Two of the plaza 's four corners contain historical markers . A plaque commemorating the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971 is installed at the southwest corner , unveiled by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on August 21 , 2002 , while the southeast corner , fronting Quezon Boulevard , has a high marble obelisk topped by a statue of a woman whose outstretched arms bear a torch , representing freedom . The obelisk is flanked by two columns on each side which are topped with urns made from an alloy of cast iron and bronze , which also serve as gas-fired cauldrons which may be lit for special occasions . The Manila city government declared this particular corner the " Plaridel Corner " , after the '' nom-de-plume '' of Marcelo H. del Pilar , editor and co-publisher of '' La Solidaridad '' , on August 30 , 2005 , the centenary of del Pilar 's death , and the commemorative plaque , written in Filipino , bears the following quotation attributed to Voltaire
Plaza Miranda bombing
Plaza Miranda bombing
Plaza Miranda