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Quezon Memorial Shrine

3D Model Created by: Gilbert Roy Alva

Textured By: Shredra Gaming


Manuel Luis Quezon was born on 19 August 1878 in Baler, Tayabas (present-day Aurora). He completed his studies at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and pursued a law degree at the Universidad de Sto. Tomas. During the war against the United States, he served as aide-de-camp to General Emilio Aguinaldo. After the war, he became a prominent lawyer and was elected to different local and national government positions: Governor of Tayabas (1906); National Assembly Representative (1907), Resident Commissioner to Washington D.C. (1909), where he secured the passage of the Jones Law; and Senate President (1916). He led the First Philippine Independence Mission to the United States in 1918, which culminated in the enactment of the Tydings-McDuffie Law in 24 March 1934 and the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth. Quezon was elected Commonwealth president on 17 September 1935.

The nation-in-the-making however, soon faced a monumental challenge: the invasion and occupation by Japan. Quezon’s presidency after his re-election in 1941 was interrupted by war. While in exile in the United States from 1942-1944, Quezon tirelessly called upon the Filipino people to remain steadfast in their struggle for freedom. Sadly, Quezon succumbed to tuberculosis on 1 August 1944 in Saranac Lake, New York State. His remains were initially buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia; repatriated in 1946 and reinterred at the Manila North Cemetery; and finally transferred to the mausoleum of the Quezon Memorial Shrine on 1 August 1979

The Museo ni Manuel Quezon is housed in the Shrine. Designed by Federico Ilustre, the shrine has an equilateral triangular base serving as the mausoleum of President Quezon and his wife, Aurora Aragon. Surmounting the base are three pylons measuring 66 meters in height, representing Quezon’s age upon his death and the three major islands of the Philippines. Above the pylons are Art Deco statues of three angels holding sampaguita funerary wreaths sculpted by Italian artist Francesco Riccardo Monti.

The Museum features the life and political career of President Quezon and explains the historical context in which he emerged as leader of the country.
Gallery 1. Quezon’s youth in Baler, his education, role in the revolution and return to civilian life;
Gallery 2. Early political career of Quezon while the Philippines was under American rule;
Gallery 3. Quezon’s presidency of the Commonwealth;
Gallery 4. Quezon’s leadership during the war and his exile to the United States; and
Gallery 5. The death and legacy of Manuel Luis Quezon.

The Museum also has other facilities, such as:
Audio-visual room, which offers a brief documentary about Quezon and the Museum;
Aurora Quezon Gallery, which is devoted to Aurora, Quezon’s wife and a civic leader in her own right; and
Quezon office as Commonwealth President.

The Museum contains a sizeable collection of President Quezon’s memorabilia, a hologram of the President delivering his inaugural address, and various interactive booths and terminals that offer information about Quezon and his time. Visitors are encouraged to avail of the Museum’s interactive facilities.