MANILA, Philippines — Since Quezon City is the city of stars, “it is but fitting” to name one of its main avenues after the “biggest star,” the late Fernando Poe Jr.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said this Tuesday, a day after the Senate approved a measure renaming Roosevelt Ave. to Fernando Poe Jr. Ave in honor of the late action star.
“We laud the Senate, under the leadership of Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III, for passing this measure that will give recognition to the immense contribution of FPJ not only to our movie industry but to Filipino culture in general,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“We also consider it a big honor to have one of our city’s main arteries named after FPJ,” Belmonte added.
“Quezon City is the city of stars and it is but fitting to name one of our major thoroughfares after the biggest star of them all,” she continued.
On Monday, the Senate voted 22-0-1, to approve House Bill No. 7499 to rename the road after the late action king. FPJ’s daughter, Senator Grace Poe, abstained from voting to avoid conflict of interest.
It was initially sought to rename Del Monte Avenue after Poe, but it was opposed by priests, residents and parishioners in the area due to its historical and religious significance.
According to them, Del Monte Avenue was derived from San Francisco del Monte, a retreat founded in 1590 by Franciscan missionary Fray Pedro Bautista, who was later canonized as a saint.
Sotto then introduced an amendment to the measure, pushing to rename Roosevelt Avenue after FPJ since it was there where the late actor’s ancestral home was located.
Roosevelt Avenue is also larger compared to Del Monte Avenue, according to Sotto.
In his 46-year-career as an actor, FPJ starred in around 300 action films, earning him the title “Da King” of Philippine movies.
He passed away on Dec. 14, 2004 at age 65.
FPJ was declared a National Artist posthumously by then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2012.