As part of its 450th Araw ng Pasig celebration, the Pasig City local government unveiled to the public the monument of Lope K. Santos, known as the "Ama ng Pambansang Wika at Balarilang Pilipino on Monday, March 20.
The ceremony, dubbed as "A Homage to Lope K. Santos and His Life Legacy", was attended by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski, representatives of the family of Lope K. Santos, National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairperson Virgilio Manalo, and officials from the Pasig City Local Council for Culture and the Arts.
During the ceremony, three members of the United Social Studies Federation of the Rizal Technological University- Pasig (RTU-Pasig) performed some of the poems of Santos.
Almario paid tribute to Santos by expressing his admiration and respect for him. He also shared his book titled "Ang pangginggera at mga piling tula ni Lope K. Santos" which was published in 1990.
The family of Santos, represented by Prof. Maria Arlene Fernali S. Tuazon-Disimulacion, Ibarra Garcia, and Mayumi Santos recognized Lope's contribution to Philippine literature and his service to the country.
For his part, Manalo shared Santos' well-rounded personality which proves that a lawyer can also become a novelist, and novelist can become a governor. As Manalo relived the artist's life and legacy, he said that the people must be conscious of the never-ending capacity of us humans and that he or she should not be tied to just only one field of interest, just like Santos.
The city government then stressed that the celebration of the 450th Araw ng Pasig is a journey to look at the history of Pasig City by highlighting the city's historical events, figures, and experts.
"Ito ay pagbalik sa pagkilala sa mayamang kasaysayan at kultura sa Pasig. Tungo sa isang mas maunlad Pasig, nararapat na magbigay pugay at kilalanin ang mga natatanging Pasigueño (This a way to give due recognition to the rich history and culture of Pasig. To achieve a prosperous Pasig, it is essential to give respect to all unique Pasigueños)," the city goverment said.