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Thursday, November 23, 2006

Rizal: Angono Petroglyphs in Binangonan, Rizal

From Nemiranda, we were able to ask for directions to the petroglyphs. We were on the right track since the Angono Petroglyphs are inside the Eastridge Golf Club. So from his studio, it was a three-kilometer drive up and down a steep road. At the guard house, you simply say you're on your way to the petroglyphs. The site is close to the Antipolo entrance of the golf club. You had to enter through a tunnel cut into the hill to get to the other side where the petroglyphs are located.

The Angono Petroglyphs were discovered by Botong Francisco in 1965. Dating back to 3000 B.C., the 127 human and animal figures depicted are said to be the oldest works of art in the Philippines. They are actually at the boundary of Angono, Binangonan and Antipolo. I guess these art works really bolster the claim of the area as the center of art in the country. Neighboring Binangonan is host to the residence of national artist for painting Vicente Manansala (who was from Macabebe, Pampanga), which is a declared National Historical Landmark of the NHI.

Sadly, there are traces of vandalism near some of the figures. It just shows how some Filipinos value their heritage. These rock carvings are National Cultural Treasures and are under the care of the National Museum. In 1996, they were included in the World Monuments Watch as one of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world.

I realized that the fact that there was no obvious signage to the place served as a temporary protection since only people who appreciate it go out of their way to look for it. If it was popularized without the proper security and all, some shallow-minded people might think it a novel idea to carve their names beside the petroglyphs! So I guess it's better that way for the meantime.

From there, we proceeded back down. Our last stop was the Catholic Cemetery to check out the final resting places of Botong Francisco and Lucio San Pedro. I laud the local community for regulary holding tributes for them there. The tombs are actually ordinary raised vaults and I feel that Angono, with its artists community could improve them and transform them into real monuments.

Anyway, that's it for now. Where am I off to next?

Part 1: Viva San Clemente! Higantes of Angono, Rizal
Part 2: Angono is the Art Capital of the Philippines

4 comments:

  1. can you please tell me were angono petroglyphs originaly locate? is it on binangonan area or angono area, please reply coz i need it for my feasibility study. thanks for the info on your site.

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  2. Hi! Where is the best approach in order to arrive to the "Angono Petroglyphs"?.. from Angono side via hi-way (route to Fiesta Casino) or from the Binangonan route via Quarry Road (St. Monique Valais). I'm from Binangonan and have photos of similar grafitti's from Saudi Arabia.

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  3. Ponsing8315.7.09

    I don't know how the surroundings look like but can't the Binangonan government at least place perimeter fencing around the glyphs?...Sayang naman, it's too bad we don't value our heritage :-(

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  4. Anonymous14.6.12

    in order to protect against vandalism, why are the authourities not protected with a special window like in the Louvre for the Mona Lisa , I have never been to the Philipines but save your culture and educate your people to be proud of such an heritage being European , I wonder what the students are learning about history and cultural heritage , will you one day blow up such a monument just like in Afghanistan ???joseph

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