7/14/12













The 99 foot concrete portrait of Ferdinand Marcos.
Marcos Park, Barangay Palina (Northeast boundary before Tuba, Benguet) and Tuba, Benguet itself.
Commissioned by the Phillippines' Tourism Minister in the 1970's and completed in the early 80's. Costing 3 million pesos(about $150,000) although opposition leaders put the figure closer to 10 times as much.Its construction led to the displacement of members of the Ibalois tribal group.When Marcos fled the country, the Ibalois slaughtered a carabao and pig and poured the blood over the giant bust in order to "exorcise" his spirit.  Minor damages were made to the head when it was bombed in the late 80's. Then on December 29, 2002, explosions were set off again to destroy it, this time knocking out the eyes,ears,the bridge of the nose and part of the lips.Suspected of the destruction was the New People's Army (NPA) or looters looking for Marcos' hidden treasure troves.
-bbc news/phillippine headline news/LA Times/wikipedia
-Thanks to J.Liverod for the "Unfinished Marcos statue" pic.

No comments: