On the Pieta statue demolition
TACLOBAN CITY– The Diocese of Calbayog has addressed public outrage over the demolition of the Pieta monument and surrounding memorial park in downtown Catbalogan City, Samar explaining that the area had long deteriorated and lacked the resources for proper upkeep.
In a three-page statement released on Monday, April 7, Fr. Noel Labendia, diocesan judicial vicar, said the Church had to make a difficult decision to enter into an agreement with private investors to develop and maintain the site, which had become a “public urinal, a mini dumpsite, and a favorite hub for peddlers and vendors.”
The lot, which housed the Pieta statue commemorating the more than 4,000 victims of the 1987 M/V Doña Paz maritime disaster, many of whom were from Catbalogan, is owned by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Calbayog.
The monument was first developed in 1995 through the efforts of the Katbalogan-Metro Manila Residents Association and a partnership between the diocese and during the administration of former mayor Jesus Redaja.
Fr. Labendia stressed that the memorial had not been properly maintained for decades, and with no group stepping up to take responsibility, the Church had to turn to investors who could commit to developing the space sustainably.
“No single Catbaloganon or group ever stood out to develop it, until recently when feelers were sent to us. The Diocese does not have those [logistical] resources,” he said.
According to the priest, the Katbaloganon Foundation had expressed interest in developing the park as early as three years ago, but failed to proceed due to lack of funds.
The Diocese later engaged with several private firms like 7-Eleven, McDonald’s, Jollibee, and ultimately Shakey’s, which entered into an agreement to fund the park’s redevelopment, Labendia said.
The diocese said it pushed for certain conditions, including the preservation of the memory of the Pieta, proper public information, and an accessible design.
Fr. Labendia also claimed that the plan had been disclosed to the mayor’s office days prior to the demolition and was met with cordial acknowledgment.
Regarding the removal of the Pieta statue itself, Labendia clarified that the image had been severely damaged by time and the elements, becoming “so brittle and fragile” that it could no longer be preserved.
He said the diocese has asked the developer to replace it with a more durable replica, possibly in marble.
“Let’s all be clear: the image was just an ordinary cement material, not marble—a replica of the original Michelangelo from Italy,” he noted.
To recall, those who opposed the demolition of the Pieta statute claimed that it was made of marble from Italy and designed by a local artist, Alejandro Villarin.
The diocese also took a swipe at critics of the redevelopment, pointing out the lack of similar public outcry when other heritage sites like the Catbalogan Grandstand and Samar Sports Complex were converted into commercial spaces.
He ended the statement thanking those who continue to advocate for the preservation of heritage, but urged the public to also recognize the need for sustainable development and responsibility in maintaining memorial spaces.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
