In celebration of the 15th annual Kawit Day and History Month in August 2024, the Municipality of Kawit’s Tourism Office, in partnership with the Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo, Museo ni Baldomero Aguinaldo, and the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene, recently organized several Kawit Heritage Tours. I was fortunate enough to join one of these tours, and it was an enriching experience, allowing me to rediscover the hidden gems of Kawit and deepen my appreciation for its historical significance. As someone who had always passed by these sites without much thought, I found the tour eye-opening—each stop revealing fascinating stories of bravery, resilience, and patriotism.
The assembly point was at Liwasang Bonifacio, located across from the Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo in Barangay Kaingen, where a registration area was set up near the Tourism Office. Tour participants received travel brochures showcasing Kawit’s various tourist attractions and caps for sun protection, as most of the sites were outdoors.
The tour began with a briefing by Mr. Angelo Aguinaldo, a curator, heritage preservation worker, and fourth-generation descendant of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines. He was joined by Mr. Rhouz Hernielle Camposanto, the OIC of the Tourism Office, for the duration of the tour.
Participants traveled on a “baby bus,” a unique type of bus commonly used in Cavite, to the first stop: the Battle of Binakayan Monument along Covelandia Road. This monument commemorates the 1896 battle during the Philippine Revolution, where Filipino forces claimed victory against the Spaniards.
The next stop was the Museo ni Baldomero Aguinaldo, located in Barangay Binakayan. Built in 1906, this was the retirement home of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s cousin, Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo, who also served as a general during the 1896 revolution. The house showcases 19th-century furniture, photographs, and household items.
The group then briefly viewed the façade of the New Kawit Municipal Hall along Antero Soriano Highway, followed by a visit to the Old Kawit Municipal Hall on Kaligtasan Street.
Next on the itinerary was the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene, Kawit’s parish church. Originally built in 1638 as a wooden structure, this is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. A short walk from the church is the Gen. Candido Tirona Monument, honoring the revolutionary leader who died in the Battle of Binakayan.
The final stop was the Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo, the site where Philippine Independence was declared on June 12, 1898. As I stood inside this historic home, it was hard not to imagine what it must have been like on that fateful day when our forefathers boldly proclaimed our independence. The walls seemed to echo with the voices of the past, and I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of pride and gratitude. Built in 1845, the museum houses a vast collection of 19th-century furniture and memorabilia owned by Gen. Aguinaldo and his family, bringing to life a chapter of our history that has shaped who we are today.
Tara, sa Kawit! Explore Pinas!