San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora announced on Tuesday, Aug. 29, Malacañang's decision to declare Aug. 30 as a special non-working holiday in the city in commemoration of the Battle of Pinaglabanan.
(Photo from Mayor Francis Zamora)
According to Zamora, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 328, there will be no work in both the private and public sectors of San Juan and no classes in both private and public schools in the city.
The Battle of Pinaglabanan or the Battle of San Juan del Monte took place on Aug. 30, 1896. It is considered as the first major battle of the Philippine Revolution which sought Philippine independence from Spain.
Under the leadership of Gat. Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan launched an attack in San Juan del Monte because of its two strategic locations: the El Polvorin gun powder depot and El Deposito water reservoir.
To preserve the significance of the battle, a five-hectare wide shrine was built known as the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine featuring the "Spirit of Pinaglabanan" monument.
In May, the city government transferred three monuments of the country's national heroes to Pinaglabanan Shrine to pay them the proper respect and reverence.
“With the relocation of the monuments of Rizal, Bonifacio, and Jacinto to the Pinaglabanan Shrine, visitors can now witness and better appreciate a trio of Eduardo Castrillo's masterpieces, which, when combined with Castrillo's 'Spirit of Pinaglabanan' sculpture at the inner portion of the Pinaglabanan Shrine, creates a remarkable ensemble of 4 Castrillo sculptures that welcomes visitors to the shrine,” the city government said.
Prior to their transfer, the Dr. Jose Rizal monument was located at the Plaza ng Masa, the Gat Andres Bonifacio monument was at the corner of Pinaglabanan and Valenzuela Streets, and Gen. Emilio Jacinto monument was at the corner of Pinaglabanan and P. Narciso Streets.
The city government said that around 3,000 people visit the Pinaglabanan Shrine per day since the easing of pandemic restrictions, making the shrine a strategic location for the monuments.
In addition, many groups have applied for study or tourist tours in the El Deposito Underground Reservoir, which is located at the Pinaglabanan Shrine.