THE scheduled unveiling of a heritage monument next week at the Provincial Capitol grounds will be moved to February pending its final completion.
Maricel Casiño-Rivera, head of the Misamis Oriental provincial press office, said construction of the monument is still ongoing and is yet to be finished by Monday next week.
Earlier, the Provincial Government set the unveiling of the 23-foot heritage monument on January 11 in time for the opening of the annual "Tabo sa Umahan," which highlights the province's 80th founding anniversary celebration.
The heritage monument, situated at the center of De Lara Park, is one of the two monuments commissioned by the Provincial Government for P27 million with internationally-renowned Filipino artist Eduardo Castrillo.
The other one is the "Bayani ng Media" which was unveiled on August 21, 2009.
The monument, which will be made of brass, hopes to bring "a message of identity and gratitude, a message of hope, intelligence and destiny," according to Governor Oscar S. Moreno when the projects were inaugurated early last year.
Once finished, the monument would depict two important historical events with which Misamis played significant roles-the Katipunan revolution and the Philippine-American War-with local war heroes Apolinar Velez and Nicolas Capistrano.
The monument would also feature the province's natural landmarks, the Cagayan de Oro River, lush rainforest mountains and terrains, the historic Saint Augustine Church, a Kagay-anon mother with a child that would seek to capture the life of ethnic people, and the leaders who spearheaded the dynamic growth of the province in its early days.
At the left side of the monument would be seen the farming life of the province and a Muslim Maiden playing an indigenous instrument as she pays homage to the early settlers who contributed to the well-being and progress of the province.
The right side of the monument will show the noted leaders and statesmen who fostered the growth and gained the pride for Misamis Oriental, all of them having held the highest office in the National Government while at the lower side would stand Xavier University.
The official seal of Misamis Oriental and the bronze dedicational plaque and marker will serve as the monument's base.
Aside from its tourism value, Moreno underscored the cultural significance of the monument to the province's heritage and history. (Terry D.C. Betonio)