An awe-inspiring art installation, “The Victor”, now stands tall at the border of Pasig and Quezon City, outstripping the height of New York’s Statue of Liberty.
Erected as part of the Bridgetowne real estate development by Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), the statue reaches a staggering 60 meters in height – 55 meters for the statue and an additional 5 meters for the podium. In comparison, the Statue of Liberty stands at 46 meters.
Filipino-American artist, Jefre Manuel-Figueras, is the creative genius behind this stainless steel marvel. Weighing 330 tons, “The Victor” is a tribute to the late John Gokongwei Jr., a titan of Filipino industry, known for JG Summit Holdings, RLC, and Cebu Pacific.
Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, RLC’s senior VP, remarked that the installation symbolizes the spirit of triumph and is a nod to the inspirational journey of Mr. John. “Hopefully, ‘The Victor’ will inspire individuals to carve their own path towards success,” she said.
Jefre, the artist, explained the complexities of building such a large structure. “We had to consider various guidelines, especially those related to natural calamities like earthquakes and typhoons,” he said. He emphasized the architectural detail that went into creating “The Victor”, mentioning its semi-translucent appearance due to the perforated stainless steel, and its nighttime allure, being one of the world’s largest projection mapping projects.
A proposed addition of a “walk of fame”, showcasing global Filipinos, and functional spaces such as restaurants and art galleries, is set to make “The Victor” not just an object of admiration, but a destination to experience.
Jefre emphasized that while inspired by Gokongwei Jr., “The Victor” celebrates every Filipino. “It’s not about a specific person but the heart and soul of all Filipinos,” he said.
Aragon-GoBio expressed hopes for the statue to become a symbolic space of victory and celebration for Filipinos, envisioning athletes and other achievers visiting the statue before and after their global pursuits.
Bridgetowne, where “The Victor” stands, also boasts a bridge by the late National Artist Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, a shopping mall, a luxury hotel, office spaces, an event area, and soon-to-be-completed luxury residences.
