Belmonte to lead Quezon birth anniversary rites today

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will lead city officials in the commemorating the 129th birth anniversary of the city’s founding father, President Manuel Luis Quezon at the Quezon Memorial Shrine today.

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, representing the Office of the President, has been invited as guest of honor and speaker.

The National Historical Institute and the city government have prepared a simple program, which will start at 8 a.m., to commemmorate Quezon’s life. The event will be highlighted by a wreath-laying ceremony at Quezon’s tomb.

Zenaida Quezon-Avancena will represent the Quezon family at the ceremony.

The world-renowned Sta. Teresita Choir has been invited to render the doxology and the singing of the national anthem while Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza will deliver the welcome remarks.

Jose Marie Basa, a senior student from the Ismael Mathay Sr. High School, will deliver a speech.

Quezon, who died of tuberculosis on Aug. 1, 1944 in Saranac Lake, New York, is best remembered not only as the founder of Quezon City and the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines but also as the country’s father of social justice and the national language.

Meanwhile, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros will also commemorate the birth anniversary of Quezon, one of its foremost alumni.

In a statement, the school said Quezon chose to spend the early part of his birthday attending Mass and having breakfast with Letran priests, a practice observed to this day by the Letran priests and the Quezon family.

Letran will hold a Mass at 7 a.m. at its chapel. This will be followed by a short program and a floral offering. The Quezon family will be joined by Letran priests, administrators, alumni and faculty in the traditional breakfast. All of them will be dressed in Filipiniana attire.

Coinciding with the celebration is a medical mission sponsored by the alumni of Letran High School Batch 1982 for the residents of Barangays 654, 655, 667, and 668 in Intramuros.  – Perseus Echeminada