Push Admin

Historic prewar sculptures return to Jones Bridge amid restoration

Article (news)

Anjo Bagaoisan, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Two sculptures of the so-called &quot;La Madre Filipina&quot; have been brought back to their original location at the Jones Bridge in Manila, just days before its rehabilitated design is inaugurated.</p><p>Manila Mayor Isko Moreno inspected the progress made on the bridge at dawn Saturday, which he said he has been doing nightly.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre, excited kami bilang Manileño, maibabalik na sa kaniyang bahay ang La Madre Filipina dito sa Jones Bridge,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Of course, we’re excited as Manileños, La Madre Filipina will return to its home here at Jones Bridge.)</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Manila Mayor Isko Moreno inspects the installation of one of the La Madre Filipina statues which will be returned to the rehabilitated Jones Bridge a day before its inauguration on Nov. 24 <a href="https://t.co/kkmBlt549v">pic.twitter.com/kkmBlt549v</a></p>— Anjo Bagaoisan (ᜀᜈ᜔ᜇᜒᜌᜓ ᜊᜄᜏᜒᜐᜈ᜔) (@anjo_bagaoisan) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1197970989348319233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The La Madre Filipina originally consisted of four unique statues representing different aspects of the Philippine motherland and were placed at the four ends of the prewar bridge designed by Juan Arellano.</p><p>One was lost in the Battle of Manila during World War 2. The surviving statues were relocated.</p><p>A replica of the lost sculpture, which was reconstructed from accounts and old footage, was the first to be brought back to the bridge.</p><p>It depicts the La Madre with a torch and potted plant with two men on her side.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Opposite the original sculpture, a replica of another La Madre sculpture which was lost in World War 2 will be placed. <a href="https://t.co/D0uMODyCqy">pic.twitter.com/D0uMODyCqy</a></p>— Anjo Bagaoisan (ᜀᜈ᜔ᜇᜒᜌᜓ ᜊᜄᜏᜒᜐᜈ᜔) (@anjo_bagaoisan) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1198070337524490240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The other one was moved Friday night from its previous location at Rizal Park after the City of Manila, the Department of Tourism, and the Intramuros Administration signed a memorandum of agreement turning over custody of the statue.</p><p>This one shows the mother caring for a girl and a boy.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: One of the original &#x27;La Madre Filipina&#x27; sculptures which was relocated to Rizal Park for decades returns to its original spot at one end of the Jones Bridge. <a href="https://t.co/SDfciM4WZZ">pic.twitter.com/SDfciM4WZZ</a></p>— Anjo Bagaoisan (ᜀᜈ᜔ᜇᜒᜌᜓ ᜊᜄᜏᜒᜐᜈ᜔) (@anjo_bagaoisan) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1198070117659115521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The last two statues remain at the Court of Appeals building in Manila.</p><p>One statue has the La Madre with a child and older male, the other with two young men holding representations of law, government, and technology.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Originally repainted bronze, they are now back in their white outer coating. Manila&#x27;s mayor is hoping these 2 would also return to the Jones Bridge <a href="https://t.co/EX2rJFxwXT">pic.twitter.com/EX2rJFxwXT</a></p>— Anjo Bagaoisan (ᜀᜈ᜔ᜇᜒᜌᜓ ᜊᜄᜏᜒᜐᜈ᜔) (@anjo_bagaoisan) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1198071419352936448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Moreno said he is confident these sculptures would eventually return to their place on the other end of the bridge.</p><p>Aside from the now-viral classic lamp posts placed on the bridge, retrofitting also includes solar-powered light sources on the road, as well as lights on the side of the structure.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: The lower walls on both sides of the Jones Bridge also painted gold to add to to the effect of the lights (Courtesy: Manila PIO) <a href="https://t.co/HBTeCo33BJ">pic.twitter.com/HBTeCo33BJ</a></p>— Anjo Bagaoisan (ᜀᜈ᜔ᜇᜒᜌᜓ ᜊᜄᜏᜒᜐᜈ᜔) (@anjo_bagaoisan) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1198003856841461760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Original Filipino songs will also be blasted from speakers placed amid plants in the middle of the bridge.</p><p>The songs will focus on the kundiman or classic Filipino love songs.</p><p>&quot;Naglagay tayo ng konting music parang ambience lang, patutugtugin natin, mga kundiman, para mapaalala natin sa mga kabataan anong uri ng musika mayroon tayo,&quot; Moreno said.</p><p>(There will be kundiman songs playing in the background to remind the youth the kind of music we had back then.)</p><p>&quot;I hope magustuhan ng lungsod ng Maynila at ating mga kababayang Pilipino. Unti-unti nang sinasabuhay ang nakaraan at ano ang tunay na Maynila.&quot;</p><p>(I hope people will appreciate this. We are slowly reviving the past, and what true Manila is.)</p><p>When renovations done on the historic Jones Bridge in Manila are unveiled to the public on Sunday, the first two sculptures will be standing on pillars at the foot of the bridge, seemingly welcoming commuters to Binondo on the other side.</p><p>They may at first seem new to many passersby, but the sculptures both represent and are part of the original design the bridge is trying to return to through its restoration.</p>

<p>MANILA - Two sculptures of the so-called "La Madre Filipina" have been brought back to their original location at the Jones Bridge, just days before its rehabilitated design is inaugurated.</p>

MANILA - Two sculptures of the so-called "La Madre Filipina" have been brought back to their original location at the Jones Bridge, just days before its rehabilitated design is inaugurated.

Historic prewar sculptures return to Jones Bridge amid restoration

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Historic prewar sculptures return to Jones Bridge amid restoration

Anjo Bagaoisan,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 23, 2019 12:24 PM PHT

Read More:

sculptures

art

prewar sculptures

La Madre Filipina

Jones Bridge

Isko Moreno

Manila

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.