GMA son wants Quezon City avenue renamed

MANILA, Philippines - Unaware of a potential squabble with the Catholic Church, a son of President Arroyo wants Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City renamed after Iglesia ni Cristo’s late executive minister Eraño “Ka Erdy” Manalo.

Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo is one of seven members of the House of Representatives who authored House Bill 6785 to give credit to the INC.

The lawmakers, all from the administration bloc, were apparently unaware of a similar measure in the Quezon City Sangguniang Panlungsod, which was vigorously opposed by the Catholic Church officials. The councilors withdrew the proposed ordinance.

The only difference is that the city council wanted to have Commonwealth Avenue renamed after INC founding bishop Felix Manalo, Eraño’s father.

In a letter to Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, who heads the city council, Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias said there are three “major” Roman Catholic churches – St. Peter Parish, Kristong Hari Parish and Sto. Nino de Leyte Shrine – situated along the avenue.

“To change the name of Commonwealth Avenue to that of Felix Manalo would sacrifice the very history of our nation and the integrity of our city,” Tobias said in the letter that was also distributed to the 26 city councilors.

The Quezon City council nonetheless unanimously approved late last month an ordinance renaming Central Avenue – the street linking Commonwealth to Visayas Avenue in Barangay Culiat – after the younger Manalo, who died last month.

Bautista said the INC leadership has never asked any of them to bestow such an honor to Manalo.

The congressmen said credit should be given to Manalo, whose religious leadership “transcended political and social boundaries. Ka Erdy is worthy to be lined up with great Filipino leaders and other great Filipino achievers.”

Under the measure, the Department of Public Works and Highways shall issue the rules, orders and circulars necessary to carry out the provisions of the proposed bill.

None of Arroyo’s co-authors represent any district in Quezon City: Rep. Candido Pancrudo, Jr. is from Bukidnon; Pedro Romualdo, Camiguin; Yevgeny Vincente Emano, Misamis Oriental; Jose Aquino II, Agusan del Norte; Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Davao del Norte; and Rommel Amatong, Compostela Valley.

Manalo is buried at the INC Central headquarters located on Commonwealth Avenue, dubbed as the widest national road in the country, with eight lanes that stretch from Novaliches to Elliptical Road in Quezon City.

At least 500,000 INC members and government leaders attended the Sept. 7 burial while more than a million came to the wake.