Meyto Shrine’s sole caretaker calls for some “care”
Meyto Shrine in Calumpit may need some attention because of the lack of directional signs,but the shrine is not the only one who calls for some attention.
Eugenia Garcia, the only caretaker of the shrine, calls for some attention to the municipal government. She is the first one to take care for the shrine, and she’s doing the task since the shrine was built, which is roughly twenty years ago. The 70-year-old caretaker’s task is to clean the area as well as to water the plants that surround the shrine. But there is one problem in doing this simple task. “Walang gripo [sa loob ng shrine]. Hindi ako araw-araw nagdidilig kasi ang hirap mag-igib. Dati kasi malapit lang ang bahay namin [sa shrine], ngayon nalayo kami kaya nahihirapan na ako,” she said. The lack of source of water made her task more difficult. She was forced to fetch water and bring it to the shrine. She has to do the task over and over until all the plants are watered. Originally, her house was just right beside the shrine, but unfortunately, the house was sold to other family, leaving her no choice but to fetch water 300 meters away from the shrine. She requested some help to the municipal government, but their actions gave ridicule on what Eugenia’s request was.
“Noon ko pa hinihiling na magka-gripo. Mula pa noong itinayo iyan, humiling na ko pero ang ibinigay nila sa akin, hose. No’ng binigyan ako ng hose, hindi na ginawa [na magkaroon ng gripo],” she said. Line of water is out of the question on the issue, as the neighboring houses beside the shrines are covered with Calumpit Water District. On the other side, the municipal government said that they are open for some suggestions on improving the situation of the shrine. Meyto shrine was built by the Calumpit municipal government as a marker of the spot where the Augustinian friars held the first Cathoilc mass in the province in 1572. The shrine consists of a big cross in a gazebo-type structure. But unfortunately, the cross in the shrine is just a replica of the original cross. The original cross is nowhere to be found. |
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