SAMAR, Philippines – A lawyer writing on behalf of residents of Catbalogan City called on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to investigate what she said was the commercialization of church property and the destruction of the La Pieta statue in front of the St. Bartholomew church.
Concerned citizen and lawyer Alma Uy, in a letter sent to the office of CBCP President Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David on Monday, April 7, relayed the concerns of Catbaloganons over the decision of the Diocese of Calbayog to allow Shakey’s to develop the Pieta Park.
Also on Monday evening, residents held a candlelight vigil to console the families who were “emotionally affected” by the demolition of the park and to express their dissent over the recent turn of events.
It can be recalled that on Saturday, April 5, civil works at the Pieta Park caused the wreckage of the La Pieta statue, with the head of the statue of the Virgin Mary cut off and the body of the statue of Jesus shattered.
Uy, a native of Catbalogan, told Rappler that the destruction of the Pieta Park was a disrespectful act towards the religious and historical significance of the place.
The park was built as a memorial to the tragedy of the MV Doña Paz sea mishap in 1987 where more than 900 Catbaloganons were identified as victims.
Jay Mark Moncadilla, a member of Waray Waray Youth Advocates, told Rappler in an interview, of how devastated he was upon knowing that Pieta Park will be replaced by a food chain.
“Damo amon mga memories dida na mga kabataan. Dida kami nag uuyas,” Moncadilla said.
(We had so many memories there as children.We used to play there)
The youth advocate added that while he was fine with developments but he could not tolerate the destruction of a historical site like the Pieta Park, only to be replaced by a restaurant.
The Pieta park is known for being a place for religious activities, especially during the Holy Week.
Maria Corazon Paña, the president of the Asosasyon han Kababayin-an para ha Progreso han Catbalogan, told Rappler that it was difficult for members of the Catholic community to accept what happened, particularly because they considered the park as “sacred.”
“This Holy Week we gather there to celebrate, and now we see the head of the blessed Virgin Mary was cut off and the body of Jesus was mangled. It hurts us,” Paña said.
Uy, along with other Catbaloganons, urged the CBCP to hold those responsible for the demolition accountable.
Uy also asked the CBCP to intervene and cancel the contract, if any, that allowed the establishment of commercial businesses on church grounds, stressing the need to protect the sanctity of religious spaces.
The lot area of the Pieta park is owned by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Calbayog, with whoever is the bishop of the diocese as administrator. At present it is administered by Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez.
A statement Monday from the Diocese of Calbayog signed by Diocesan Judicial Vicar Fr. Noel Labendia and with the consent of Abarquez, said that the bishop entered into an agreement with a local Shakey’s Philippines franchise holder for the development of the park after years of neglect and deterioration.
Shakey’s Philippines and local franchise holder Gildo Arai have since released public apologies on the matter, promising to rebuild the site and implement immediate corrective measures. – Rappler.com