MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday led the commemoration of the 137th birth anniversary of the late President Manuel Quezon.
In simple rites, he led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Quezon Memorial Circle and witnessed the turnover of the posthumous Raoul Wallenberg Medal to Quezon’s daughter, Zenaida Quezon Avanceña.
The honor was bestowed upon Quezon for the “decisive and courageous role” he played in the country’s giving refuge to around 1,200 European Jews from 1937 to 1941 to save them from the Nazis.
Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben-Matityau, who presented the medal, lauded Quezon for his “moral conviction.”
Quezon’s grandson, Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III of the Presidential Communications for Development and Strategic Planning Office, delivered a response and stressed the importance of people’s right to asylum in a democracy.
After the awarding ceremony, Aquino banged a gavel to commemorate Quezon’s act of opening the Senate sessions from 1916 until he became president in 1935.
Aquino then led the opening of the newly renovated Manuel Quezon Museum housed at the QMC shrine. He toured the museum and was accompanied by Quezon’s family and National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Maria Serena Diokno.
The event was also attended by members of the Cabinet and diplomatic corps, officials and employees of the national and local government units, sectoral representatives, Quezon’s family, representatives of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and other guests.