CAGAYAN de Oro City government has reopened the iconic Plaza Divisoria, also known as Golden Friendship Park, in time for the 127th Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Mayor Rolando Uy led the reopening ceremony of the newly rehabilitated landmark, which features monuments honoring national heroes including Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and former President Ramon Magsaysay.
It also honors Justiniano Borja, the city’s third mayor, who spurred Cagayan de Oro’s growth by opening the Cogon public market in 1958.
“The rehabilitation of Divisoria Park may not be noticeable during daylight hours, but at night, the transformative changes truly become apparent,” Uy said.
Patrick Gabutina, chair of Project Lunhaw, which oversaw the renovation, said the project took six months and cost about P50 million.
Two sections of the park are still under renovation, including the area surrounding the Bonifacio monument. The skeletal remains of local heroes who fought American forces at the turn of the 20th century are buried there.
Plaza Divisoria, composed of five “islands,” was originally constructed in 1902 as a firebreak for the growing city.
The Kiosko Kagawasan (Freedom Kiosk) within the park was a historic site for mass demonstrations during the 1986 People Power Revolution and the Edsa II protests that ousted President Joseph Estrada in 2001.
Gabutina said the renovation included improved public accessibility, with paved paths for persons with disabilities. Additional features include flower beds, new benches, and a planned fountain near the Bonifacio monument.
“It was money well spent, really,” Gabutina said.
