A Walk Tour in QC | Small Circle to Big Circle

Quezon City has been dubbed as the “City of New Horizons” due to its rich culture and lifestyle. It lies just northeast of Manila. It is named after Manuel Luis Quezon, first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. (Wikipilipinas)

I have been doing a lot of walk tour in Manila since Batang Lakwatsero was born last November 2010. There are still unvisited places in the city, still waiting to be discovered by my wandering feet. However, this morning, I thought of having a walk tour in QC, just one straight walk along the Quezon Avenue. I know this would be another "A Walk Tour Experience Series" - the first one is the "A Walk Tour in Manila Series" which already has three parts. This post will be the first in "A Walk Tour in QC Series".

I left my home for this adventure at around 3:00 PM.

If you're going to Quezon City (or QC for short) from Manila via España Boulevard, a monument will welcome you, "Mabuhay, Lungsod Quezon". This is the Mabuhay Rotonda, aka Welcome Rotonda, my first stop in my QC walk tour. This small roundabout, situated in the border of Manila and QC, separates España Blvd. in Manila and Quezon Ave. in QC. This is also the end point of Mayon Avenue and E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, both in QC. It was built in 1948 during the term of Mayor Ponciano Bernardo of QC, designed by Architect Luciano V. Aquino. From its original name "Welcome Rotonda", it changed to "Mabuhay Rotonda" in 1995. This landmark  has been the site of rallies, demonstrations, and noise barrage. 
 

I traveled by jeep to my next destination, the Sto. Domingo Church. Originally a wooden chapel built inside the walled city of Manila in 1588. The church was destroyed and rebuilt many times until it was finally relocated to its present site along the Quezon Avenue when it was destroyed during the liberation of Manila in 1945. There is a museum displaying the church's antique collections; the entrance is free. This church was the starting point of the largest funeral march in Philippine History. Ninoy Aquino Jr.'s funeral procession lasted 11 hours from this church to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.

I walked my way to Gregorio Araneta Avenue where the Sanctuarium stands. This structure is far different from the usual funeral home you'll see along Araneta Ave. I continued walking until I reached the monument of Ninoy Aquino Jr. in Timog Avenue at around 4:20 PM. I never had a chance to see this monument up closer until then. After a few shots of the monument, I rode a jeep to my next destination.

By 4:40 PM, I was already in front of Quezon City Hall. The statue of President Manuel L. Quezon stands in front of the tall building. Statues of Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal also stand near the building. The QC Hall was originally built in Cubao, then it was moved to its present location when President Quezon made it a city in 1939.

From the QC Hall, I went next to Quezon Memorial Circle through an underpass in front of the hall. Posted on the walls of the underpass are photos of the late president Quezon and the city's history, unlike in other cities where you will find ads and vendors.

By 5:00 PM, I entered the Quezon Memorial Circle, still hoping that I could enter the museum. But unfortunately, I was an hour late. The museum is open for free public viewing every Tuesday until Sunday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The remains of president Quezon are interred inside.

The magnificent edifice was designed by architect Federico Ilustre. The three angels with sampaguita garlands found on top of the monument represents the three island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This is the highest landmark in Quezon City.
 
As I stroll around the park, health buffs jog around and sporty people were all over the place. A dancing fountain in front of the monument beautifies the place even more, though not as big as the one in Luneta Park. Indeed the Quezon Memorial Circle changed a lot since the last time I visited it in 1998 on a field trip.   

I wanted to see the illuminated dancing fountain so I waited there until it gets darker. Around 6:00 PM,  the dancing fountain was lighted with colorful lights. A few minutes later and the monument itself was also lighted with changing vibrantly colored lights.

It took me 20 more minutes to finally satisfy my eyes from the astonishing night scene in Quezon Memorial Circle. I rode a jeep and went for home at around 6:50 PM.

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