Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr led the successful restoration of parts of the historic Faro de Cabo Santiago or Cape Santiago Lighthouse in Calatagan, Batangas on 15 April 2021 — a move that is seen to be the onset of transforming the lighthouse into the PCG’s first-ever museum.

According to PCG District Southern Tagalog Commander, Commodore Tito Alvin G Andal, said lighthouse is the oldest in Batangas and one of the oldest working lighthouses in the Philippines.

"It stands on top of a 41-foot cliff by the shore of Calatagan and serves as a guide for ships passing through the Verde Island Passage and entering Manila Bay," Commodore Andal said.

The red, round structure was modeled after Europe’s medieval castles by Spanish engineer Guillermo Brockman in 1887. It was made of brick and lime cement and stands 51 feet tall. The lighthouse was inaugurated and lit on 15 December 1890.

On 12 March 2018, the National Historical Museum of the Philippines (NHMP) installed a historical marker on the site, designating its status as a National Historical Landmark.

Since October 2020, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PCG District Southern Tagalog made initial restorations on the run-down lighthouse.

According to PCG Station Batangas Commander, Captain Geronimo B Tuvilla, the efforts aim to restore Cape Santiago Lighthouse back to its former stature for the future generation to see and appreciate.

“For the past seven months, we have focused our efforts on the clearing and cleaning activities, external works on parts of the lighthouse, strengthening its structural integrity, and installing initial habitability, such as water source and a decent restroom for visitors,” Captain Tuvilla said.

The project was made in collaboration with the Municipality of Calatagan that, in turn, requested funds from the national government for the succeeding internal renovation works of the lighthouse. These included wood works for the ceiling, tiles, and antique knobs.

Several vintage pieces of the PCG are now on display in Cape Santiago Lighthouse, such as an old PCG helicopter and some Spanish era light station lanterns and photos.

“We also plan to put some mannequins with transitional PCG uniforms and paraphernalia. A souvenir shop and café will follow once a PCG foundation is set up to legalize the process of the museum,” Captain Tuvilla added.

The PCG Station Batangas Commander furthered that once the museum is established, a joint team from the PCG and the Municipality of Calatagan will curate guided tours. Several areas of the structure shall then be restricted from the public, such as the power supply house and solar panel area, so as not to affect the daily operations of the lighthouse.

“This is something that we Coast Guardians and our families would be proud of and further give value knowing that the light which illuminates from it would not just be a symbol of hope for mariners and fishermen, but will be a bastion of protection of our heritage — a history that humbly began as a Lighthouse Service and through the waves of time, evolved to become the premier maritime agency of the country,” he shared.