117. PRESIDENTIAL MONUMENTS IN ISABELA

PRESIDENTIAL MONUMENTS IN ISABELA

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano
23 March 2020

 

Five presidents of the Republic of the Philippines have their own monuments in the Province of Isabela even though none of them were from the province. They are His Excellencies Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel A. Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and Ramon Magsaysay.

Today, exactly 119 years ago, President Emilio Aguinaldo was treacherously captured in the remote town of Palanan in Isabela province by the American forces led by General Frederick Funston. He arrived in Isabela the previous year, January 8, 1900, particularly in the town of Oscariz in the south-western part of the province. He then trekked his way to coastal Palanan via Tierra Virgen in Naguilian town until he reached the coast of Isabela. After 35 years, President Aguinaldo made his second visit to the province particularly in the capital town of Ilagan. In 1962, the first Aguinaldo monument, a concrete bust, was erected by Mayor (1946-1980) Aladino R. Bernardo and Majority Leader, Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1934-2019). The second monument was constructed in 2001 to commemorate the centennial of the capture of the general from Kawit, Cavite and this was initiated by the National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines). An official NHI marker was installed on the second site of the monument just a few meters from the previous spot with the original bust transferred from the old base to the new pedestal. Recently, the lot of the Aguinaldo Shrine eroded since the memorial sits at the banks of the Pinacanuan River of Palanan. It is now awaiting rehabilitation.

The first president (1935-1944) of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1944), has two statues in the province. The first is at the town named after him, in the Municipality of Quezon, Isabela. The monument was originally installed in front of the old site of the municipal hall, now the Bureau of Fire Protection building. When a new municipal edifice was constructed to replace the old one which burned down, the statue was transferred to the new site which is now the present spot. The Quezon monument faces the Santiago-Tuguegarao Highway.

The other Manuel Quezon statue can be found at the barangay compound of Quezon, in the Municipality of Naguilian, Isabela. The barangay hall was formerly a part of the old municipal hall before the town hall was transferred to the national highway. A stutue of Quezon was erected alongside with our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Barangay Quezon is one of the barangays in the poblacion of Naguilian town.

The last president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the first of the Third Republic (1946-1948), Manuel A. Roxas (1892-1948), was the latest addition in the presidential monuments in Isabela. It was only last July 4, 2019 when the nine-foot statue of Roxas was installed and unveiled at the Roxas Freedom Park at the town center during the 71^st Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Municipality of Roxas, Isabela. The figure was donated by the Roxas family and the President Manuel A. Roxas Foundation and is an exact replica of the bronze statue of the President as rendered by National Artist Guillermo E. Tolentino in 1952.

The country’s sixth president, Don Elpidio Quirino y Rivera (1890-1956) has three monuments in Isabela province. The grandest of the three is in the capital city of Ilagan in Barangay San Vicente in the poblacion. It was installed during the tenure of Governor Melanio T. Singson and Ilagan Mayor (1956-1959 & 1962-1976) Ricardo A. Paguirigan. President Quirino visited Isabela in 1949 during the governorship of Silvino M. Gumpal.

During the term of President Quirino (1948-1953), seven municipalities in Isabela were created: Roxas (EO 136), Aurora (EO 139), Santo Tomas (EO 199), Luna (EO 267), Alicia (EO 268), San Agustin (EO 269) and Cabatuan (EO 293). A town was named after the president in 1967 by virtue of RA 4901. The town of Alicia, formerly Angadanan Nuevo, was named after Quirino's wife Dona Alicia Syquia-Quirino.

The Municipality of Alicia town, established on September 28, 1949, has a bust of the first Ilocano president in front of the municipal hall. On the other hand, San Agustin town, created also on September 28, 1949, immortalized its gratitude to President Quirino by erecting a life size statue at the municipal compound. Unfortunately, the sculpture needs restoration.

The fifth president (1907-1957) honored in Isabela with monuments was Ramon Magsaysay (1907-1957). Three statues and one bust immortalized the popular president who perished in a plane crash on March 17, 1957 in Cebu. The first of the four was the Magsaysay life sized statue at Baua Street in front of the old Municipal Building of San Mariano town. Mayor (1948-1963) Felicisimo Baua assembled the monument after the tragic demise of the seventh president of the republic.

The second Magsaysay figure can be found at the municipal compound of the old pueblo of San Pablo erected during the administration of Mayor (1964-1986) Cayetano B. Cauan supervised by Councilor Lucio Tumaliuan, Treasurer Anacleto V. Bumagat and Secretary William Cureg.

The third is a Magsaysay bust found at the town center in front of the municipal hall of San Guillermo. The head was installed during the tenure of the first mayor (1968-1986), Hon. Alvaro T. Filart. San Guillermo was created on June 17, 1967 by virtue of RA 4906.

The fourth Magsaysay image can be found in the town which was christened after the first name of the president, the Municipality of Ramon. It was during the term of the first mayor (1964-1986 & 1988-1998), Hon. Angelino F. Vizcarra when the life-size statue was installed on a pedestal in front of the old municipal hall. When a new town hall was constructed also within the compound, the Magsaysay statue was transferred in front of the new building by Mayor (2006-2007 & 2007-2016) Wilfredo L. Tabag in 2011. Ramon town was created on June 18, 1961 by virtue of RA 3320.

Isabela has 11 monuments of presidents, a tangible heritage to remind us of the contributions of these great men of our history. Except Presidents Laurel and Osmeña, all the other 14 presidents have visited Isabela during their tenure and five of them were honored with these concrete icons. President Magsaysay was the last to be immortalized. Time will come that Isabeleños would again be erecting additional monuments of presidents who they think gave the Filipinos significant service.