Photo is artist's concept of Huluga before project. Put mouse over to see present condition.

Huluga is an archaeological site in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Spanish missionaries described the area as a well-protected fortress on a promontory and led by Datu Salangsang. The place was discovered and studied in the 70s by scholars of Xavier University and the National Museum -- among them the archaeologist Dr. Erlinda M. Burton, who used to work with Dr. Louis S.B. Leakey in the Calico Archaeological Site.

In 1992, the National Museum gave Huluga accession numbers, giving it formal recognition as an archaeological site. Korean contractors hired by mayor Vicente Yap Emano left the area when they learned it was a cultural heritage. But in 2003, Emano and his new Filipino contractor -- UKC Builders, Inc. -- bulldozed Obsidian Hill to give way to a bridge, despite protest by the Heritage Conservation Advocates (HCA) and other groups. The construction has no Archaeological Impact Assessment.

DESTRUCTION. More endangered archaeological sites are present in Cagayan de Oro and vicinities. Two major causes of the destruction of these areas are land development and government neglect. Also, the idea of preserving an entire archaeological site -- like what is being done in the US, Australia and other advanced nations -- is not yet accepted by local officials, especially when voters are already occupying the site. In many cases, local officials even condone or participate in the looting of the site.Some readers of this page are certainly treasure hunters.

Former mayor Constantino Jaraula publicly acknowledged Huluga as a heritage site in 2007, during a meeting with the HCA and three journalists. But Jaraula broke his promise to fence the area. Instead, Jaraula went halfway around the globe to Virginia, USA to forge a sister-city agreement, citing historical tie with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Jaraula also told us to conduct research on the landowners of Taguanao, where Huluga is located, so that he could help us file a case. But after we submitted the result of our three-month research, Jaraula ignored our messages. Lawyer Mariano Carrasco said over DxCC that Jaraula now has a 100-hectare lot in Taguano.

Above: Pottery sherds from Ming and Ching Dynasty found in Huluga. Left: Susan P. Dennis in Town Creek Indian Mound.

PRESERVATION. There are possible ways to help preserve our heritage sites. An ordinance should be passed, not only in Cagayan de Oro, but in Misamis Oriental and elsewhere in the Philippines, so that archaeologist will examine the land before development begins, to save the artifacts and fossils. This process is called salvage archaeology. If necessary, the area should be preserved. [See for example, the Town Creek Indian Mound in North Carolina, which has been visited by Susan Palmes Dennis, a former broadcaster in Cagayan de Oro.]

Dr. Burton has also suggested, for years now, that the National Museum assign heritage conservation deputies nationwide. Why the National Museum continues to reject this idea remains a mystery. Do local officials oppose this concept? Do they feel threatened that artifacts found during construction of projects will be taken from them? Are there archaeologists in the National Museum that make secret deals with treasure hunters, as in the case of Maitum, Sarangani where stolen pots were clandestinely approved for delivery to a store in Manila without the knowledge of the mayor and governor? In Golden Friendship Park, Cagayan de Oro, a skeleton with a metal plate was discovered during a government digging. A former member of the city hall Historical and Cultural Commission said they were removed and never seen again. What if the bones belong to Fray Agustin de San Pedro, the priest who led the natives in battles against their enemies?

Dr. Antonio Montalvan II, Dr. Erlinda Burton, and Angel Bautista at the Xavier Estates archaeological site.

RECENT DISCOVERY. In 2009, an ancient grave in Huluga and an archaeological site in Xavier Estates were found. A Brown Company, Inc. (ABCI), Xavier University, and Capitol University agreed to share in funding the excavation of the sites, as suggested by National Museum archaeologist Angel Bautista. ABCI board chairman Walter Brown was willing to construct a museum in Xavier Estates if significant artifacts were retrieved. Brown even postponed earth-moving activities for three months there -- a financial sacrifice -- but the National Museum cancelled the plan. HCA has received information that a politician was behind the rejection.

Cagayan de Oro has no shortage of scholars, businessmen and other residents who understand the importance of studying the past. Congressman Rufus Rodriguez once claimed that he is not a politician but a historian. He has written a book about Cagayan de Oro history using Spanish references. But why he has not done anything about our archaeological sites is another mystery. Would the new National Museum director Jeremy Barns make a difference?