Envisioning Global Excellence beyond its Golden Year.

Rationalizing the Establishment of Zambales Studies and Museum in Columban College

History and the writing of history seemed to have taken a new course of direction. New historiography is no longer confined to national history with all its generalizations, thus confining the past from stereotyped events, people and places. As Prof. Serafin D. Quiason in his paper, "Reflections on our Historical Legacies and Provincial Historical Committees" stated, thus: "The overall process of our national history is determined by the innumerable small local histories. It is the sum total of all ethnic groups histories expressed in their various lifestyles, beliefs, techniques, traits, institutions, struggles, sufferings and achievements making up the Filipino people." Indeed, our national history had its very roots in the variety of ethnic soils and barangays where our ancient and illustrious forebears originally came from.

 Scholars continue to form movements and associations to complete the yet many puzzles that will truly enrich our national history via the local history. It was in 1970 when the National Historical Commission (NHC) launched the first provincial historical committee under the chairmanship of a noted historian, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil who is a descendant of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This event was followed by a proliferation of cultural agencies until the need to streamline the diverse functions of these agencies led to the creation of the National Historical Institute through Presidential Decree #1 on September 24, 1972.

* Coordinator, Social Sciences Department, College of Arts and Sciences and Education/Museum Curator/Assistant Researcher