A fragment of the Berlin Wall — a concrete barrier that divided East and West Germany for nearly three decades — was put on display at Andres Bonifacio Monument Park in Manila Monday morning.
The wall was a well-guarded structure around 155-kilometers long and 13-feet tall that stood from 1961 to 1989.
It divided Germany and represented ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
History will show that greater things are achieved through unity rather than division, said Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who led the unveiling of the Berlin Wall Fragment 22.
“The wall is a symbol of division and indifferences in political beliefs at the expense of the general public,” he said in his speech.
“I hope politicians like me will remember that we should act in unison especially in the midst of this pandemic, that we in government and the people should come and act in unison in fighting this pandemic... that’s destroying our lives, families, and economy.
“In unity, we can achieve something better for our people.” German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel said she is thankful that the piece of Berlin Wall was made accessible to the Filipino public a few days after Germany celebrated the 30th anniversary of its reunification.
After the wall fell, hundreds of its fragments were passed around. Some were gifted to other countries, while some pieces were even sold to the public.
The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to receive a fragment of the Berlin Wall in 2015, that piece of history displayed at the National Museum.