Senior Citizens Promote Inang Filipina Shrine

The Senior Citizens of Pandi gathered at the Inang Filipina Shrine in Bgy. Real de Cacarong to celebrate the season last Saturday, December 15, 2007. Gracing the occasion was Mayor Bobby Oca, Councilor Evangelina Sandel, Mr. Pepe Ordonez of FSCAP, OSCA Chairman Mr. Baby Santos, OSCA President Mrs. Maring Alcaraz, former OSCA President Mr. Adriano Laderas, and Mr. Benjamin Fajardo, OSCA Founding President (not in order as in the picture).

The venue was specifically chosen by the OSCA members as a way to promote the shrine, collectively expressing sadness that the historical site had not been given adequate attention in the past, and that even residents of Pandi are not aware of its significance nor the story behind it. The shrine is allegedly the site of the First Philippine Republic where a community ("walled city") of Katipuneros once existed, headed by then Gen. Eusebio Roque. It is also where the young Gregorio del Pilar fought his first battle.This shrine, together with the Biak-na-Bato Republic, and the Malolos Republic are all depicted in the seal of Bulacan Province. Upon assumption to post, Mayor Bobby Oca had requested the local DECS Supervisor that the history of Inang Filipina shrine be taught in all public schools in Pandi so that children may become well-versed with this legacy.

Students and teachers of Manuel G. Santos Memorial School headed by Mrs. Fely Cruz performed an excerpt on the battle that ensued between the Katipuneros and the Spaniards at that time, prompting some people in the audience to get teary-eyed. Sincere gratitude to you, Tita Fely, for providing the blast-from-the-past number. May you never get tired of perpetuating the history of Inang Filipina to the future generations of KaPandi! As for the senior citizens of Pandi, they have proven once again that indeed, ang mga Katandaan ang syang Gabay ng mga Kabataan.