Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. yesterday assured Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon of his full support in reviving the city’s economy through tourism.
Catapang met with Biazon after the latter sought his audience to brief him about the city government’s plan to include some of the historical sites inside the New Bilibid Prison Compound in its efforts to drum up the tourism industry in the area as part of its economic recovery.
Biazon told Catapang“ pag sinabing Muntinlupa ang nasa isip ng tao bilibid, so we want to push this initiative not just to boost the economy, but also to let the people know that NBP is a place of reformation and peace.”
Catapang asked the Muntinlupa City government to include the monument of the late President Elpidio Quirino, which was erected last February beside the Memorial for Peace (Osawa Shrine) at the New Bilibid Prison Reservation Area in Muntinlupa City as a symbolic tribute to President Quirino’s exemplary leadership, humanity, and historical foresight in shaping bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines.
According to Biazon the end of World War LL, was the new beginning of a harmonious bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Japan
Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko emphasized during the unveiling of the statue that his statesmanship and act of forgiveness towards Japanese Prisoners of War (POW) laid the foundation for the exceptional bilateral relationship that thrives today.
Included in the circuit tours inside the NBP being arranged by the Muntinlupa City Tourism Culture and Arts Department include:
* Kiyosi Oshawa Shrine / Memorial for Peace Shrine – to Educate the youth on Philippines-Japan Relations following World War I and retell the outstanding contributions of Kiyosi Osawa in achieving it. The Philippines – Japan Society confers upon Osawa the Medal of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of Philippines-Japan Relations.
* Jamboree Lake – Explore the smallest lake in the Philippines and retell the lake’s history and past uses.
* Director’s Quarters – Presently the official residence of the Bureau of Corrections Director General
* Lethal injection and Death Chamber – Narrate the history of the death penitentiary in the Philippines and the reality of it.
* Japanese Cemetery – The Japanese Cemetery is a garden cemetery located inside the NBP Reservation Compound dedicated to the Japanese Soldiers who died in Muntinlupa. This is the burial place of imprisoned Japanese soldiers during the war who were executed. Legend has it that General Tomoyuki Yamashita, tagged as the “Tiger of Malaya,” was buried in the same place. Japanese tourists drop by the cemetery to pay respect to their ancestors.
* Memorial Hill – The Memorial Hill was the burial place of Major Eriberto B. Misa Sr. which served as a tribute to the former Bureau of Prison Director for his 12 years of service, making him the longest-serving prison director up to this date.
Also present during the meeting were Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco, Sara Bendana of the Muntinlupa Tourism Culture and Arts Department, Councillor Jonas Angelo Abadilla who is also the SK Federation President, Alvin Vernon also from Muntinlupa City LGU, Bucor Deputy Director General for Operations, Asec. Gil Torralba and other Bucor officials.
