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The North Remembers held from September 8-9 at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Teatro Ilocandia, featuring as speakers Prof. Antonio Contreras, Dr. Raul Sunico, Prof. Clarita Carlos, Atty. Estelito Mendoza, Dr. Jaime Laya, and former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos. Marcos Presidential Center |
Batac City—The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) officially turned over the biographical marker of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) on September 10, at the recently-relocated "Daytoy ti Bannawag" monument in this city.
Originally inaugurated in 1977, the monument, sculpted by Italian Giuseppe Marinucci, was for Mr. Marcos’ 60th birthday and was originally beside the current Marcos Museum.
Mr. Marcos, born on September 11, 1917, died in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1989. His interment at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB) in Taguig City was on November 18, 2016.
Ilocos Norte tourism office Aian B. Raquel shared, "It's a very significant event that will serve as a real commemoration for the centenary of Ferdinand Marcos as a president because it's the first standard-issue government marker that says he's a former soldier, a former president."
He also explained that "the Batac plaza is undergoing thorough redesign that integrates the buildings around the plaza." The new site of the 40-year-old monument and of the NHCP marker faces the Immaculate Concepcion Parish, and is across the Imelda Cultural Center.
"Aside from being a recognition of the historical significance of [Mr. Marcos], it will serve as one of the attractions again in Batac, with… a more tourist-friendly location," said Mr. Raquel.
Batac City's tourism industry became a concern for locals after Mr. Marcos’ remains was interred last year. His frozen remains displayed at the Marcos Mausoleum, behind the Batac "minipark," was the city's primary attraction for many years.
Part of Marcos' NHCP marker shall read, "Nagtapos ng abogasya sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, 1939. Nanguna sa Pagsusulit sa Pagkaabogado, 1939. Kasapi ng 14th Infrantry USAFIP-NL ng Kilusang Gerilya, 1944-1945. Nanungkulang Kinatawan ng Ikalawang Distrito ng Ilocos Norte, 1949-1959; Senador, 1959-1965. Pangulo ng Senado, 1963-1965. Pangulo ng Pilipinas, 1965-1986. Isinailalim ang Pilipinas sa batas militar, 1972-1981. Nagpataupid ng mga programa, proyekto, at batas sa ilalim ng balangkas ng 'Bagong Lipunan.'"
"We were made to understand that it's their mandate to really commemorate historical milestones, and they see a centennial anniversary of the birth of [Mr. Marcos] as a historical milestone," added Mr. Raquel.
The ceremonies and unveiling of the marker immediately followed the two-day "Marcos 100 Forum: The North Remembers," a major highlight of the former president's centenary celebration. A literary and arts festival was also part of the activities.
A simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies throughout Ilocos Norte, with a corresponding commemoration at his grave in the LNMB marked Mr. Marcos’ actual 100th birth anniversary on September 11, 2017. (Marcos Presidential Center)