The Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC is a national park located in Quezon City, the largest and most populous city of Metro Manila, which once served as the official capital of the Philippines from 1948 to 1976. Commonly referred to as the “Circle,” this park is located inside a large traffic roundabout bounded an Elliptical Road. Back in the ’80s, my cousins and I used to go here a lot, for bike rentals, roller skating, picnics, or to just enjoy the green surroundings. It got a bit run down during the ’90s, but in recent years, it’s gotten upgrades and improvements. I’ve revisited QMC for various events over the years, but I tend to take it for granted. It’s just something that’s always been there. But the lockdown has left me with a newfound appreciation for any accessible urban destination that has greens and open spaces.
After months of being closed because of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, the QMC was partially reopened to the public in June 2020 for the GCQ. There are very few green spaces in our cities, and QMC offers a safe and nature-filled spot to bike and jog for exercise. Aside from being known as a family-friendly destination, you can find a nice selection of plants and gardening supplies here. While the museums, amusement park rides, dine-in restaurants, and other features still remain closed, joggers and bikers can still get some fresh air and exercise from 5:00 am to 10:00 am, while the plant shops remain open up to 5:00 pm. If you’re walking or going there by bike, there’s no entrance fee to visit though minimal fees are charged for those parking cars and motorcycles inside the park premises.
While it’s easy enough to get here by car or motorcycle, trying to cross the main elliptical road by bike feels like a suicide mission even with fewer vehicles on the road. There are no pedestrian walkways on the street. The safest way for bikers to cross is to use one of the underpasses. There are two pedestrian underpasses connected to Quezon Memorial Circle. The QMC-Commonwealth Underpass across Philcoa near the Philippine Coconut Authority brings you directly in front of the plant shops by the Commonwealth entrance.
The Quezon Memorial Circle Elliptical Road Underpass located right in front of the Quezon City Hall takes you to the parking lot near the area in front of Max’s and Aristocrat Restaurant. The underpass near City Hall has an elevator for senior citizens and people with disabilities (not operational during COVID) but does not have a bike ramp, so you’ll have to carry your bikes up and down the stairs, which can add to your workout. As of July 2020, the underpass was clean, well-lit, and had a security guard stationed there.
What’s great about QMC for bikers and joggers are the safe roads inside the park surrounding the shrine. While there are lots of parking spaces around, the area around the dancing fountain is off-limits to motorized vehicles. One point of interest is the short QMC Bicycle Track on the right side of the Commonwealth entrance surrounding the rows of plant shops circling the children’s playground. Bike rentals (bikes and bicycles with sidecars) are usually available here. Aside from the bike trail, QMC has several bikeable and pedestrian-friendly pocket gardens scattered around the park worth exploring.
Hardin ng mga Bulaklak (Flower Garden) is a flower garden that features various indigenous flowers and is often a location of gardening and flower shows by various gardening societies of the country. From its small gate, there’s a nice walkway leading in with paintings of different flowers on the pillars.
I was surprised to find a small pond and winding walkway around the Tropical Garden. This area features tropical plants and is also used as a venue for gardening and flower shows. It’s a very peaceful and secluded spot. Despite living in Quezon City for years, I admit I’ve never really taken the time to explore and appreciate the gardens before, so going around by bike felt fun and new.
There are supposed to be other gardens around the park including the Joys of Urban Farming (an urban farm where vegetables are planted), a Fern Garden, a Cactus Garden, and the Charito L. Planas Garden (a small fenced garden dedicated to Quezon City Parks Development Foundation head, Charito L. Planas who was responsible for the rehabilitation of the park in the early 2000s), but some areas are still inaccessible or were affected by the ongoing MRT construction.
For plant-lovers, QMC offers a great place to buy plants, flowers, pots, soil, and gardening supplies. Since June 2020, the nurseries and plant stalls have resumed operations selling orchids, ornamental and flowering plants, succulents, and herbs at affordable prices.
The gardening shops can be found along the main Commonwealth entrance, behind the Children’s Playground area and along the road between the Circle of Fun and Joys of Urban Farming. I was pleasantly surprised by the wide selection and plan to go back here by scooter to carry them more easily.
The main landmark and centerpiece in QMC is the Quezon Memorial Shrine, an art deco-themed monument designed by Federico Ilustre. Built during the 1950s, this 66-meter (217 ft) shrine represents Quezon’s age when he died from tuberculosis. It houses an observation deck accessible through a spiral staircase. The deck can supposedly accommodate sixty people at the top.
I remember I was able to go up here before when I was a kid, but it seems like the management no longer allows visitors from climbing up the pylon because apparently someone attempted to jump off back in 1995 (according to the museum guide at QCX). Inside the mausoleum, you can find the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the second official President of the Philippines and his wife, First Lady Aurora Quezon. At night, the monument is illuminated with lights that gradually shifts its colors.
