By day, Rebecca A. Gapud teaches in public school. By night, she directs art. Immersed in her community’s creative spirit, she annually takes on the roles of director for both a musical stage play and the solemn Stations of the Cross (or Viacrucis) during Holy Week.
This year, however, Gapud’s heart was heavy as she prepared for the performances while construction mars the La Pietà Park, a cherished sanctuary renowned for its poignant sculpture.
City authorities reported that from April 3 to 5, 2025, an investor from a fast-food chain began illegal construction at the park. The investor plans to establish a branch in Catbalogan while also developing and ensuring the park’s sustainable maintenance.
Walking past the construction’s ominous barrier, Gapud’s hope clashed with despair. The Pietà, once a symbol of beauty, now appeared ravaged by what she sees as “misguided progress.”
The damage threatens not only the park’s aesthetic but also her community’s collective memory and cultural identity. For Gapud, the park embodies the profound connection between faith and artistry.
Despite the disruption at La Pietà Park, her commitment to the Lenten season remains steadfast. With assistance from the Catbalogan City Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Information Office (CTCAIO) and St. Bartholomew Parish, the final Station of the Cross has been relocated, adapting to the unforeseen changes.
“We have to move on because it already happened,” Gapud said. “The construction at La Pietà Park was stopped, but we can’t bring that back anymore. So, we have to move forward and think about what is good. Although, of course, it holds sentimental value — it’s sacred to the families of those who died in the MV Doña Paz tragedy.”
Gapud supports the Local Culture and Arts Council (LCAC) and the Catbalogan City Tourism Council (CTC) in advocating for urgent action to preserve the park’s integrity.
Her sentiments align with the councils’ mission to raise awareness about the La Pietà Park incident and seek guidance from the Katbaloganon Filipinos International (KFI) Foundation, the Diocese of Calbayog, and national organizations such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
Resident’s view
Ma. Corazon Pania, a resident of Catbalogan City, recalls La Pietà Park’s significance during Holy Week, drawing visitors from various areas.
For her, the park offers a space for reflection, where people find respite and solace in prayer, even those grappling with depression. It serves as a source of hope, a sanctuary for individuals navigating difficult times. Residents know they can find comfort there when facing challenges.
The Lantaw Pitad Organization (LPO) Inc. and the Katbalaugan People’s Council also held a Candle-Lighting Ceremony at Pietà Park to honor the victims of the MV Doña Paz tragedy. The ceremony preserved cultural heritage while symbolizing remembrance and resistance against perceived threats to the site’s history.
Doña Paz shrine
Pietà Park is a registered cultural property under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and is designated as open space in Catbalogan’s 2023-2033 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
It serves as the Doña Paz Memorial, commemorating the tragic 1987 maritime disaster that claimed nearly 5,000 lives. Originally the “plaza mayor” during the Spanish colonial period, it also functioned as the town cemetery until the 19th century when the burial grounds were relocated to Ubanon.
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Calbayog owns the land, according to the City Assessor’s Office’s Tax Declaration of Real Property.
The National Historical Institute recognizes it as a National Historical Site under Resolution No. 7 series of 2018, along with other plazas from the Spanish and American colonial periods.
La Pietà Park stands as a significant cultural and historical landmark in Catbalogan, reflecting the intertwined connections of memory, faith and artistry. Despite the challenges posed by unauthorized construction, individuals like Gapud and local organizations demonstrate the community’s resilience in safeguarding their heritage. Their efforts to honor the past while fostering hope for the future underscore the vital importance of spaces dedicated to reflection and remembrance. (AAC, PIA Samar)
