Quezon Memorial Circle

The Quezon Memorial Circle is a national park and a national shrine located in Quezon City, capital of the Philippines from 1948 to 1976.

The park is located inside a large traffic circle in the shape of an ellipse and bounded by the Elliptical Road. Its main feature is a tall mausoleum containing the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the second official President of the Philippines and the first of an internationally-recognized independent Philippines, and his wife, First Lady Aurora Quezon.

This location will be the street alignment for the approved MRT-7 named Quezon Memorial MRT Station and the station will be underground.

History

The site was originally intended as the grounds of the to be built in Quezon City to house the Congress of the Philippines. The location was also part of a larger National Government Center located around Elliptical Road and the Quezon City Quadrangle (made up of the North, South, East, and West Triangles). The NGC was meant to house the three branches of the Philippine government (legislative, executive, and judicial). While the cornerstone for the structure was laid on November 15, 1940, only the foundations were in place when construction was interrupted by the beginning of the Second World War in the Philippines. After World War II, President Sergio Osmeña issued an executive order stipulating the creation of a Quezon Memorial Committee to raise funds by public subscription to erect a memorial to his predecessor, President Manuel L. Quezon. A national contest for the Quezon Memorial Project was held 1951. Filipino architect Federico S. Ilustre's design won the contest. Aside from the monument itself, a complex of three buildings, including a presidential library, a museum, & a theater, were also planned to be erected.

Description

The monument, which aims to honor President Quezon, consists of three vertical pylons (representing the three main geographic divisions of the country: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao), 66 meters (217 ft) tall (Quezon's age when he died), surmounted by three mourning angels holding sampaguita (the national flower) wreaths sculpted by the Italian sculptor Monti. The three pylons would in turn circumscribe a drum-like two-story structure containing a gallery from which visitors could look down at Quezon's catafalque, modeled after Napoleon Bonaparte's in the Invalides. The gallery and the catafalque below are lit by an oculus, in turn reminiscent of Grant's Tomb.

Construction and completion

Construction of the Quezon Memorial was begun in 1952 but proceeded slowly, in part due to the cost of importing Carrara marble, brought in blocks and then carved and shaped on-site. There were also problems associated with the theft of the marble blocks and the management of memorial funds. The monument was finally completed in 1978, the centennial of Quezon's birth. His remains were reinterred in the memorial on August 19, 1979. It was during that time that by virtue of a presidential decree, President Ferdinand E. Marcos mandated the site as a National Shrine. The National Historical Institute manages, and has authority, over the monument itself, while the Quezon City government administers the park.

The planned auxiliary structures (presidential library, museum, and theater) were never built. 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, missing, lost, or incomplete bas reliefs for the outside of the memorial were installed. A development plan was also drawn up and partially implemented, including the building of recreation and dining structures.

On April 28, 2005, the remains of Mrs. Aurora Quezon, widow of the president, were solemnly reinterred in the memorial as well.

See also

  • List of parks in Manila
  • Manuel L. Quezon
  • Quezon City
  • Marcos Museum and Mausoleum
  • Libingan ng mga Bayani
  • Manila North Cemetery
  • Manila South Cemetery
  • Manila Memorial Park
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Tips & Hints
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Dariush Ryan Barfehei
10 May 2013
If U're visiting here in the afternoon, try to stay longer to spend some time in the evening too. The fountain's lighting is so beautiful & the tower looks so nice. A perfect spot for picture taking.
Rhodelyn Lapiz
8 December 2018
This place is not only about biking, walking, exercising and much more.. There's a museum here that shows collection of different vintage cars that've been used of our former presidents. ????
Roselyn Sales
14 September 2013
It's great to have weekend family and friends bonding here! Go here every sat and choose your way to fitness! There's zumba and aerobics for adults and karate and arnis for kids!
iSA ????????
27 March 2017
Plant shops are located in the right side of the main entrance [parking area] and also in front of the amusement park. Some are open even at night.
Gerald Bon Arcega
24 August 2015
The only place in the city that has fresh air. Good for family picnics but gets crowded during Fridays to Sundays. Food tiangge has the best street foods.
Anna Louise
25 January 2013
Bring your kid on weekdays for a crowd free children's playground; great place to jog in the afternoons and at night because its well lighted. Be extra careful of your belongings and your kids.
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Map
0.2km from East Avenue, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City, Philippines Get directions
Fri 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Sat 6:00 AM–9:00 PM
Sun 5:00 AM–8:00 PM
Mon 6:00 AM–9:00 AM
Tue 6:00 AM–10:00 AM
Wed 6:00 AM–9:00 AM

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