By SSUSAN G. DE LEON
CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) -- The Quezon City government welcomes the
Senate approval of a measure seeking to rename Roosevelt Avenue to Fernando Poe
Jr. (FPJ) Avenue, in honor of the late actor who was known as the “King of
Philippine movies.”
“We laud the Senate, under the leadership of Senate
President Vicente Tito Sotto III, for passing this measure that will give
recognition to the immense contribution of FPJ not only to our movie industry
but to Filipino culture in general,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“We also consider it a big honor to have one of our city’s
main arteries named after FPJ. After all, Quezon City is the city of stars and
it is but fitting to name one of our major thoroughfares after the biggest star
of them all,” Belmonte said noting that the city government is looking to
redevelop Frisco as a place of interest and a tourist destination of the city.
The mayor said the development is also in line with the
1-million jobs program of the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS),
chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment and co-chaired by the
Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism.
The Senate, via a vote of 22-0-1, approved House Bill No.
7499 sponsored by Senator Manny Pacquiao, which seeks to rename Roosevelt
Avenue after the late action king. Senator Grace Poe, FPJ’s daughter, abstained
from voting so as to avoid conflict of interest.
The House measure originally sought to rename Del Monte
Avenue after the late action king but it was opposed by priests, residents and
parishioners in the area because of its historical and religious significance.
According to them, the name was derived from San Francisco
del Monte, a retreat founded in 1590 by Franciscan missionary Fray Pedro
Bautista, who was later canonized as a saint.
The Senate President then introduced an amendment to the
measure, pushing to rename Roosevelt Avenue after Poe because this is where
FPJ’s ancestral home is located. In addition, Sotto said Roosevelt Avenue is
larger compared to Del Monte Avenue.
Sotto’s amendment was accepted by Senator Manny Pacquiao as
chairman of the Committee on Public Works.
The measure mandates the Department of Public Works and
Highways to issue the necessary rules, orders, and circulars to implement the
law’s provisions within 60 days from its effectivity.
In his 46-year-career as an actor, FPJ starred in around 300
action films, earning him the title “Da King” of Philippine movies. He passed
away on Dec. 14, 2004 at age 65.
Almost two years after his death, FPJ was declared a National
Artist by then-President Benigno Aquino III. (QC PAISD/PIA-NCR)
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