MANILA, Philippines--After close to seven years in storage, a bust of freedom fighter Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. will finally take its place at the newly opened airport terminal bearing his name when the nation marks his 25th death anniversary this month.

A giant bronze bust of the martyred opposition icon will be installed on Monday at the departure hall of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (Naia 3).

Including its pedestal, the Aquino bust is at least 15 feet, according to Tirso Serrano, airport development and affairs chief. The bust was first unveiled on the eve of Aquino's 69th birth anniversary in November 2001.

"Because the terminal was not finished at the time, they took it out so as not to damage the bust. It was held in trust as issues [about the terminal] arose and held up the opening," Serrano said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, members of the Aquino family and other government officials are expected to grace the event at 10 a.m. Monday, three days before the nation marks Aquino's death anniversary at the airport complex.

But former president Corazon Aquino, who led the 2001 unveiling, was expected to be absent from the ceremonies because of illness, Serrano said. (The former president also had a falling out with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over a range of political issues, foremost of which were the allegations of corruption hounding the Arroyo government.)

"Now that the terminal is open, it is the most auspicious time to install and rededicate it," he said.

A work by Bicolano artist Ross Arcilla, the bust will be placed at Terminal 3, which has been operational for a month. Terminal 3, completed six years ago, was kept shut by contract controversies and safety concerns.

The bust was commissioned by the terminal's original builder, Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc., as a gift to the Aquino family.