World’s tallest 3D-printed Rizal statue to be erected in Dapitan City

From the DOST public archive. Original source publication date: 2026-08-19. Captured 2026-09-04. Read the original DOST source.

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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 by the city government during its groundbreaking, “this does not place Rizal above Dapitan, but walking with it; and recognized 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 city government added that, “he appears ready to take another step, undertake another task, solve another problem, and once again be of service.”

The DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) has yet to 3D-scan the original five-foot sculpture to scale-up, almost comparable to a four-storey-high building once printed.

Through the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) of the DOST-MIRDC, the outer shell of Rizal’s figure will be made of 3D-printed acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), 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 that 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 (The Filipino Scientist). Challenge accepted. Kayang-kaya po namin ‘yan (El Dapitanon),” 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 erection of the monument.

“Hopefully, we will be launching this soon. One year is more than enough for us,” he said as he laid targets for finishing El Dapitanon until 2027.

The DOST officials, spearheaded by Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., and the Dapitan City Mayor Evelyn T. Uy officially put the project into motion with a groundbreaking ceremony last August 13, during the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week 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. (By Karl Jerome M. del Mundo, DOST-STII)