Outgoing Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has formally turned over two of his precious collections to the House of Representatives—a 1955 bronze cast of national hero Jose P. Rizal and an original copy of the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines.
The turnover Tuesday was capped by a ceremonial signing of the Deed of Donation and Acceptance of the Rizal bronze cast and authentic 1935 Philippine Constitution, which was signed by Belmonte and Secretary-General Atty. Marilyn Barua-Yap who accepted them in behalf of the House of Representatives.
Belmonte said he was happy and satisfied by his decision to donate the two historical items to Congress where he have served for 18 years as a lawmaker.
“I’m happy to donate them to the House where I have served 18 years, then nine years as Mayor of Quezon City and six years as president and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System. This is the right place [for these two items]. It’s good that the House Secretariat, Management and congressmen appreciated the donations,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte said that national artist for sculptor Guillermo Tolentino made an original bronze bust of Rizal while national artists for visual arts Napoleon Abueva Atelier made four copies, which are mainly at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. The copy Belmonte donated to the House is the one that Atelier maintained for himself. “And now it is part of the House, it greets you as you enter the plenary hall,” he said.
The Rizal bronze cast done by Atelier was based from the original bronze bust by Tolentino that is installed at the UP Palma Hall with permission from the late artist’s family.
It came with an accompanying Certificate of Authenticity from the Liongoren Gallery located in Quezon City, which described the item as 28 inches by 22 inches in size and done in the year 1955.
Meanwhile, the original copy of the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines is leather hardbound, consisting of 42 pages, and with numbers 290586 printed on the lower left of its first page.
The Deed of Donation and Acceptance provides that donor Belmonte, hereby cedes, transfers, and conveys the two items by way of donation for preservation and use of the House of Representatives.
On the part of the House, it hereby accepts the donated items and hereby expresses appreciation and gratitude for the kindness and liberality shown by Belmonte.
The Deed of Donation and Acceptance was signed by Belmonte and Yap in the presence of House Deputy Secretary-General for the Office of the Speaker lawyer Grace Andres, and Deputy Secretary-General for Legislative Information Resources Management Department Edgardo Pangilinan as witnesses.
Belmonte said during last week’s inauguration of the House Legislative Library, Archives and Museum, he saw it clearly that the copy of the 1935 Constitution in the possession of Congress is not an original one but a mere copy.
Belmonte recalled that one time, someone offered to sell him a real copy of the 1935 Constitution but it was very costly and he had to turn it down. Then later on, another person offered him the material at a very reasonable price.
“I bought it with the thought in mind of giving it to our legislative Archives. I previously forgot where I kept it, but eventually found the material and it’s now here in Congress,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte thanked everyone for giving him a great opportunity to continue serving his countrymen, in whatever capacity, through membership in the House of Representatives.
He also wished well the House members. He said he was past 50 years old when he first became a congressman. “May you all have a bright future. Many of you are still young. You got a long way to go,” said the Speaker.
Yap welcomed Belmonte’s move to the donate artifacts to the House. She expressed hope the Speaker can donate more to help fill the spacious Legislative Library, Archives and Museum.
“The Speaker’s donation of important items only shows the important role of lawmakers in history. The Speaker is an avid archival and antique collector, our heartfelt thanks to him. I hope you all won’t forget the importance of today’s occasion, as all activities of the House are historic, all of our lawmakers are doing history,” Yap said.