⌛ The Pugad-Lawin Shrine

The Pugad-Lawin Shrine is a national treasure celebrating the country’s first cry for independence from Spain’s 300-year colonial rule. It stands in a nondescript barangay in Quezon City, uncared for many years unlike the many shrines to Jose Rizal, Philippine’s national hero. Pugad-Lawin is synonymous to Andres Bonifacio, Rizal’s alter-ego.

The Shrine has recently been blessed by good fortune. Efforts of three government entities and a non-government organization have borne fruit, Mayor Feliciano Belmonte jr. and his Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office (headed by Mrs. Rosario Yara), the Sangguniang Baranggay of Bahay-Toro (chaired by Chairman Caboboy), the National Historical Institute (represented by Mr. Romeo Sakay), and the Pugad-Lawin Philippines, Inc. (headed by its governor, Joel Aton) came to provide the needed resources to start giving the Shrine “a beautiful face.” The 108th anniversary of the Shrine, with Vice-President Noli de Castro as guest speaker wouldn’t have been a presentable event without the four agencies’ collaborative efforts.

Pugad-Lawin Shrine needs additional space. Its external perimeters could be planted with trees. Pugad-Lawin High School could serve as adjunct to the Srhine. Its corridors and library could display dioramas of Pugad-lawin’s history, or even related incidents or events, like the first skirmish in the Bahay-Toro area. Or instead of dioramas, it could be paintings hanging on walls.

The bakuran or yard of Tandang Sora’s son where the “cry” push-buttoned the revolution was a clearance where chicken, dogs, and pugs could have roamed but definitely there could have been tall fruit trees to give shade from the sun. The Shrine is emerging with a handsome face with the statues now in place. The Shrine is small but it’s beautiful!

The stage, the multi-purpose hall, the statues, and the site marker truly contribute to each other’s historical aura evoking the Shrine visitors’ sense of art and patriotism.

Modern technology could help a lot, too, in this regard. Presentations in power point with sensorama capabilities in the multi-purpose room or in a special audio-visual hall could be used to enhance the historical sense, particularly of the young. With authors like Prof. Ceres Alabado (Kangkong: 1896) writing the script, presentations in CD could leap into the heart and mind of the audience. The CD could also generate funds for the Shrine.

Come November 30 and every November 30 thereafter, the nation will mark Bonifacio’s birth anniversary. Stories on the Hero of Manila and Pugad-Lawin will find outlets in media extolling his heroism. Thirty days later, the country, in turn, marks Rizal’s date of martyrdom. On both days, no doubt, the never-ending argumentation, on who should be the Filipino’s national hero—Rizal or Bonifacio?—will resurface.

In a school debate, a girl spoke eloquently of Rizal. But when she received her trophy, she delivered a thank you remark ending with “Rizal and Bonifacio both deserve to be out national heroes. Why not have two instead of one?” She received an uproarious ovation.