Loren says historical accuracy important on Rizal house's issue

GENEVA - Senator Loren Legarda today saw a silver lining to the dark clouds that had formed in the Philippines over the controversial repainting of the ancestral home of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, from white to color green.

"The uproar has at least brought into the foreground issues relating to our history and love of country," said Loren, here in Switzeland for the four-day United Nations conference on climate change and disaster risk reduction.

"Personally, I think that historical accuracy should be the guiding principle in maintaining or preserving historical sites like the Rizal home in Calamba, Laguna," said Loren.

But the senator said that the discussions on the occasion of the 148th birth anniversary of Rizal (June 19) are healthy because the present generation of Filipinos must be reminded of the timelessness of the "ideals, thoughts and actions of our heroes, like Dr. Jose Rizal."

"The lessons I am referring to is that freedom is earned and that we cannot let pass any and all forms of tyranny, even those perpetrated not by foreign colonizers but by those of our countrymen who may be drunk with power," said Loren.

Loren said she likes the color green, "but what I want to see is the greening of the Philippines through the planting of trees."

"This is the reason I founded Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines) in 1998, because trees fight air pollution and soil erosion, while providing home and sanctuary for countless species. Likewise, they beautify our surroundings."

She stressed that historical sites should be preserved well so that present and future generations of Filipinos may appreciate their heritage while learning valuable lessons from the past.