HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Quezon Memorial Circle, a national park situated in
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
,
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
is a prominent landmark located within a large elliptical
traffic circle A roundabout, a rotary and a traffic circle are types of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junct ...
bounded by the
Elliptical Road The Elliptical Road is a roundabout in Quezon City, which circumscribes the Quezon Memorial Circle, a large park. It was named after its elliptical shape. The road is divided into eight lanes: three main lanes, four for exiting vehicles, and ...
. Serving as the main park of Quezon City, which was the official capital of the Philippines from 1948 to 1976, the park is renowned for its centerpiece: a tall
mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type o ...
. This monument enshrines the remains of
Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (, , , ; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier, and politician who was president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1 ...
, the second official
President of the Philippines The president of the Philippines (, sometimes referred to as ) is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-ch ...
and the first president of an internationally recognized independent Philippines, alongside his wife, First Lady Aurora Quezon. The Quezon Memorial Circle is also set to become a pivotal point in the Manila Metro Rail Transit System with the construction of the Quezon Memorial MRT station, which will be an underground facility on the approved
MRT Line 7 The Metro Rail Transit Line 7, also known as MRT Line 7 or MRT-7, is a rapid transit line under construction in the Philippines. When completed, the line will be long, with 14 stations, and the first line to have a third rail electrification. ...
. Locally referred to as the "Circle," the park has recently undergone substantial enhancements led by the local government to attract more visitors, both local and international. These beautification efforts have significantly boosted the number of visitors to the park.


History

Originally conceived as the site for the National Capitol in Quezon City, the Quezon Memorial circle was intended to house the
Congress of the Philippines The Congress of the Philippines () is the legislature of the national government of the Philippines. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of an upper body, the Senate of the Philippines, Senate, and a lower body, the House of Representatives ...
. This location was part of a broader plan for a ''National Government Center'' (NGC) encompassing Elliptical Road and the Quezon City Quadrangle, which includes the North, South, East, and West Triangles. The NGC aimed to consolidate the three branches of the Philippine government—legislative, executive, and judicial—into a single area. However, while the cornerstone was laid on November 15, 1940, construction halted due to the outbreak of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
in the Philippines, leaving only the foundations completed. Manila Bulletin - War aborts Capitol Building; 61st Anniversary of Quezon City.(Opinion/Editorial) by Isabelo T. Crisostomo
/ref> In December 1945, following the end of World War II, President
Sergio Osmeña Sergio Osmeña Sr. (, ; zh, c=吳文釗, poj=Gô͘ Bûn-chiau; September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961) was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the List of presidents of the Philippines, fourth president of the Ph ...
issued ''Executive No. 79'' to form the ''Quezon Memorial Committee''. This committee was tasked with raising public funds to build a memorial in honor of his predecessor, President Manuel L. Quezon. Former Quezon City Mayor Tomas Morato played a crucial role in selecting the memorial's site. Although President
Elpidio Quirino Elpidio Rivera Quirino (; November 16, 1890 – February 29, 1956) was a Philippine nationality law, Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 6th President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953. A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered p ...
later proposed relocating the monument, Morato strongly opposed this idea. His opposition led him to resign as the congressman representing the 2nd district of Quezon Province in 1949 over disputes with Quirino's plan. In 1951, a national contest for the Quezon Memorial Project was held, with Filipino architect Federico Ilustre emerging as the winner. His design included not only the monument but also plans for a presidential library, a museum, and a theater. The undeveloped grounds of Quezon Memorial Circle saw significant events, including a public mass celebrated by Pope Paul VI in 1970. Following the
People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
in 1986, the Quezon City Parks Development Foundation (QCPDF) was established under Mayor Brigido Simon Jr. Through a tripartite agreement involving the Quezon City government, the
National Historical Institute The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP; ) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of history of the Philippines, Philippine history and culture of the Philippines, cultural heritage through ...
(now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), and the National Parks Development Administration (NPDA), the NPDA gained jurisdiction over the park's 27 hectares (67 acres). However, the Quezon Memorial Shrine remained under the National Historical Institute's control. The NPDA subsequently transferred park management to the QCPDF, which was authorized to generate revenue for its upkeep. In the 1980s, the architecture firm led by
Francisco Mañosa Francisco "Bobby" Tronqued Mañosa (February 12, 1931 – February 20, 2019) was a Filipino architect considered one of the most influential Filipino architects of the 20th century for having pioneered the art of Philippine neovernacular archi ...
developed a master plan for the park, reflecting its evolving role as a central urban space. On July 1, 2008, after managing the park since September 27, 1988, the QCPDF handed over management responsibilities to the Quezon City government. During the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, the park adapted to meet critical needs by providing makeshift dormitories for health workers from nearby hospitals and serving as a testing site.


