TARLAC CITY — Diwa ng Tarlac reopened with a newly renovated facade and interior.
Governor Susan Yap said the refurbishment, amounting to about PhP20 million, was funded by the provincial government with assistance from business tycoon and former Governor Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
“It was 1982 when the construction of this civic center was conceptualized by then Governor Homobono Sawit. The allotted budget for its construction came from the provincial government. Until now I respect that, so we renovated and brought back its glory without the utilization of national government funds,” she explained.
Diwa ng Tarlac will serve as the permanent site of the 12 dioramas that promote the pride, culture and history of Tarlac.
It has a restaurant, gift shop, and seven function rooms that can be rented out for training, parties or other events. The biggest room has a capacity of 200 seats.
The building will no longer house government offices except those involved in tourism and investment.
“It just took us some time to start improving the main center because we have to give government offices occupying the place some time to move out and relocate. But today, it has opened, and I hope that you were glad on how it was re-built,” Yap stressed.
In terms of the decor, the governor highlighted the original glass birinas and lamps of the old civic center, and the capiz lights made by a Tarlac entrepreneur.
“Diwa ng Tarlac is the labor of love of the Tarlaqueños. We should only restore it because it is our pride and it reflects our rich culture and identity,” she noted.