QCM TEASER

ADVOCATES

The QMC Advocates

From Left to Right:

(Standing) Mary Angeli Ferrer, Jermaine Ann Sy,

Mia Laarni Nacionales, Ruth Endencio, Nicole Cera Lee,

(Seated) Charisse Malolot, Ma. Kyle Buensuceso & Kenneth Chua

We are a group of third year students from De La Salle University-Manila. We are advocates of the restoration and beautification of one of the famous National Shrines in the country which is the Quezon Memorial Circle.

In this online journal, you will find our researches, observations, personal reflections and feedbacks about the shrine, as well as our proposals and recommendations for change to beautify a nature’s park and to enhance the patriotism in every Filipino in order to support our local tourism and encourage foreign tourists to include it in their travel itinerary.

Our blog is always open for feedbacks, comments and constructive criticisms as we would love to hear your opinions and views regarding our posts and further suggestions for improvements that could be done.

Hand in hand, let us join forces as we discover the hidden beauty, potentials, and excellence of the Quezon Memorial Circle!

We, students of De La Salle University, are advocating for clean, beautiful and discipline environment for you and me-for the whole society! ANIMO LA SALLE! LIVE IT QUEZON CITY MEMORIAL CIRCLE! Read about us, the DLSU-QMC Team in our advocacy to beautify the Quezon Memorial Circle. Hear our voices... read our thoughts.... then we listen to you..... “Usap tayo, kaibigan.” Let all our voices be heard and together, we can all make a big difference. The hope for change begins with us all.

FUTURE BENEFITS OF BEAUTIFICATION AND PROMOTION

Future benefits of beautification and promotion

The beautification and promotion of the Quezon Memorial Circle historical site and monument will benefit not only the local government and residents of Quezon City but every local or international tourist who would come to enjoy what it has to offer. It will be a site for learning, communing with nature, wellness and gatherings in an outdoor environment. It will be place where people will learn about nature in our national language (Filipino), a tribute to Manuel L. Quezon, being ‘Ama ng Wikang Pilipino” (Father of the Filipino Language). It will also create jobs such as park care takers, gardeners, trainers, concessionaires, etc.

Proposed Plan for Beautification:

1.        A new master plan for the zoning of the Quezon Memorial Circle will be implemented. There will be the monument and museum area, flora and fauna area, picnic area, physical fitness area, entertainment area, concession area and parking area.

A.       Monument and Museum

Being the focal point of the park, the Quezon Monument will be refurbished, secured and protected from vandals by means of a green buffer zone. It will be enhanced with flowering and scented plants for morning appreciation and with colored lights in dramatic hues for the evening effect. 

The museum will be renovated. The museum pieces and artifacts will be organized. A defined path for museum tour will be established using guided voice prompt or a tour guide. Museum lighting with appropriate illumination level will be installed to enhance museum pieces. Air-conditioning system will be provided for visitors’ comfort and convenience. A souvenir area will be provided.

B.        Flora and Fauna

There will be an area for tamed animals that are easy to maintain such as birds and butterflies amidst a garden of scented and multi colored flowering plants. Along the foot path the scientific and common names of the animal and flower species in English and Filipino will be indicated for educational purposes.

C.      Picnic Area

A green area will be developed. There will be a grass area with shady trees for family picnics. The trees will be provided with individual signs featuring their scientific and common names and other related information in English and Filipino for educational purposes. This area would be ideal for people to relax and spend quality time together.

D.       Physical Fitness

The current physical fitness programs being implemented in the park will be maintained but enhanced with dedicated facilities for each activity. There will be a dedicated path for walking, jogging and cycling within the circumference of the park among a tiled path with shady trees. The aerobics area will be improved and provided with a better sound system. The football field will be revived together with other courts like, volleyball, badminton, basketball, etc. Lockers and shower rooms will be provided for a fee.

