The Quezon City local government unveiled the cultural marker for the Quezon Memorial Shrine, which was named “National Cultural Treasure” by the National Museum of the Philippines, to commemorate the 145th birth anniversary of President Manuel Luis Quezon on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, accompanied by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, city councilors, and department heads, unveiled the cultural marker, which was given by Andoni Aboitiz, who serves as the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of the Philippines.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa National Museum of the Philippines sa pagkilala ng importansiya at ambag ng Quezon Memorial Shrine sa ating kasaysayan at kultura. Sigurado ako na masaya si Pangulong Quezon kung makikita niya kung gaano na kaganda at kayabong ang ating lungsod (We extend our gratitude to the National Museum of the Philippines for recognizing the significance and contribution of the Quezon Memorial Shrine to our history and culture. I am certain that President Quezon would be pleased to see how beautiful and thriving our city has become),” Belmonte said.
She highlighted former President Quezon’s support to the welfare of workers and other sectors that are deprived of privileges and prosperity.
The local government will “remain steadfast in pursuing his vision,” the mayor said.
The QC Memorial Shrine was confirmed as one of the country’s “National Cultural Treasures”.
The Quezon City government thanked the National Museum of the Philippines for recognizing the shrine’s cultural importance.
According to the Quezon City local government, the Quezon Memorial was designed by Arch. Federico Ilustre of the Bureau of Public Works (now Department of Public Works and Highways). It is an equilateral triangular shrine dedicated to the late President Manuel Luis M. Quezon. It houses a museum at its base.
The shrine is considered as the most significant landmark of Quezon City.
It has three pylons that represent the three major islands of the Philippines, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each pylon is 66 meters long, referencing the President Quezon’s age when he died.
Italian artist Francesco Riccardo Monti’s sculptures, the Art Deco statues of three angels holding sampaguita funerary wreaths, are also placed above the pylon.
The museum features the former president’s personal belongings, books, articles and documents, and photos from his youth until his death. It also has various rooms and interactive booths that offer information about Quezon and his family.