Philippine Independence Centennial and another possible historic event -- the proclamation of incoming President Joseph Estrada.
During the campaign, Vice President Estrada had expressed a desire to be proclaimed at the Barasoain Church, where the first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo convened the First Philippine Congress.
Bulacan Governor Josie de la Cruz, who has just been assured of re-election, said the restoration and beautification work at the Barasoain Church and other landmarks were intended to make the province a "Day Tour" destination for local and foreign tourists.
"There are not enough hotels for overnight accommodations, so the provincial government has designed a Day Tour program to complement the centennial celebration centered at the Expo Pilipino inside Clark," Governor de la Cruz explained.
The Barasoain Church was declared a national landmark on Aug. 1, 1973. Other major historical sites along Bulacan's Freedom Trail are the Casa Real, site of the Malolos Republic printing press; The San Rafael Church which was the scene of bloody encounters between Filipino revolutionaries and Spanish forces; Pandi, where the Republic of Real de Kakarong Sili was proclaimed in 1896; the Instituto de Mujeres where the women of Malolos were addressed by national hero Dr. Jose Rizal; the Kalayaan Tree in front of Malolos Church, planted by President Aguinaldo himself; and Bulusukan in San Ildefonso which was a garrison of the Filipino revolutionaries.
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