The City of Makati celebrated faith, heritage, and community on June 8 during the second Rosas ng Sampiro Festival, held at the Makati Coliseum. The event paid tribute to the Virgen de la Rosa de Macati, recently declared the city’s cultural treasure and patroness.
“Thank you very much to the teachers, to the staff, and to the officials for this event,” said Dwayne Samarista, officer-in-charge of the Museum and Cultural Affairs Office (MCAO), as he opened the program with a message of gratitude.
The festival, now in its second year, was born from a desire to center Makati’s identity on a symbol that reflects its authentic roots.
“This isn’t the first festival of Makati, but in 2018, Mayor [Abigail Binay] thought that our festival should be celebrating something that is authentically Makati, and should honor our very own history and culture,” said Samarista.
The Virgen de la Rosa de Macati, a Marian image brought to the Philippines by the Jesuits from Cádiz, Spain in 1718, became the spiritual focus of the event.
The image, enshrined in San Pedro Macati Church for over 300 years, received the rare honor of a Pontifical or Canonical Coronation in 2018, as granted by His Holiness Pope Francis. The coronation ceremony in March 2019 was attended by high-ranking clergy, city officials, and thousands of devotees.
Samarista recalled that “during that year’s coronation ceremony, Mayor Binay instructed us to think of a celebration for the women of Milosa.”
The Rosas ng Sampiro Festival was formally institutionalized by City Ordinance No. 2023-215, which declared the image a cultural heritage treasure. The public rite of declaration was held in 2024, where Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo offered a symbolic brooch bearing Makati’s city seal to the image, marking her official patronage.
“This is but one of your many cultural legacies for the City of Makati,” Samarista said, thanking Mayor Binay. “And we are grateful for you. Thank you for harmonizing culture with strong and sustainable development.”
The 2025 edition of the festival featured a live competition among public elementary schools, high schools, and barangay clusters, showcasing stories about the Virgen de la Rosa through performance and visual arts. Digital technology was also integrated into costumes, props, and sets, encouraging creativity and innovation.
The winners this year were Palanan Elementary School in the elementary category, Makati Senior High School in the high school category, and Barangay Cluster III—composed of Carmona, Kasilawan, Olympia, Singkamas, Sta. Cruz, and Tejeros—in the barangay category.
“This event will be brilliant proof that Makati is more than just demands and orders. That Makati is a true community of people who, at their core, are filled with faith, hope, and love,” Samarista shared.
Other highlights included performances by Makatizen artists and celebrity guests, a Eucharistic celebration led by H.E. Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, and booths featuring local food and merchandise. The festival was supported by the Archdiocese of Manila, Cofradia de la Virgen de la Rosa de Macati, SGV & Co., and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, with PLA Events Planner as the official event partner.
Samarista closed his message by encouraging continued engagement with the festival’s mission.
“We hope to make this celebration bigger in the years to come, with new stakeholders from outside Makati, and to nurture the creative passions and faith of our fellow citizens,” he continued.
“We will make this one of the most long-lasting celebrations in the country in the next few years,” added Samarista.