Park lay-out


Quezon Memorial Shrine

The Quezon Memorial Shrine is an art deco-themed monument designed by Federico Ilustre and was built during the 1950s – serving as the centerpiece of the Quezon Memorial Circle. The shrine representing Quezon's age when he died from tuberculosis stands on a thirty-six hectare elliptical lot. It houses an observation deck that can accommodate sixty people at the top through a spiral staircase which gives the visitors a panoramic view of the city. At the top of the pylons are three mourning angels holding
sampaguita ''Jasminum sambac'' (Arabian jasmine or Sambac jasmine) is a species of jasmine native to Bhutan and India. It is cultivated in many places, especially West Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is naturalised in many scattered locales: Mauri ...
(the national flower) wreaths sculpted by the
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
sculptor Francesco Monti. The regional identity of each female angels figure could be discerned in the traditional costume they were clothed with. The winged figures atop the three pylons represented Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 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 A catafalque is a raised bier, box, or similar platform, often movable, that is used to support the casket, coffin, or body of a dead person during a Christian funeral or memorial service. Following a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass, a catafalqu ...
, modeled after Napoleon Bonaparte's in the
Invalides The Hôtel des Invalides (; ), commonly called (; ), is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and an old sold ...
. The gallery and the catafalque below are lit by an oculus, in turn reminiscent of
Grant's Tomb Grant's Tomb, officially the General Grant National Memorial, is the final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, and of his wife Julia. It is a classical domed mausoleum in the Morningside Heights neigh ...
.


Museums

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 Shrine itself. In the 1980s, missing, lost, or incomplete bas reliefs for the outside of the memorial were installed. A house of Manuel L. Quezon family in Gilmore, New Manila was transferred within the Quezon Memorial Circle and was made a museum. A city museum, the Quezon City Experience (QCX) was also opened within park grounds in late 2015. The QCX was closed during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
in 2020 and its building was converted into a COVID testing center and later a processing site for applicants seeking government aid. The Presidential Car Museum, housing the presidential cars of former Philippine presidents, was inaugurated on August 19, 2018. On May 30, 2025, the ''Bahay Modernismo'', a museum on Philippine history and culture during the 1950s and 1960s, was opened inside the complex. It is housed in a structure that integrates the structural and architectural parts of the demolished residence of the
Aquino family The Aquino family of Tarlac (, ) is one of the most prominent families in the Philippines because of their Political family, involvement in politics. Some family members are also involved in other fields such as business and entertainment. The fa ...
in 25 Times Street, Quezon City.


Recreation spaces

Quezon City Circle also hosts the Circle of Fun, a small amusement park which has various rides such as the "Fun Drop" a
drop tower A drop tower is a type of amusement park ride incorporating a central tower structure with one or more gondolas attached. In a typical modern configuration, each gondola carrying riders is lifted to the top of the tower and then released t ...
ride and the "Sea Dragon", a pirate ship type of amusement ride. A separate attraction, the Pedal N Paddle offers go-kart rides, boat rides in a small pond, fish spa, a 4D theater and Skybike, where patrons ride modified bicycles attached on an elevated rail. A children's playground and a rental bicycles are also available which can be used on a bicycle track within the park. Dining outlets and a flea market are also situated within park grounds. Previously the park had a disco area near the Quezon Memorial Shrine but it has been closed down. Public facilities for events such as the Seminar Hall, Century Hall, People’s Hall, and a stage, as well as covered courts were introduced by the city government which took over administration of the park in 2008. A dancing fountain was also renovated by the city government which is illuminated with colors at night. The fountain was removed in 2025 as part of the park's redevelopment.


