Mambo at the Museo ni Magsaysay
WHEN CLANG GARCIA, PUBLISHER OF THE “PHILIPPINE TRAVEL GUIDE:
25 Perfect Weekends” and our guide for our Zambales day tour of faith, heritage, farm, PXVLF DQG IRRG DQQRXQFHG WKH ŵUVW VWRS ZRXOG EH 0XVHR QL 5DPRQ 0DJVD\VD\ RXU JURXS RI OHVV WKDQ D GR]HQ GD\ WULSSHUV VSRQWDQHRXVO\ EXUVW LQWR D VRQJ Ŏ LQ XQLVRQ DQG LQ WXQH Ŏ ZLWK WKH HQWKXVLDVP RI D VWXGHQW SHS UDOO\ WKH MLQJOH RI 5DPRQ 0DJVD\ VD\ GXULQJ WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO FDPSDLJQ LQ Mambo, Mambo Magsaysay Mabu, Mabu- Mabuhay! Our democracy will die Kung wala si Magsaysay! $PLGVW KHDUW\ ODXJKWHU ZH WHDVHG HDFK RWKHU RQ KRZ ZHOO ZH UHPHPEHUHG WKH O\ULFV DQG ZRQ GHUHG ZKHUH WKH \HDUV KDYH JRQH
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and diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author Carlos P. Romulo, then Philippine ambassador to the US.
The man of the masses received many other accolades, some of which on display were the Order of the White Elephant from Thailand, the Order of Saint George by the Most Exalted Order of George from Greece, and even a Guest of Honor Medallion at the Leader of the Year Awards from the Philippine Youth League.
7KH VDOD RQ WKH VHFRQG ÁRRU ZLWK VSDUWDQ IXUQLWXUH DQG À[WXUHV ZDV GRPLQDWHG E\ D SODVWHU RI SDULV DQG ÀEHUJODVV VFXOSWXUH RI WKH 0DJsaysay couple with their three children Teresita, Milagros and Ramon Jr. in their youth by Sajid Imao, son of National Artist Abdul Imao.
On its walls hung various paintings: a portrait of the late leader with rolled-up sleeves capturing his down-to-earth nature, by Isabel Echevarria Rocha; a breathtaking painting of WKH IRUPHU ÀUVW ODG\ GRQH E\ 1RUEHUWR 5H\HV and their daughter Milagros, by P. Gregorio. A wooden bust sculpted by Juanito Aliño keeps watch.
We likewise spotted four old school phonographs, which hinted at his love for music.
Adjacent was a recreation of the simple and austere family dining table with plates and cutlery from the era.
Described as a modest guy, his personal private quarters contained his original, no-frills bed, donated by the Intramuros Administration. In his cabinet hung his clothes – a choice collection of polo shirts and jodhpur pants, the preferred choice for horseback riding enthusiasts such as himself.
We crossed to the extended section of the house which recounted and commemorated his untimely death at Mount Manunggal in Cebu as the nation wept and mourned.
His tragic air crash, along with the assassinations of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and Ninoy Aquino in 1983 – the tragic ends of three promising leaders that touched the hearts of millions – were some of the “Where were you when…” moments I will always remember.
A clipping of an article by Teodoro Locsin traces the passing of Magsaysay, the huge funeral procession turnout, ending with the life of his widow in retirement with the three children. A copy of the cover of LIFE magazine featured the grieving wife and the devastated mother Perfecta.
Another series of images portrayed MagsayVD\ ZLWK WKH IDUPHUV DQG ÀVKHUIRON DQG GHSLFWHG him as the extremely hands-on man he really was.
Among his many legacies – too many to mention – one of the most notable was the enactment of the Social Security Act which established the Social Security System.
There is ceaseless momentum to honor the late president by an ever-expanding list of places, institutions and buildings named after him, which includes the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University, the Magsaysay High School and the Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center.
Probably the most popular president our country has had, Ramon Magsaysay is a star so rare, that he continues to live to this day through his noble deeds.