MANILA, Philippines -- On the occasion of Benigno ``Ninoy’’ Aquino Jr.’s 77th birth anniversary, the Quezon City government unveiled on Friday a monument to the hero just blocks away from the family’s home on Times St.

The 14-feet figure of the slain senator now stands on a 500-square meter property at the corner of Quezon and Timog Avenues, which is near No. 25 Times St. in Barangay West Triangle where the Aquinos live.

The new Sen. Ninoy Aquino Jr. memorial shrine was unveiled as a timely gift to the Aquino family as it celebrated Ninoy’s 77th birthday on Friday.

“This is a big honor for my father and for the family, as we are remembering his 77th birthday today.. This monument is a rendition of everything that embodies my father, his youthful idealism, his dynamism,” said Ninoy’s son, Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino III, the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party.

The younger Aquino joined Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr and other officials at the unveiling Friday morning.

Also in attendance were National Historical Institute director Ludovico Badoy, members of the city council, and Belmonte’s daughter Joy who is eyeing the city’s vice mayoral post.

What used to be a plain, desolate looking road “island” is now an imposing monument of Ninoy raising his left fist while standing in front of a podium overlooking Quezon Avenue.

The P5.4-million monument was designed by artist Eduardo Castrillo who was commissioned by the Quezon City government.

“We have been planning this monument for four years now. We initially planned to place it inside the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife, but few people would be able to see it,” said Belmonte.

The search finally ended as the city government decided on the 500-square meter “island” along Quezon Avenue, which Belmonte described as the “most visible place” where people could see Ninoy’s monument.

The city mayor said he met Ninoy when the slain senator was a young man of 21, while Belmonte was only 17 years old.

“He (Ninoy) was a person in a hurry. In his lifetime, he tried to do everything,” the city mayor noted.

Belmonte served as president and general manager of the Philippine Airlines and the Government Service Insurance System during the term of Ninoy’s widow, President Corazon Aquino, who died last August 1 of colon cancer.

Meanwhile, Noynoy recalled fond memories of his family’s life in Quezon City, where his father and mother chose to live after starting their own family.

“My parents decided to live in Quezon City. We used to hear Mass at the Sto. Domingo Church, and watch movies with my siblings at the theaters hear in Delta,” the senator said.

The unveiling was also followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the brand-new monument to remember Ninoy’s 77th birthday.

The younger Aquino also praised Belmonte, who just took his oath as a member of the Liberal Party, for his leadership of Quezon City and thanked the city mayor for the large birthday gift for his late father.