The Pasig City local government held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 11, for the installation of a historical landmark in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.
The historical marker will be built at the site in Barangay Pinagbuhatan where the Augustinians held the first Mass and built the first chapel, as they established what is now known as the City of Pasig in January 1572.
The ceremony was attended by Mayor Vico Sotto, Congressman Roman Romulo, Councilors Angelu de Leon and Syvel Asilo, as well as Barangay Captain of Pinagbuhatan Maricar Asilo Vivero.
It was presided over by Rev. Fr. Felix Gutierrez.
Prior to breaking ground, the prospective plan for the landmark and the mini-park in its surrounding area was signed by the city and barangay officials.
Mayor Sotto thanked the organizers of the program, namely the barangay council of Pinagbuhatan, the Parish Pastoral Council of San Sebastian, and the Pinagbuhatan homeowners associations (HOAs), for undertaking a significant project to highlight the history of the barangay.
"Pag tiningnan natin ang kasaysayan ng Pasig -- mga naunang kaganapan -- hindi na po tayo titingin sa malayo kundi dito mismo sa Pinagbuhatan (When we look at the history of Pasig – it's first events – we do not need to search further but here in Pinagbuhatan)," Sotto said.
"Hindi po natin dapat kinakalimutan ang kasaysayan at kultura natin...Dapat hindi natin kalimutan ang mga historical places dito sa ating barangay (We should not forget our history and culture. We should not forget the historical places in our barangay)," he added.
City Councilor Angelu de Leon, who is also the chairperson of the Committee on Cultural and Spiritual Affairs and Committee on Tourism, stressed the significance of the project to the overall cultural mapping project in Pasig.
"Sana po pagdating ng panahon na magbubukas na ang turismo dito sa Pasig, isa po ito sa mga puntahan ng turista mula sa Lungsod at mga balikbayan (Hopefully, when tourism fully opens in Pasig, this will be one of our local and foreign tourists' destinations)," De Leon said.
The groundbreaking ceremony was part of the festivities conducted as the barangay celebrated "Araw ng Pinagbuhatan."