In San Jose del Monte City, both Rep. Rida and Mayor Arthur Robes regret the missed opportunity to fully realize the potential of the ABS-CBN Soundstage, an imposing structure in their city’s landscape.
This regret dates back to 2020 when Congress failed to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise, leading to the network’s closure. Consequently, the ABS-CBN Soundstage, sitting on 7.7 hectares of land within Horizon IT Park in San Jose del Monte (SJDM), fell silent.
Beyond the lost employment and untapped business opportunities that the production hub could have ushered, Rep. Rida said the Soundstage locale was being envisioned into a verdant park. Mayor Robes added that there were plans to offer production-related courses at the city college.
“Nanghihinayang kami, malaki rin naman ang investment,” said the couple in an interview during the grand revival of Tanglawan 2023, which marks the 23rd anniversary of San Jose del Monte’s cityhood.
There have not heard of plans for the Soundstage, they added. “Asking probing questions is a challenge… we simply must respect their privacy for now,” Rep. Rida said.
The Robes pair has remained undeterred in their commitment to enhancing and illuminating their city’s landscape, particularly as they advance toward obtaining the Highly Urbanized City status.Against the backdrop of the ongoing Tanglawan Festival, a commemoration of San Jose del Monte’s 23-year journey as a city, the urban center hosted a captivating showcase of artistic performances and culturally enriching presentations last Saturday, September 1, at the City Sports Complex.
The festivities featured stellar performances by the likes of Jillian Ward, Darren Espanto, and AC Bonifacio, accompanied by an ethereal fashion spectacle spotlighting Dumagat models, accentuated by the exquisite creations of acclaimed designers Viña Romero and Francis Libiran.
The evening’s host, Robi Domingo masterfully charmed the audience with a delightful blend of humor, wit, and charisma. He engaged with both guests and spectators, even coaxing Mayor Arthur into dancing along to SB19’s “Gento.”
The event commenced with a lively Bruno Mars medley by Darren, followed by AC’s energetic dance number. However, the night’s most resounding applause and cheers were reserved for Jillian. The “Abot Kamay Na Pangarap” star’s commanding vocals and graceful choreography wowed the audience.
The name “Tanglawan” is derived from “light,” a tribute to the city’s past when it was primarily known as a resettlement area, where the strength of the community was harnessed as its guiding light. As Rep. Rida aptly phrased it, “We made the people our strength because without people, there is no light.”
There is also the tale of St. Joseph appearing with a light in the mountain to illuminate the path of fleeing Filipinos during the war. Thus the place was christened Saint Joseph of the Mountain or San Jose del Monte.
“Many former residents who used to visit and have since relocated have remarked upon the tremendous transformation of San Jose del Monte. What we aspire for our city is to become the most picturesque, progressive, well-governed city in Bulacan. We aim to evolve into a self-sustaining community, a city that offers everything our citizens need, so they won’t have to venture elsewhere for leisure; they can find it all here in San Jose,” emphasized Mayor Art.
