THE parish council of San Francisco de Asis Parish has finally decided early this week not to pursue its request to have the Castillo set up on the grounds of the Plaza Quince Martires for the Easter Sunday morning Encuentro. For the past two years, the early morning Encuentro between the images of the Sorrowful Mother and the newly Risen Christ has been held at the Plaza Quince Martires. To prepare for this event, the Castillo would be bolted to the footings already embedded in the ground a week before the Holy Week. The structure would be dismantled after Easter Sunday.

        The Parish of San Francisco de Asis was able to use the Plaza for this paraliturgical -- in some parishes, fund-raising ----- street drama through the accommodation given to the parish by Mayor Jesse M. Robredo two years ago. The use, however, of the Plaza Quince Martires did not have the backing of a legislation from the Sanggunian Panlungsod.

        Such use of the plaza for that purpose was a subject of a hearing a week ago and the recommendation of the committee was for the parish not to anymore use the plaza for the Encuentro. The committee, instead, expressed willingness to let the parish use the Kinastillohan Street in front of Plaza Quezon for the Encuentro.

        Holding the Encuentro in Kinastillohan Street would be in keeping with pre-War practice in Naga which held the Easter drama on that street. For that reason, the street was popularly --- though not perhaps legislatively --- named after the Castillo.

        The recommendation of the Sanggunian Panlungsod Committee is in keeping with the Executive Agenda of the City of Naga which seeks to strengthen the cultural and the historical to enhance the re-development of the Central Business District I in view of the advent of SM in the Central Business District II . The city councilors who were present during the hearing were even amenable to have the Castillo permanently built in Kinastillohan Street, with, however, a wider base so as not to hamper traffic. But the Parish Council of San Francisco de Asis would not have any of it. It is evident in its communication to the Sanggunian Panlungsod Secretariat that it is either the Plaza Quince Martires or that the ceremonies would be held within the parish church.

        The Roman Catholic Church in Naga has been in good graces with the city government for the duration that Mayor Robredo has been in City Hall. There was even a joint celebration called Kamundagan --- strengthened by an ordinance --- between the Church and the City Government to mark the Charter Day of Naga when it was then celebrated in December.

        It would appear that the rejection of the offer of the City councilors for the San Francisco de Asis Parish to use the Kinastillohan street for its Encuentro would be an indication of animosity in what used to be animated company between the local Roman Catholic Church and the City Government.

        It did appear, at least for a local historian invited to the committee hearing, that the request of the Parish Council of San Francisco de Asis Parish was an attempt to twist the arm of the City Government.

        Whatever the meaning and the consequences of the rejection by the Parish Council of the San Francisco de Asis Parish of the offer of the City Government for the Encuentro to be held at the Kinastillohan Street, the message is clear: the City Government cannot let anybody or any institution use for whatever purpose, be it holy or profane, something hallowed such as the Plaza Quince Martires. The heritage of Naga City, be it structural or cultural, written or customary, deserves utmost respect. Its use, even if temporary for whatever purpose, without the proper permit or legislation, militates against the respect that this heritage deserves.