Believe Me
Or Not!
INTERESTING QUOTES GOOD AS CHISELED IN THE WALL
A friend sent an email about his impression the last time he visited the Philippines.
There is this “Black Stone Walls“, he said, erected on opposite sides of the main entrance road leading to the LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI close to the Heroes Memorial Gate. Two impressive looking 12-foot high black stone walls bore the following boldly printed phrase:
“I DO NOT KNOW THE DIGNITY OF YOUR BIRTH, BUT I DO KNOW THE GLORY OF YOUR DEATH.”
These touching heartrending words full of sentiments at the same time pride were taken from General Douglas Mac Arthur’s address in 1961 visit paying his tribute to the Unknown Soldiers. The eager audience was saddened when the general acknowledged “seeing “the shadows of his life”, meaning another sentimental journey is a remote possibility.
Let’s begin reading the inscription in the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier“. What a sensible dedication to every fallen warrior whose name has never been known nor does his gallant deeds ever been recorded!
“HERE LIES A FILIPINO SOLDIER WHOSE NAME IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD”
I noted with interest an amusing quote to read and is located in Roxas Blvd and Luneta now Rizal Park. There is a building that housed the Manila Eye Institute. Inside is an E-Y-E-catching phrase boldly printed in the wall:
"THAT NO FILIPINO SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF GOD'S GIFT OF SIGHT"
I remember there used to be marker, a real eye-stopper you won’t want to bypass is erected in front of the Manila Police Department building so emphatic about the harm and danger every member of the "Manila's Finest" will most likely to face:
”GO AND SPREAD THE WORD
THAT IN THIS LITTLE WORLD
Of all classic example of mockery, this one is what I call “AN IRONY OF ALL IRONIES, AN ODD OF ALL ODDITIES” that only “ERAP” or Joseph Ejercito Estrada has a monopoly in stupidity, jokes and blames of a failed Philippine president.
It was on June 1, 1999 when, Joseph Estrada who at the beginning of his term as president of the Republic enjoyed immense popularity was invited to
Inaugurate a building where the people’s COURTHOUSE known as SANDIGANBAYAN is located along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City .
Like a latter-day Julius Caesar, “HE CAME, HE SAW and was CAPTIVATED" to read in bold prints, a catchy phrase:
”TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST GRAFT AND CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT”
More so exciting to him to read is his name shown below as the honored guest.
Came September 11, 2007, eight years later, in the same building ERAP is no longer a public figure but a suspected criminal who “CAME, SAW AND HEARD ”the guilty verdict" by the very same SANDIGANBAYAN' of
”GRAFT AND CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT” based on the multiple charges filed that he plundered the nation’s wealth. It's not just an "irony" but a terrible "twist" of fate
Thanks for walking with me scouring for amazing if not amusing quotes of chiseled printed words so delightful to read. I know somewhere in the Greater Manila Area are still to find would-be artifacts or relic waiting to be "discovered" of man’s creativity expressing his ideas, sentiments, yearnings and aspirations.
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