MANILA, Aug. 19 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III joined officials of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Quezon City government during the inauguration of the newly renovated “Museo ni Manuel Quezon” at the Quezon Memorial Shrine in Quezon City on Wednesday.
The opening of the modernized museum coincided with the 137th birth anniversary of Quezon, who served as the president of the Philippine Commonwealth government from 1935 to 1944.
Upon arrival, President Aquino and NHCP Chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno led the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the shrine in front of the museum’s entrance.
After the wreath-laying rite, the President witnessed the presentation of a posthumous award to the family of Quezon in recognition of his implementation of the open-door policy that allowed 1,200 Jews to migrate to the Philippines to escape the horrors of the Holocaust.
The posthumous award — the Raoul Wallenberg Medal — was presented by Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben-Matityau to President Quezon’s daughter, Zenaida Quezon Avancena, and grandson, Manuel Luis “Manolo” Quezon III.
After the awarding ceremony, President Aquino returned in front of Quezon’s bust to bang the gavel on the table, which marked Quezon’s act of opening the Senate sessions from 1916 until he became president in 1935, to signal the formal opening of the newly refurbished museum.
The President toured the museum, which features the life and political career of Quezon and explains the historical context in which he emerged as the leader of the country.
The museum has a sizable collection of the late president’s memorabilia, a hologram of Quezon delivering his inaugural address, and various interactive booths and terminals that show information about the Commonwealth period. It also offers other facilities, such as the audiovisual room, which presents a brief documentary about Quezon and the museum; a gallery dedicated to Aurora Quezon; and a recreation of Quezon’s office.
Also present during the museum opening were House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Maria Josefina Belmonte, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Hernando Iriberri. (PNA)