GAME KNB? Why is EDSA crossing at Caloocan named “Monumento?” Answer below…

On Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day cum National Heroes’ Day, there was no wreath-laying at the statue of Balintawak.

Because what I knew as a child as the Balintawak statue of Andres Bonifacio, the Cry of Pugad Lawin frozen in history by national artist Guillermo Tolentino, is nowhere there.

The three-day weekend holiday had everyone clogging SLEX to soak sun and beach or packing Christmas shopping malls or “168.”

Those who took the NLEX route hardly noticed a missing link to our history. The EDSA-Bonifacio Ave. crossing at Caloocan is named “Monumento” because of Guillermo Tolentino’s awe-inspiring epic statue of Bonifacio and the Katipunan at the rotunda.

The rotunda and Monumento were removed to make way for “progress.” It wasn’t just like the tranvia giving way to cars and buses… Imagine London removing Lord Nelson at Trafalgar Square to give way to motorists? Or Paris transferring to the Louvre Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe to allow more street for Citroens and Renaults?

Like the children’s doggerel, “Monumento… “Konting semento,… konting bato…” But not a shard left as hint to the meaning of the spot.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has a statue of the Sublime Paralytic Apolinario Mabini. The statue of the First Filipino Secretary of Foreign Affairs followed DFA transfers from Arlegui to Padre Faura to PICC to its present offices at 233 Roxas Boulevard.

When President Diosdado Macapagal appointed Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the late Ambassador Rodolfo S. Sanchez recalled that Pelaez entered Luna Hall in Padre Faura, knocked on the head of the CPR bronze, and feigned surprise, “It’s empty?!”

In ancient Rome, when asked why there are no statues of him, the wise solon Cato said,” It is better
you ask me that question, than ‘Why are there statues of you?’”

DFA has busts of every foreign secretary up to Roberto R. Romulo in 1996. Succeeding foreign secretaries yet to be immortalized in bronze are Domingo L. Siazon, Teofisto S. Guingona, Blas F. Ople, Delia D. Albert, and the incumbent Alberto G. Romulo.

If they don’t get too many parking tickets or road rage, foreign envoys who serve in Manila will receive the Order of the Sikatuna, the highest Philippine decoration for diplomats. That makes them eligible to get into the ring in the same weight class with Ambassador Manny Pacquiao.

Or they could receive the Order of the Lakandula, co-equal with CNN modern day hero Efren Peñaflorida.

Lesser mortals are our own envoys who do not rate the Order of Sikatuna or Order of Lakandula or Order of Mabini unless they walk on water.

Consequently, many Philippine ambassadors wear foreign decorations.

The British do not allow their diplomats On Her Majesty’s Service to accept foreign decorations. The Good Queen Bess, ER II, said, “My dog wears only my collar.”

Following the Iran Revolution leading to the fall of the Shah, Ambassador “Rocky” Ileto cited his deputy, Minister Rodolfo Arizala, for the rescue and safe passage of Filipinos and recommended him for the Order of the Gawad Mabini.

Arizala retired as Ambassador decades ago, but received neither medal nor parchment.

Then Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas F. Ople promised to make good Ambassador Ileto’s nomination of Arizala; but Ka Blas passed away.

We appealed to succeeding foreign secretaries to honor a distinguished diplomat who turned 80 years old this year and remains “in the rolls of the Order of Gawad Mabini only in pectore.”

“Tattlers,” a kiss-and-tell e-mail network of Ambassador Johnny Ona with active and retired members of foreign service, may have found a solution to recognize the “Unknown Soldiers of Philippine Diplomacy.” Tattler Ben Hur Ong suggests they be entered into the distinguished fraternity of the “Order ni Mrs.!” Feedback: jaz@mb.com.ph.