E.        Entertainment Area

The main fountain at Liwasang Aurora will be redesigned and provided with a figure or architecture that will look interesting even if the fountain water is not being operated but will not outshine the Quezon Monument. It will be a dancing fountain with multi-colored lights that are computer generated to groove with the music. The music will be from the sound system or from a live orchestra or band. Thus, a platform will be built for the performers, the design of which will harmonize with the fountain structure. Plants that are mosquito repellants will be planted within the surroundings to keep-off insects from water remnants. Other smaller fountains within the park will also be refurbished. An amphitheater will be built complete with proper lighting and sound system for other theatrical performances and special events in the park. The children’s playground will be renovated. Safe playground facilities will be provided. Colorful tables for toys and table games will be provided to encourage sharing, camaraderie and friendly table competitions.

F.        Concessionaires

Commercial spaces will be grouped and organized. Food concessions will be in a strategic location. There will be shops for dry goods and souvenirs. A garden with organic vegetable for sale will also form part of the concession area. In that way, there will be organization and a proper system for the concessionaires.

G.      Parking

Parking area will be at-grade level only; no elevated structures will be allowed so as not to hamper the view of the monument. Parking fees will be charged accordingly. People will be encouraged to take the public transport especially the government project of a future MRT Line 7 (running from SM North EDSA to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan) which is proposed to have an underground station at the park. People will be encouraged to walk from the car park and train station to the park proper. For the elderly, pregnant women and people with disability (PWD), a solar powered jeepney will be available for tour of the park. Waiting sheds will be built at strategic locations within the park.

2.     The Quezon Memorial Circle will be re-developed using green technology. It will be provided with solar panels for renewable energy, gray water system for water recycling, waste management, energy efficient and energy saving lighting and toilet fixtures. All materials to be used will be durable, long lasting under heavy usage and easy to maintain.

3.     Cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene will be utmost concern. Trash receptacles (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) will be spread throughout the park. Comfort rooms will be abundant and regularly and properly maintained. There will also be some Pay Comfort Rooms with toilet amenities.

4.     Directional and informative signages both in Filipino and English languages will be abundant, readable and illuminated at night. Filipino verses will also be visible in strategic locations for appreciation of the Filipino language and literature.

5.     Park goers will be given a sense of security by police visibility and roaming guards. Closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) will be installed at strategic locations.

To assist in the park maintenance, corresponding minimal fees for each facility will be charged. Discounts will be given to senior citizens and educational field trips.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Historical significance

The current location of the presently known Quezon Memorial Circle was originally planned to have been an area in Quezon City, where the National Capitol was supposed to be built.  In 1940 when the cornerstone for the structure was laid, the foundation was the only part of the structure positioned because the construction was disrupted by the start of the Second World War in the Philippines.  Right after World War II, an executive order about the agreement of the creation of a Quezon Memorial Committee was made and announced by President Sergio Osmeña. His purpose was to raise funds through the use of public subscription in order to elevate a monument for his predecessor, President Manuel Luis Quezon. From all the designs submitted, the one created by Federico Ilustre was chosen (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.).

Description

The gigantic Quezon Memorial Shrine, which upholds the City’s landmark, has the height of 66 meters (217 ft) that symbolizes Quezon’s age when he died. It reflects his great years as the dreamer and founder of Quezon City (Local Government of Quezon City, 2008). The monument has three vertical pylons that represent the three geographic divisions of the Philippines: the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.) and is surmounted by three mourning angels holding sampaguita (the national flower) wreaths that were made by the Italian sculptor, Monti.

The granite-finished memorial chamber of the late Commonwealth president is found at the heart of the pylon that is being surrounded by the three pylons. The pylon is a drum-like two-story structure that contains a gallery in which the visitors could look down at Quezon's catafalque. It was modelled after Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb in the Invalides and the gallery and the catafalque below are lit by an oculus just like in Grant's Tomb (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.).

The huge mausoleum located at the center of the Circle houses the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the Philippines’ second president, and his wife, first Lady Aurora Quezon, thus it was named, Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC (Pelayo, 2011).

Construction

 The construction of the Quezon Memorial begun in the year 1950, but was only completed in 1978 (the centennial of Quezon’s birth) because of the expenses in importing Carrara marble that were brought in blocks and were carved and shaped on-site (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.). Complaints regarding theft of the marble blocks and the management of memorial funds also emerged during the process. A year after the building of the structure, Manuel L. Quezon’s remains were reinterred in the memorial on August 19, 1979. It happened during the presidential decree of President Ferdinand Marcos mandating the site as a National Shrine. On April 28, 2005, the remains of Mrs. Aurora Quezon, the widow of the president, were solemnly entombed in the memorial along with her husband (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.).

