Pamitinan Cave Historical SitePamitinan Cave Historical Site is a National Historical Site located at Rodriguez, Rizal, Region IV-A.
RESOLUTION NO. 2, S. 1996
DECLARING PAMITINAN CAVE IN SITIO WAWA, SAN RAFAEL, RODRIGUEZ (FORMERLY MONTALBAN), RIZAL AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Philippines provides that "The State shall conserve, promote and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources";
WHEREAS, Presidential Decree no. 260. dated August 01. 1973, specifically vested the National Historical Institute, a cultural agency attached to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and an institution affiliated to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with the power and duty to conserve and protect historical and cultural heritage of the country;
WHEREAS, in the context of traditional Filipino culture, caves have always been held sacred by the local populace;
WHEREAS, the early Filipinos performed burial rites, exhibited veneration for their' loved ones and buried their dead in caves, as evidenced by the existence of burial jars in caves all over the archipelago;
WHEREAS, the Katipuneros, have used the caves in Montalban in Rizal for their secret meetings and that they sought refuge in the caves and drew inspiration and strength from the enduring memories of their beloved ancestors:
WHEREAS, Andres Bonifacio and his Katipuneros are known to have met and taken their Oath in the Pamitinan Cave:
WHEREAS, the Pamitinan Cave is popularly known in the local folklore as the sacred cave where the mythical hero Bernardo Carpio was held in chains and that one day would break his chains and save the people from tyranny, injustice and oppression;
WHEREAS, the Pamitinan Cave possesses a strong historical value and importance to the history of our people's struggle for justice, peace and freedom;
NOW, THEREFORE, considering the historical. social. and cultural significance of Pamitinan Cave, the National Historical Institute, by virtue of the powers vested in it by Presidential Decree no. 260, dated August 01, 1973 as amended by Presidential Decree no. 1505 dated June 11. 197S. hereby declares the Pamitinan Cave as a Historic Site.
Approved: June 21, 1996