Gardens, monuments, and markers

The elliptical park features smaller gardens and named green spaces within its grounds such as the Hardin ng Mga Bulaklak () and the Tropical Garden. The Quezon Memorial Circle also host a demo urban farm which in 2015 is occupying a . The urban farm inside the park is one of the several sites under the "Joy of Urban Farming" project of Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte which was launched in 2010. In 2011, the Cactus and Succulent Garden designed by Serapion Metilla was opened to the public. Among the other areas of the park is the World Peace Bell. The bell installed not before 1994, was a donation of the World Peace Bell Association, a Japanese organization promoting awareness on the
world peace World peace is the concept of an ideal state of peace within and among all people and nations on Earth. Different cultures, religions, philosophies, and organizations have varying concepts on how such a state would come about. Various relig ...
movement. The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to receive a bell from the association. The first bell was made from coins donated by the then 65 member countries of the United Nations, weighs , has a height of , and a diameter of . It was designed by the Quezon City Planning Office. The bell was turned over to then Quezon City Vice Mayor Charito Planas by World Peace Bell Association Executive Chairman Tomojiro Yoshida at the Tsunamachi Mitsui Club in Tokyo on July 1, 1994. The bell was inaugurated by then President
Fidel V. Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military officer to reached ...
on December 10, 1994, who formally presented the bell to then Quezon City Mayor Ismael Mathay. A Peace Monument was also erected inside the grounds of the park by the
Rotary Club Rotary International is one of the largest Service club, service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, go ...
. It marked
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
as a Rotary Peace City as part of the "Community Peace Cities/Towns" concept conceived by the
Rotary Club Rotary International is one of the largest Service club, service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, go ...
of
Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 57,003 as of 2021, it is an important agricultural, m ...
,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. Quezon City is the fifth Rotary Peace Community in the Philippines and 25th in the world. The peace monument was inaugurated on December 7, 1999. The monument was removed due to the construction of the Quezon Memorial Circle Station of MRT-7. The Philippine–Israel Friendship Park is hosted within the larger Quezon Memorial Circle beside the Quezon Heritage House. The park had its groundbreaking in December 2017 and was inaugurated in August 2018. It commemorate President Manuel L. Quezon's efforts to accept 1,000 Jewish refugees in the Philippines during the
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
era and the Philippines' support for the
United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a proposal by the United Nations to partition Mandatory Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. Drafted by the U.N. Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) on 3 September 1947, the Pl ...
and the establishment of the
State of Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
.


Transportation

The Quezon Memorial Circle is totally engulfed by the
Elliptical Road The Elliptical Road is a roundabout in Quezon City, which circumscribes the Quezon Memorial Circle, a large park. It was named after its elliptical shape. The road is divided into eight lanes: three main lanes, four for exiting vehicles, and ...
. A pedestrian underpass was opened in October 2007 which connects the lot occupied by the Quezon City Hall and the park. A second underpass connects the park to the Philcoa area near the Commonwealth Avenue amounted to and opened in December 2009. The park will also host an eponymous station of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 7 (MRT-7), which is under construction.


Vendors and stalls

As of 2017, the Quezon Memorial Circle hosts five restaurants and 13 food stalls. There are also 19 kiosks, 39 plant stalls, as well as 21 stalls from Agri-Aqua Network International. 7 other establishments also has presence in the park including the TEC bike rental, Pedal n Paddle Inc., and Philippine Mango Seedling. Following a planned redevelopment of the park by Mayor Joy Belmonte some stall vendors and restaurants surrounding the park's children's playground vacated the park after their permit expired on June 30, 2019. Within the same year, Belmonte launched the Fresh Market, a weekly farmer-to-consumer program, that would allow farmers from nearby provinces to sell produce to residents within the park.


Visitors

In 2012, it was reported that an average of 8,000 people visit the Quezon Memorial Circle daily. The average figures during the weekends were reportedly higher during the weekends amounting to 12,000 people. In December 2011, more than a million visited the park.


See also

* List of parks in Metro Manila *
Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (, , , ; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier, and politician who was president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1 ...
*
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...


References


External links

* *
Quezon Memorial Circle
at
OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap (abbreviated OSM) is a free, Open Database License, open geographic database, map database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveying, surveys, trace from Ae ...
{{authority control Parks in Quezon City National parks of the Philippines National Shrines of the Philippines Protected areas established in 1978 Landmarks in the Philippines Quezon family Tourist attractions in Quezon City