Other structures

Originally, the auxiliary structures such as the presidential library, museum, and theater, were planned and yet were never built. Instead, two smaller museums: one containing the presidential memorabilia of Quezon, and the other containing items on the history of Quezon City, were installed within the monument itself. In the 1980s, the lost or incomplete bas reliefs for the outside of the memorial were placed and a development plan was also drawn up and partially implemented that included the building of the recreation and dining structures (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.).

References:

Local Government of Quezon City. (2008, December 9). Places To See. The Local Government of Quezon City. Retrieved  from

http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=84

Pelayo, J. (2011, April 15). Exploring the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. Free Articles Directory | Submit Articles - ArticlesBase.com. Retrieved from http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/exploring-the-quezon-memorial-circle-in-quezon-city-4606122.html#axzz1Pn8z5v

INTERVIEW WITH MISS DORIS BARACCHEA

While the group was checking out the Quezon Memorial Shrine Museum, we had the chance to interact and interview one of the workers from the National Historical Institute, Ms. Doris Barnacchea.

Transcript of the Interview:

Interviewee: Ms. Doris Barnacchea                                                  *(Italicized) - English Translation
Interviewer: Charisse Malolot

Cha: Hello po, pwede po ba kayong ma-interview?(Cha: Hello, may we interview you?)

Ms. Doris: Sige, okay lang.(Ms. Doris: Sure, it’s okay.)

Cha: Ano po sa tingin ninyo na kailangan pa po iimprove sa museum? Kayo po, personal view niyo po?(Cha: What do you think needs to be improved in the museum? What is your personal view?)

Ms. Doris: Yung arrangements siguro ng mga gamit kasi syempre, talaga yung sa mga marunong talaga ng designs iba yun. Kasi nasa theme namin dito, yung life, works at achievements ni President Quezon. Nag-start kami sa photo panels na yung nagstart diba sa Baler, tapos yung sa kanyang parang early political career tapos senate naman siya, tapos sa presidency niya. Pagdating dun sa dulo yung personal na gamit and yung deathbed. (Ms. Doris: I think the arrangement of the materials should be improved because the professional designers would do them differently. What usually happens here is that we do the life, works then achievements of President Quezon. We started with the photo panels like in Baler,then his early political career, his senate life and finally, his presidency. At the end part of the museum, it is all about his personal life and death bed.)
Cha: Bale, yung order po talaga?(Cha: So your concern is really the order?)

Ms. Doris: Sa bandang dulo kasi diba yung namatay na siya? Sa sick bed niya. Ngayon kung talaga i-arrange yan, lalo na yung mga show cases na malalaki, na hindi na dapat ganoon ang pagkagamit kasi pati nga yung mga panel boards namin ano na iyan, obsolete na yan at dapat mga signal boards na. Isa yan sa mga dapat na projects ng office namin kaya lang wala pang budget. Iyon ang problema palagi. (Ms. Doris: At end, you’ll find out about his death right, especially his sick bed? If it would be more organized then that would be better. His showcases should not be included anymore, and our panel boards are already obsolete, that is why we plan to use signal boards already. Well, that is supposed to be one of the projects of our office; unfortunately, we still do not have the budget. Budget is always the problem.)

Cha: Ahh. Pero Ma’am ano po kaya, total, palagi naman po kayo nasa Memorial, ano po kaya sa labas, ano po yung feel niyong kailangan palitan, as dumadalaw-dalaw dito sa Circle?(Cha: Ahh. But, Ma’am, for you, since you are always here in the Memorial, what about the outside environment of the Circle? As a visitor, what do you think needs improvement?)

