The San Juan City local government celebrated on Monday, August 30, its 125th Pinaglabanan Day by paying tribute tribute to frontliners whose dedication, courage, and selflessness mirror the country's Katipuneros’ valor during the battle against the Spaniards in San Juan Del Monte 125 years ago.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led the celebration together with San Juan City Rep. Ronny Zamora, Vice Mayor Warren Villa, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chief Historic Sites Development Officer Gina C. Batuhan, Congressional District Head Office Atty. Bel Zamora, city officials, and several medical and non-medical frontliners at the Pinaglabanan Shrine with the theme “Kasaysayan ng Kabayanihan at Kalayaan sa Pinaglabanan, Inspirasyon sa Paglaya mula sa Pandemya sa San Juan!”
“Since day one, we have been so grateful to our frontliners for their dedication and sacrifice in helping save lives and it is just right for us to honor them on this special day, where we do not only celebrate Pinaglabanan Day, but National Heroes Day. We are forever indebted to their service,” Zamora said.
Last August 27, the LGU (local government unit) distributed cash assistance to around 2,500 medical and non-medical frontliners of the city as it gave due recognition to their COVID-19 response and intervention efforts.
Zamora said that medical frontliners have received P5,000 while non-medical frontliners received P3,000. These frontliners are assigned in COVID response and interventions such as contact tracing, swabbing, isolation, treatment, patient transport, hospitalization, community quarantine, "ayuda" (cash aid) distribution, and vaccination.
“This is the city’s way of showing our gratitude to our healthcare workers and frontliners who are risking their lives for us. Alam kong napakalaki ng papel na ginagampanan nila sa pandemic response natin at gusto kong ipaalam sa kanila na ramdam ko ang dedikasyon at sakripisyo nila (I know they have a big role in our pandemic response and I want them to know that the city and I are grateful for their dedication and sacrifice). We truly appreciate your dedication and sacrifice,” Zamora said.
“Our pandemic response is a reflection of the Filipino’s bayanihan spirit. We have been getting help and volunteers not just from San Juan City but also from nearby cities and provinces. We appreciate their help and we would like them to know that,” he added.
Meanwhile, the San Juan City government deployed on Sunday 3,380 solar-powered lights which illuminated the grounds of Pinaglabanan Shrine forming the image of Gat Andres Bonifacio to welcome Pinaglabanan Day from August 28 to 29. The light installation was made in partnership with Liter of Light.
From August 30 to Sept. 2, the shrine will be lit up with messages of hope in support of teen mental health.