Lights up in Roxas City
ROXAS CITY , Philippines — For many, Roxas City in Capiz is synonymous with fresh, delectable seafood. Named after the first president of the Republic of the Philippines Manuel Roxas, the city also serves as an intersection among the past, the present and the future. Its heritage and rich history are perfectly mixed in with progress in the age of modernity.
Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Davidas said that he wants to pave the way for Roxas City to be a top cultural tourist destination, adding, “I want to transform Roxas City into a more dynamic and vibrant city.”
Roxas City is replete with heritage structures that stood the test of time and are still being used today, retaining their original designs and historic integrity. The centerpiece of this heritage city is its city plaza.
The first step to achieving the goal of transforming Roxas City into a dynamic and vibrant heritage tourist destination is through better lighting.
“First things first, I think that when you light the entire Roxas City that means that you’re bringing all together works for infrastructure, social services, safety, peace and security,” said Davidas.
To achieve this, Roxas City is tapping a P23-million innovative and state-of-the-art illumination project for eight heritage zones with the support of Signify Philippines, more commonly known as Philips Lighting and considered as the world leader in lighting.
The eight heritage zones are: President Manuel A. Roxas Monument, Ang Panublion Museum, Roxas City Hall, Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral, Jose Rizal Monument, Roxas City Bridge, Roxas City Rotonda and the Roxas City Bandstand Gazebo.
These places were illuminated during the recent Sinadya Festival, a celebration of the founding anniversary of Roxas City.
Signify Philippines country manager Jagan Srinivasan said that the potential of Roxas City as cultural heritage landmark in the Philippines can be fully realized through a smart lighting system that can be a source of civic pride.
“It magnifies the human experience by touching the heart which leads to unexplored realms of the emotion,” he said.
Moreover, Srinivasan pointed out that Roxas City and Signify share the same vision of seeing the opportunity of brighter lights towards a better world, a safe and economically-vibrant community.
He also said that better lighting can unlock greater opportunities for Roxas City to grow as a safe city viable for commerce and investment.
Interact Landmark can create memorable experiences, program light shows, align to the seasons, city festivals or special events, all through the use of a dashboard or an app on a mobile device triggering light shows remotely from any location.
“When lighting is well integrated, it can be a source of civic pride, create iconic and unique night-time cityscapes, trigger commerce, drive overall city progress and place a city on the tourist map of a country or the world,” Srinivasan said.
Signify said that it will continue to be a partner of local government units in providing innovative lighting solutions that respond to their needs. The company has a reputable portfolio, including lighting up the cities of Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Ormoc, Leyte.
Davidas emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage as a source of civic pride.
“No other city could boast of several heritage structures that are still in use today,” he said.
Heritage tourism remains one of the most potent untapped assets in Philippine tourism. The Department of Tourism said that Philippine heritage can be experienced not only in textbooks and museums, but also in beautifully preserved historical sites across the country.
Bringing in Philippine heritage is part of the It’s More Fun in the Philippines campaign.
Aside from its tourism benefits, local heritage offers a sense of civic pride among Filipinos when they see their history taking center stage and admired by visitors.