Did you ever wonder what those angels atop the pylons of the shrine represent? The three mourning figures, sculpted by Italian sculptor Fransesco Monti, signify the 3 main regions of the country: Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao. Each one is dressed in a traditional dress: a panuelo (dress scarf), terno (butterfly sleeves) & sablay (indigenous sash). They all carry wreaths of sampaguita, the national flower, and have art deco inspired wings. The details aren’t that noticeable from afar, but you can see smaller recreations of the angels inside the QCX Museum.
Aside from the main shrine, there are a few other monuments and markers of interest around QMC. The Dancing Fountain, illuminated at night with moving water features accompanied by music, is the centerpiece of Liwasang Aurora, the circular paved plaza decorated in a style of a compass rose. Along with the adjacent stage, the Liwasang Aurora serves as the venue for various events such as concerts held at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
The World Peace Bell, housed in a mushroom-like gazebo, is a donation by the World Peace Bell Association, a Japanese organization promoting awareness on the world peace movement. You can also find a Peace Monument marker in the area.
QMC has a few recreation areas and activities including the QMC Bicycle Rental, Circle of Joy (Children’s Playground), Circle of Fun (a small amusement park with rides like a drop tower ride and a pirate ship type of amusement ride); Zipline and Pedal N’ Paddle, an amusement space featuring bicycle and pedal-powered-boat rentals. However, most of these remain closed because of community quarantine restrictions.
The museums in the area are also still closed. Aside from the main Museo ni Manuel Quezon (Manuel Quezon Museum) at the triangular base of the Quezon Memorial Shrine, you can find several other notable museums around the park, some of which I hope to visit once they reopen.
The Quezon Heritage House is a historic museum that used to be the house of the family of President Manuel L. Quezon (relocated from 45 Gilmore Street in New Manila, Quezon City). The museum focuses on the personal life of Quezon in contrast to the Museo ni Manuel L. Quezon which focuses on Quezon’s political career.
Did you know you could admire vintage and classic cars in QMC? The Presidential Car Museum (or Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan) is a museum that displays the National Historical Commission of the Philippines collection of cars used by former Presidents of the Philippines during their term of office, restored to their original condition.
You can spot some historic cars here including the 1934 Cadillac V16 Series 90 Fleetwood Transformable Town Car Cabriolet Used by Manuel L. Quezon 1934-1937, which was turned over to Field Marshal Douglas McArthur.
Quezon City Experience (QCX) is a modern and interactive museum that focuses on the recent history and pop culture of Quezon City. It’s divided into multiple pod green buildings that were designed to be green building compliant.
For residents who grew up in the city, this underrated museum offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane throughout 16 interactive galleries. Walk through recreations of historic offices, step into a typical Pinoy house in the 1980s and 90s, see old carousel rides from Fiesta Carnival, read about historic landmarks like COD (which housed animatronic Nativity shows) and Magnolia Flavor House. You can even spot the famous white lady from Balete Drive here.
The Democracy Museum (Museo ng Demokrasyang Pilipino) is the newest museum at the circle, inaugurated just last March 2019. Designed as a replica of the Aquino home, this museum focuses on the role of ordinary citizens in historic revolutions and wars that eventually led to the establishment of the Philippine republic. It houses sets of wooden printing press equipment used by Katipunan revolutionaries and World War 2 guerillas, EDSA People Power memorabilia, documents of the Sakdal Movement, and the Philippine Independent Church’s early materials.
There are a few restaurants and cafes located inside QMC including traditional Filipino restaurants like Max’s Restaurant (chicken), Serye, and Aristocrat as well as Tropical Hut (fast-food restaurant serving burgers and chicken), New Kamameshi House (Japanese resto), Steak to One (steaks) and Circles Cafe (coffee and budget meals). Coconut House, which served unique coconut-based dishes like Pancit Buko and Veggie Coco Omelette is now closed. Some of the restaurants and stalls selling food and beverages have reopened for dine-in, delivery and takeout during the GCQ.
As of July 2020, the Circle is still undergoing significant changes. It will be the street alignment for the underground Quezon Memorial MRT Station of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 7, a 22-km. railway transport that will run from North Avenue Station to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, with 14 stations. There’s a lot of construction still going on, so expect changes in months to come.
Despite the developments, the Quezon Memorial Circle still offers a scenic and pleasant place to bike, jog, or take a stroll around for QC residents. Just spending time outdoors, biking under the trees, and checking out the plants felt very refreshing. I really hope that this small patch of green space in the middle of the busy city will remain preserved for the future.