The City of Dapitan is set to host a towering 46-foot-tall 3D-printed statue of Jose Rizal, eyed to become the tallest in the world.
With the Dapitan City Government and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) joining forces, the soon-to-be-erected monument, El Dapitanon, will portray Rizal's life during his exile in the city.
"May El Dapitanon stand not only as a symbol of Rizal's greatness, but also as a beacon of what Filipinos can achieve when science, technology, innovation, culture, and nation-building come together," DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said in his speech.
El Dapitanon, as described by the Dapitan government, will be the Rizal whom locals may have remembered: a teacher, physician, scientist, artist, and community worker.
In a statement during the groundbreaking, the city government said this does not place Rizal above Dapitan, but walking with it, and recognizes him as one who lived, worked, dreamed, and served among them.
The sculpture features Rizal in a forward stance, wearing simple camisa de chino and plain trousers, while carrying Mi Retiro, a personal poem he wrote during his exile, in one hand.
Designed by Professor Jose Manuel "Manolo" Sicat of the University of the Philippines Diliman, El Dapitanon is sculpted in a five-foot-and-four-inch version, which served as the basis for the 3D print.
The DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center has yet to 3D-scan the original five-foot sculpture to scale it up, almost comparable to a four-storey-high building once printed.
Through the Advanced Manufacturing Center of DOST-MIRDC, the outer shell of Rizal's figure will be made of 3D-printed acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate, a high-quality plastic reinforced with concrete and reinforcement bars.
"Portion by portion ang pag-print natin mula sa baba, nakabalot na yung outer shell around the steel structure, at bubuhusan ng semento. Tapos, panibago na namang layer hanggang sa umabot sa taas," Engr. Robert O. Dizon, director of DOST-MIRDC, explained.
Out of the 46-foot-high monument, Engr. Dizon said only the 26-foot Rizal with a bronze finish will be 3D-printed atop a 20-foot cement pedestal.
Similar technology was also used on the Rizal monument in the DOST plaza in Bicutan, Taguig City, named The Filipino Scientist, which Professor Sicat was also commissioned to model.
"This is an even bigger challenge, literally a bigger challenge, because what we had then was 12.5 feet. Challenge accepted. Kayang-kaya po namin yan," Dizon affirmed.
A budget of nine million pesos is allotted for the printing, materials, and logistics of the monument, with the Dapitan City Government shouldering the materials for its erection.
The DOST officials, spearheaded by Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., and Dapitan City Mayor Evelyn T. Uy officially put the project into motion with a groundbreaking ceremony last August 13 during the RSTW of the Zamboanga Peninsula.
About RSTW
The Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) is an annual event organized by the DOST regional offices across 17 regions. This celebration showcases local technologies, research and development (R&D) projects, and innovative initiatives that connect communities, local industries, and stakeholders with science-based solutions. These efforts promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development in the region. The RSTW is one of the major scientific events leading up to the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) celebration, which will be held in General Santos City in November. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph or the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) Facebook page.
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