The Commonwealth Triumphal Arch

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):

SEPTEMBER 5, 1938

President Manuel L. Quezon signed Bill No. 3945 which became Commonwealth Act No. 393. It authorized the erection of the Commonwealth Triumphal Arch in the City of Manila to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and to provide the raising of funds and appropriate the necessary amount for the purpose. 

The bill mentioned that the President of the Philippines shall fix and indicate the most adequate site in the City of Manila for the said arch and shall appoint a committee or committees to take charge of the work relative to the erection thereof. The members of such committee or committees shall serve without compensation. 

It stated that to finance the erection of said arch, the Director of Posts, with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, is authorized to cause the printing of postage stamps with special designs commemorative of the inauguration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and to sell and dispose of the whole or any portion of said postage stamps as may be necessary and the proceeds thereof shall be deposited in the National Treasury to the credit of a special fund to be known as the “Commonwealth Triumphal Arch Fund.” 

The cost of plates, printing, and other incidental expenses shall be paid from the amount appropriated for the Bureau of Posts under section two, H‒V‒3 of Act Numbered Two hundred and forty-five. The entire proceeds from the sale of said postage stamps or so much thereof as may be necessary are appropriated to carry into effect the purposes of the Act. 

Guillermo Tolentino, who became the National Artist For Sculpture, was supposed to do the arch but for lack of the needed funds and other concerns, the construction of the arch did not materialize. 

Tolentino's original maquette or preliminary model of the Commonwealth Arch can be seen at the National Museum.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Lisa Yniguez