(by Sr. M. Victoria Joson, RGS)
Twenty six RGS from the National Capital Region
trooped to Santa Ana, Manila on May 24, 2014 for the unveiling of a historical
marker on the site of the first Good Shepherd Convent established 1921 in Manila.
The marker stands on a pavement in front of Savemore Santa Ana, present owners
of the area where the original house of
RGS belonging to the Archbishop of Manila once stood. The Santa Ana Heritage Tourism Association
(SAHTA), under the leadership of Ms. Sylvia Lichau
co and Mr. Ernesto Panis, was
instrumental in the realization of this project which was undertaken in
connection with the Centennial Celebration of the RGS in the Philippines.
Photo: Good Shepherd Sisters, Ms. Athena Cajucom and staff, and, Ms. Sylvia Lichauco (right).
The ceremony was part of a triple event
held in the Atrium of Savemore Santa Ana, the space was dedicated as a venue for
cultural activities envisioned by the SAHTA. Tribute was paid to the Dita Tree
which was part of the original property and for which the ecology minded
residents of Santa Ana fought with all their might to be saved. To accommodate
the desires of the determined residents Savemore Santa Ana lessened their
business space to give way to the atrium and the Dita tree. The original tree
however did not survive the cement enclosure, but the third replacement seems
to be thriving. After all is said and done the acquisition of the original
property was a not a walk in the park for the present owners. The well heeled
connections of the residents with people in the NCCA, Museums, and ecology
linked NGOs were part of the negotiations in different levels.
To cap the event, the RGS were treated to
sumptuous lunch in the neighbor’s ancestral house hosted by a beautiful
centenarian in the person of Mme. Jessie Lichauco (Sylvia’s mother). At the age of 102 (going 103 in January 2015)
she regaled us with her wit and wisdom, being a “living library” by herself.
She came into the scene in 1933 when the RGS moved over to Grace Park. But her attachment to the house was deep
enough that when she heard the sound of hammers dismantling the structure, off
she went in haste to see for herself what was going on. She lost no time in
contacting people involved in patrimony conservation to do something about it.
We came home inspired by the efforts of the SAHTA to restore “Santa Ana as a
town of grace with pride of place”.