text & photos HADER GLANG
What bones tell us? This question cropped up when members of the Independent Press of Zamboanga (IPZ) led by its founding father Prof. Clem Bascar (below photo pointing) visited a site of marine aquarium project at the Zamboanga City State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, where some 50 human skeletal remains have been dug up by construction workers.The Independent Press of Zamboanga (IPZ) urged yesterday the city government to take full control of human skeletal remains that had been dug up by construction workers in an excavation site inside the Zamboanga City State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZCSCMST).
Prof. Clem Bascar, IPZ founder, said the skeletal remains that have been found in the school must be acquired and preserved by the local government to determine the historical significance or value that could open new fields of inquiry into Zamboanga history.
"It must not be mishandled and it must be subjected to rigorous scientific examination and analysis by forensic experts or competent authorities in the field of anthropology, archaeoloy and geology," he stressed.
The noted local historian invoked Republic Act 8492, an act establishing a national museum system providing for its permanent home and for other purposes. Under the act the meseum shall have the following duties and functions:
Acquire documents, collect, preserve, maintain, administer and exhibit to the public, cultural materials, objects of art, archaeological artifacts, ecofacts, relics and other materialss embodying the cultural and national heritage of the Filipino nation, as well as those of foreign origin;
Materials relevant to the recent history of the country shall be likewise acquired, collected, preserved, advertised and exhibited by the museum. Undertake research on salvage archaeology, monitor and control archaeological excavations, diggings and researches into Philippine pre-history and proto-history.
"But it's very sad thing that we saw these bones treated like garbage. We therefore urge the city government to take full control of the skeletal remains to preserve its historical value," the noted local historian said.
School officials had earlier announced that close to 50 skeletal remains, including skulls and skeletons of varied sizes, have been unearthed by construction workers while digging about five feet already below the ground in the excavation site.
Professor Florinda Garcia said that "Based on initial observations, the skeletal remains are probably of American and Filipino soldiers, but we would still need experts to analyze and identify the remains,"
Observers say it is quite likely that the remains were soldiers killed during the Spanish war because the site is near a site, which was once part of a stone fort, now Fort Pilar, built by Spaniards in 1635 as a military defense structure against the Moros and pirates.
"But we really don't know, only the experts can determine. That's why the city government should already come in to stop the excavation until the experts arrived," according to Bascar.
"These remains must not be touched or mishandled otherwise they will loss their historical value. External and internal criticisms must be undertaken following the scientific methodology to bring about new information and historical dimension," he said.
Historically, Fort Pilar was originally named as Real Fuerza de San José and in 1719 renamed Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, which roughly means the "Royal Force of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza." It was renamed after its capture by the American forces in 1899.
The fort was attacked by the Dutch in 1646 and destroyed by Moros in 1669 and again in 1720. It was reconstructed, but bombarded by the British in 1798 and was abandoned by the Spaniards in 1898.
It was captured by U.S. expeditionary forces on November 16, 1899 until the fort was captured by the Japanese forces in 1942. Three years later it was recaptured by the Americans and turned over to the government of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946.
Prof. Clem Bascar, IPZ founder, said the skeletal remains that have been found in the school must be acquired and preserved by the local government to determine the historical significance or value that could open new fields of inquiry into Zamboanga history.
"It must not be mishandled and it must be subjected to rigorous scientific examination and analysis by forensic experts or competent authorities in the field of anthropology, archaeoloy and geology," he stressed.
The noted local historian invoked Republic Act 8492, an act establishing a national museum system providing for its permanent home and for other purposes. Under the act the meseum shall have the following duties and functions:
Acquire documents, collect, preserve, maintain, administer and exhibit to the public, cultural materials, objects of art, archaeological artifacts, ecofacts, relics and other materialss embodying the cultural and national heritage of the Filipino nation, as well as those of foreign origin;
Materials relevant to the recent history of the country shall be likewise acquired, collected, preserved, advertised and exhibited by the museum. Undertake research on salvage archaeology, monitor and control archaeological excavations, diggings and researches into Philippine pre-history and proto-history.
"But it's very sad thing that we saw these bones treated like garbage. We therefore urge the city government to take full control of the skeletal remains to preserve its historical value," the noted local historian said.
School officials had earlier announced that close to 50 skeletal remains, including skulls and skeletons of varied sizes, have been unearthed by construction workers while digging about five feet already below the ground in the excavation site.
Professor Florinda Garcia said that "Based on initial observations, the skeletal remains are probably of American and Filipino soldiers, but we would still need experts to analyze and identify the remains,"
Observers say it is quite likely that the remains were soldiers killed during the Spanish war because the site is near a site, which was once part of a stone fort, now Fort Pilar, built by Spaniards in 1635 as a military defense structure against the Moros and pirates.
"But we really don't know, only the experts can determine. That's why the city government should already come in to stop the excavation until the experts arrived," according to Bascar.
"These remains must not be touched or mishandled otherwise they will loss their historical value. External and internal criticisms must be undertaken following the scientific methodology to bring about new information and historical dimension," he said.
Historically, Fort Pilar was originally named as Real Fuerza de San José and in 1719 renamed Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, which roughly means the "Royal Force of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza." It was renamed after its capture by the American forces in 1899.
The fort was attacked by the Dutch in 1646 and destroyed by Moros in 1669 and again in 1720. It was reconstructed, but bombarded by the British in 1798 and was abandoned by the Spaniards in 1898.
It was captured by U.S. expeditionary forces on November 16, 1899 until the fort was captured by the Japanese forces in 1942. Three years later it was recaptured by the Americans and turned over to the government of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946.
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