Public Servant and Advocate of Culture and the Arts
July 28, 1951 – June 24, 2022
Luisito E. Marty, also known as “Chito”, was born on July 28, 1951, and passed away on June 24, 2022. He served as the Municipal Mayor of Sta. Cruz, Zambales, for three terms: 1992–2001, 2004–2013, and 2016–2022. He is recognized for his humility and compassion. Despite his gentle demeanor, as described by one of his constituents, Ms. Kathyrine Cambefan, he was a strong advocate behind the anti-mining campaign to preserve Zambales’ natural resources.
During his term, Sta. Cruz, Zambales achieved its status as a first-class municipality. In 2000, a shipwreck was discovered in Sta. Cruz (National Museum of the Philippines, n.d). Under his leadership, the Far Eastern Foundation for Nautical Archaeology (FEFNA) teamed up with the National Museum of the Philippines, he allowed the excavations from July to September 2001, and he facilitated the return of 15,000 well-preserved archeological items. The collection includes Chinese porcelains, stoneware, celadons, and earthware pots, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (13698 – 1644). Non-ceramic artifacts, including small cannons, were also found, highlighting the Philippines’ involvement in Southeast Asia’s late fifteenth-century maritime trade.
Mayor Marty also played a vital role as the provincial founder of the Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines. He actively worked to uplift various sectors of the local government unit, advocating improved health and sports facilities. He implemented scholarship programs through arts and culture groups, such as the Harmonic Spear Drum and Bugle Corp.
Established in 2010, the band was formed to offer opportunities to talented but economically underprivileged students, providing them with additional support for their education. This initiative was aligned with his aspiration to form a band in Sta. Cruz, that is not only recognized within the province of Zambales but also throughout the entire nation. Mayor Marty also wished to pass on the skills and excellence of these young individuals to the succeeding generations.
Noteworthy in culture and the arts, he emphasized the importance of a literary event in Sta. Cruz, and organized the 1st Mayor Luisito E. Marty Literary Arts Festival in the decade of 2000. Its participants were high school students from local public schools.
The main objective of the event was to value the dedication and hard work of every literary writer. Mayor Marty aimed to enlighten young minds on the importance of honing their creative writing abilities, as he believed in the power of mind and pens. In the book “Patungong Panumtom,” a collection of Zambales literary works from the festival, he expressed:
“Marami sa mga mag-aaral ang may nakatago o angking kakayahan sa larangan ng tinatawag na ‘Literary Art’ o pagsusulat. Hinahangad kong mailabas, malinang, at mapayaman ang kakayahang ito upang magbigay-daan sa pagsali ninyo sa iba’t ibang pampanitikang paligsahan.”
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