Gen. MacArthur Marker: Vying for Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest cap in existence

It will be the world’s biggest cap in existence and perhaps land in the Guinness Book of World Records.

That is how the MacArthur Marker Committee (MMC) envisions the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Marker located at the old Macabalan Wharf to become when it will finally be completed in March this year.

Engr. Elpie Paras, MMC chair disclosed during the capsule-laying of the MacArthur Marker this morning that its roofing, a replica of Gen. MacArthur’s cap will span 8meters in diameter, 5 meters in height, and is made of fiber glass and steel.

The cap sits atop five stars which serve as the marker’s foundation to represent Gen. MacArthur’s rank as a five-star general.

Each of the five stars will be imprinted with the history of what happened during Gen. MacArthur’s landing at the Macabalan Wharf on March 13, 1942 at 7:00 a.m as well as the names of the benefactors who provided funds for the construction of the marker.

Engr. Paras said that the the project contractor is doing its best to make the cap replica as closely similar as possible to the original cap of Gen. MacArthur, bearing the emblem of the US Armed Forces and an eagle, with laurels on its visor and the sides of the cap.

The MacArthur Marker Committee is optimistic that once completed, the marker will serve as a good selling point of the city to the rest of the world that will strongly place Cagayan de Oro in the map of world history aside from earning the distinction of being the place of the biggest cap in the world.

He added that the site of the MacArthur Marker will also have such features as a replica of a Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boat, a gift shop and a park.

The capsule-laying and ground breaking of the MacArthur Marker this morning was led by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and other department heads of the City Government. (City Information Office)