Roxas’ death marked at Clark

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The Clark special economic zone honored Manuel Roxas, the last president of the Philippine Commonwealth and the first president of the Philippine Republic, with yesterday’s unveiling of his statue here.

In Roxas City and elsewhere in Capiz, the birthplace of the late former president, local folk observed "President Manuel Roxas Day" as a non-working day for the first time, thanks to Republic Act No. 9217.

Fifty-six years ago yesterday, Roxas, feeling tired during a review of American troops at the parade grounds of this former US Air Force base, took a respite at the so-called "White House" here, the official guesthouse of the US military for visiting dignitaries.

It was in that elegant two-story house where Roxas died of heart failure on April 15, 1948.

The Clark Development Corp. (CDC) designated the "White House" as the official residence of the president here during the term of former President Fidel Ramos.

CDC president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Angeles, other executives of the state-run firm and members of the Roxas family, headed by Lakas-CMD senatorial aspirant Mar Roxas, the late president’s daughter Ruby Roxas, and daughter-in-law Judy Araneta-Roxas, unveiled yesterday a bronze statue of the late president along Clark’s main highway, now known as the Manuel Roxas Highway.

"President Roxas holds the distinction of being the only Filipino leader to have been Speaker, Senate president and later, president of the Philippines," Angeles said.

Organizers of the commemorative rites said similar ceremonies were also held yesterday in other parts of the country to honor the late president.

A memorial Mass was celebrated followed by a wreath-laying on his tomb at the North Cemetery in Manila yesterday morning, while in Roxas City, Capiz Reps. Rodriguez Dadivas and Fredinil Castro, Gov. Vicente Bermejo and Roxas City Mayor Antonio del Rosario led the opening of an exhibit of the late president’s memorabilia at the Roxas City Museum. — Ding Cervantes