Belmonte eyes new museum for QC

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. revealed yesterday City Hall’s plans to build a new museum for the city "which would be unlike any other."

"This will not be something that showcases what other museums already have," the mayor told reporters after wreath-laying rites at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. The city commemorated the 124th birth anniversary of the its founder, the late Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon.

Belmonte said City Hall is eyeing the purchase of a privately-owned building on the suggestion of former culture minister Jaime Laya, who has enthusiastically agreed to serve as a consultant to the museum project.

"I’m not telling you yet where the building is located or how much it will cost the city," the mayor said, "But Mr. Laya told me this building is representative of the period when the late Commonwealth president was just starting to build on his dream of making this city the capital of the country."

Local and national government officials, as well as relatives of the late Commonwealth President, graced the ceremony at the Quezon Memorial Shrine yesterday.

Former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, presidential adviser on cultural affairs, was guest speaker. She spoke of the urgent need to preserve the ideals Quezon died for.

Belmonte, who is the ninth mayor since the city was established, said it is important that city residents know by heart what their city stands for.