THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will spearhead the P50-million restoration project of the Santa Barbara church and convent in Santa Barbara, Iloilo in preparation for the 2015 Philippine Independence Day celebration writes Maricyn Delos Santos for The Daily Guardian. In his visit Wednesday, NHCP Executive Director Ludovico Badoy updated Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Santa Barbara Mayor Dennis Superficial that the project is a priority since President Benigno Aquino III will celebrate the country’s independence next year in the historic Iloilo town. He said the NHCP already allocated P20 million for the project in its 2013 budget and an additional P10 million in its 2014 budget. Badoy noted that Senate President Franklin Drilon committed P10 million for the project while the province and Second District Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta will contribute P5 million each. The restoration was first conceptualized when NHCP chairperson Ma. Seren...