Introduction

The President R. Duterte Bronze monument Project aims to complete a bronze monument cycle that was started one year ago by the commissioning of a bronze head (bust) to Natalya Bronzova. The promoter’s idea was to first produce the cast piece, and in a second phase, create a granite base and erect the monument in a select location in the Philippines, either Davao or Manila.

This project, along with photos & video below, concerns precisely this second phase of the project aimed to become a long time reminder of the work accomplished by this unique president, who definitely already became a legend all around the world.

These are the reasons that compelled the original sponsors to commission the bronze casting!

A few notes on President Duterte

In the early years of this century, Rodrigo Duterte transformed his home town of Davao from one with the highest crime rate, to one of the safest city to live in the Philippines. On May 9, 2016, he won the Philippine presidential election, defeating four other candidates.

During his campaign, he promised to focus on combating the illegal drug trade by initiating the Philippine Drug War. On the domestic political level he worked with the MILF and the MNLF dominated secessionist regions, to renew Philippines federalism and push the Bangsamoro peace process to end the Moro conflict and give much needed peace to the Filipino people. Internationally, he planned an "independent foreign policy" and sought to distance the Philippines from the United States and European nations and pursue closer ties with China and Russia.

In a famous quote Duterte said:
"We will observe and must insist on the time-honoured principle of sovereignty, sovereign equality, non-interference and the commitment of peaceful settlements of dispute that will serve our people and protect the interests of our country."

The bronze casting

The bronze casting, see pictures below, was created by Ms Natalya Bronzova based on pictures supplied by the office of the President. She crafted and finalized the work and also supervised directly its casting into bronze and its final colouring and finish. The solid cast work weighs 20 kilograms and is 42cmx22cm in height and it is ready to be mounted on top a solid and permanent granite or marble base.

View 1

View 2

View 3

The complete monument

Finalising the project implies to install the bronze piece on a granite base that will be approximately 1.7 meters high in total. The whole structure will then be place in a select city area, usually a public space, for viewing by the general public. Of course, the main sponsor’s names will be placed on the granite base. The location will be chosen by Davao city hall, who will be inaugurating the monument with all sponsors attended and mentioned.

In the photo below, the artist gives us a preliminary idea of what the monument could look like. The space on the base will used to give visibility to the sponsors. Inlaid plaques would be awarded to the main sponsors and citizen or corporations offering their participation to the project, would see their names engraved in front and sides of the granite base.

The solid and permanent finish will allow it to withstand centuries of visibility to the Filipino people.