During this New Year of 2023, I had the chance to visit the San Sebastian Church in Pasig. Its story dates back to January 20, 1572, when the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Alonzo de Alvarado, together with encomendero Juan de la Isla, arrived through the riverside to an ancient barrio that would later become the foundation of Pasig. On the very day of their arrival, they celebrated the first Mass in honor of San Sebastian, adopting him as the town’s patron saint. From then on, the place came to be known as “San Sebastian de Pasig”.