Quezon folk remember ex-president

LUCENA CITY—Local government officials, military, police and multisectoral representatives on Sunday offered wreath of flowers at the bronze monument of former president Manuel L. Quezon located at Perez Park here to commemorate his 134th birth anniversary.

Quezon Gov. David Suarez called on his provincemates to continue to emulate the ideals of Quezon, who was born on Aug. 19, 1878 in the small town of Baler, Aurora, a former part of Quezon province.

He died in Saranac Lake, United States, on August 1, 1944 at the age of 66.

“Let us all keep the flames of his ideals burning. His deep sense of nationalism, social justice and fervent care for the common tao should forever remain in each and every one of us,” Suarez said.

The morning drizzle did not dampen the festive mood of the participants as they patiently waited in line for their turn to the floral offering.

During the ceremony, Suarez and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia also signed a sisterhood agreement between the two provinces.

In her speech, Garcia said the two provinces had long been maintaining a special tie during the period of Quezon’s presidency as his vice president then, Sergio Osmeña, was also a Cebuano.

Lucena Bishop Emilio Marquez officiated a Mass before the floral offering.

An agri-aqua trade fair was also being held at the park’s open space that showcase farm produce and marine products as part of the week-long Quezon Day celebration.