Ms. Doris: Dapat kasi dito sa amin, open space yan para ma-focus ng husto yung monument. Walang dapat naka-obstruct na ano diyan. Eh ngayon sa kanila, yung sa Circle ang gusto naming maalis yung, kita mo na-commercialized na ng husto. Sana na wala na yung mga ganoon. Kasi yung mga pumunta sa shrine...(Ms. Doris: Here in our place, there should be I an open space so that the monument would be seen clearly and given more emphasis. There should be no obstructions. But for the Circle, we actually want to remove those commercialized stalls. As you can see, the place became very commercialized. We did not want that to happen. Since those who are going to the shrine...)

Cha: Medyo dumadami nga po, crowded na. (Cha: There are a lot already. It is becoming crowded.)

Cha: O sige po, okay na po. Salamat po.
(Cha: Okay, that's all. thank you.)

*** End of Interview***

THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN QUEZON MEMORIAL CIRCLE: OUR STORY

PRESENT CONDITION

Last Saturday, June 18, 2011, the group visited the Quezon Memorial Circle to observe one of the national shrines in the Philippines.

Based on the survey which we conducted, the following site conditions were observed:

       First, cars were all over the pathways were people could freely walk and play. These vehicles utilize the spaces that should be, in the first place, be maximized by the people visiting the area. Thus, it leads to the current problem on congestion of cars along those paths, for there are no sufficient parking spaces designated for visitors.

One of the streets in Quezon Memorial Circle

Second, litters and garbage were all over the place. These abrade the beauty and purpose of the area, which can therefore imply its lack of proper garbage disposal system as well as maintenance.

Stacks of trash dumped in the filled garbage can

Third, there were fountains that were not being maximized and are very bare to look at. Most likely, these fountains can only become a breeding ground for disease-carrying insects if not attended to properly.

Garbage on the ground

Moreover, there are also too many tiangge or bazaars that cause pollution and do not really live up to the purpose of the recreational area. In fact, these stalls or establishments were all mixed up, which can cause confusion to those visitors who are not familiar with the area but would want to buy food or purchase souvenirs.

Array of stalls
 

 A Meat Stall

Vegetables and Fruits Stand

We also observed that the grass and the plants in general are not really taken cared of or maintained properly. The QMC lacks reminders or guidelines that address the purpose of educating people on what they need to do. Vacant spaces which primarily served as “playing fields” for football, archery, and other leisure sport were seemed to be neglected and now had grown tall bushes despite the fact that some players may actually still use the area for their practices

 

Bare ground

Empty lot

Our group also considers the Quezon Memorial Shrine museum as an area of improvement since it looks very old. There is a lack of organization in terms of proper positioning of the valuables or antiques, and no proper lighting system. At the same time, the museum lacks informational campaigns regarding what one should do inside a museum. Physically, indeed, it is observable that there are problems with the flooring, lighting, and the organization system inside the museum and its outdoor premises 

Entrance of the museum

Welcome banner

Manuel Quezon's tomb

PROPOSED PLAN FOR MARKETING/ PROMOTION

Proposed plan for marketing / promotion

1.    Make posters about Quezon Memorial Circle showing its beauty and the fun activities, which could be done there.

2.    Make a website promoting the beauty and importance of the Quezon Memorial Circle.

3.    Endorse the Quezon Memorial Circle and Museum in Philippine Tour Packages.

4.    Endorse the place in newspapers, magazines and other printed media.

5.    Create stands on certain buildings inside the circle where a floor plan of the entire circle could be found. Or a map which could also serve as promotional brochures of the QMC can also be accessible to the visitors as they enter the area.

6.    Make a fan page for the Quezon Memorial Circle in Facebook.

7.    Make a TV commercial promoting Quezon Memorial Circle and its Museum and/or use TV programs and ask local artists to promote/advertise Circle.

8.    Make a music video promoting Quezon Memorial Circle and Museum as a tourist spot in the Philippines

REFERENCES

Here are the websites used in this blog that you can access to gain more information about the Quezon Memorial Circle:www.quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php

www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/exploring-the-quezon-memorial-circle-in-quezon-city-4606122.html#axzz1Pn8z5v

quezon-memorial-circle.co.tv/


Photos used (aside from the observers' camera):
Flickr

ImgLego Pictures

RSandarino

Panoramio