(Eagle News) — The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) inaugurated the first-ever Presidential car museum in Quezon City Memorial Circle on Sunday, August 19.
The launching of the museum was led by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante, NHCP Acting Executive Director Ludovico Badoy and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.
The inauguration of the museum coincided with the 104th birth anniversary of former President Manuel Quezon.
Roque said that he was proud that such a museum was inaugurated as it will help tell the nation’s history and story.
“These cars are really part of our nation’s history and each one of them had a story to tell and I think all the young people of this country should be able to come and visit because napakaganda ng mga kwentong sinasabi nila doon sa panahon kung kailan namuno ang mga presidenteng namuno na sumasakay sa mga kotseng ito (because the stories they tell about the time when the presidents rode them are very beautiful),” he said in an interview.
At least 12 presidential vehicles were displayed in the museum from Emilio Aguinaldo’s time up to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term. Among them were two of the cars used by former President Quezon.
However, the cars used by former Presidents Carlos Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal have not been recovered by the NHCP.
On the other hand, the vehicle used by former President Sergio Osmeña is in Cebu.
Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ephraim Ben Matityau also attended the event saying that it was a good project from the government. He said that the museum would help many young Filipinos to know about the presidential car and the history and legacy of the person who used it.
“This is a culmination of a dream that is associated strongly in the spirit of our relations, which is a friend in need a friend indeed,” said the Ambassador who praised the late President Quezon for his “clear moral compass.”
President Quezon reinforced the Commonwealth government’s open-door policy welcoming thousands of Jews who escaped from Europe between 1935 and 1941.
“That earned you a great moral victory,” Israel’s Ambassador Matityau said. (With a report from Eagle News Service Earlo Bringas)