GOVERNMENT officials of Santa Rita, along with Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, led the formal opening of the Santa Rita de Cascia monument dedicated to the town's patron saint and namesake.
The edifice is almost a three storey-structure that features a full storey-sized figure of the Italian saint Rita of Cascia atop a round open-air structure as base. The structure is adorned with columns for support and images of saints that are the patrons of the town's 10 barangays.
The structure towers at the west lateral portion of the Mega Dike in Barangay Gasak overlooking former lahar ravaged lands of Santa Rita and nearby Bacolor town. The structure is visible from the Jose Abad Santos Avenue section of Bacolor toward the west when heading to Olongapo or Bataan.
The structure was constructed and unveiled in time for the town's Duman Festival. The structure is in homage of the town's patron saint and is seen as an added attraction to the towns famed eco-park where it now stands.
The structure is open to the public where people are encouraged to offer prayers and reflect.
Local officials believe that the facility will further boost the tourism potential of the area of the eco-park, which is also a wellness area for joggers and runners.
The town folk of Santa Rita are known for their pious devotion to their town patron. The town's famed Duman Festival, an alfresco food exposition, is held annually at the Eco-Park.
Santa Rita is known for having a strong confectionery tradition.