Quezon City
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| Quezon City Lungsod Quezon |
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| Nickname: City of Stars | |||
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| Country | Philippines | ||
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| Region | National Capital Region | ||
| Districts | 1st to 4th districts of Quezon City | ||
| Barangays | 142 | ||
| Incorporated (town) | October 12, 1939 (as Balintawak) |
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| Incorporated (city) | October 12, 1939 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Feliciano "Sonny" R. Belmonte, Jr. (2007-2010; Lakas-CMD) | ||
| - Vice Mayor | Herbert Bautista (2007-2010; Lakas-CMD) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 166.20 km² (64.2 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 17.0 m (56 ft) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 2,680,000 | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| Area code(s) | 2 | ||
| Website: www.quezoncity.gov.ph | |||
Quezon City (Pronounced: ke'zon city) (Filipino: Lungsod Quezon), is the former capital (1948-1976) and the most populous city in the Philippines. It is the 2nd most populous suburb[dubious ] in the world, tied with Giza, Egypt and Incheon, Korea; only Yokohama, Japan is larger. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City (popularly known to Filipinos as simply QC) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L. Quezon, the former president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines who founded the city and developed it to replace Manila as the country's capital. Quezon City is not located in and should not be confused with Quezon province, which was also named after the president.
Having been the former capital, many government offices are located in the city, including the Batasang Pambansa, the seat of the House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber in the Philippine Congress. The main campuses of two noteworthy universities, the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, Diliman are located in the city.
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[edit] Geography
Quezon City is the largest city in Metro Manila and Luzon. At approximately 160 square kilometers, it comprises almost one-fourth of Metro Manila. The city lies on a relatively high plateau on the northeast corner of the metropolis between the lowlands of Manila to the southwest and the Marikina River valley to the east. The southern portion is drained by the very narrow San Juan River and its tributaries to Pasig River, while running in the northern portions of the city is the equally narrow Tullahan River.
Quezon City is bordered by Manila to the southwest, by Caloocan City and Valenzuela City to the west and northwest. To the south lies San Juan and Mandaluyong City while Marikina City and Pasig City borders Quezon City to the southeast. To the north across Marilao River lies San Jose del Monte City in the province of Bulacan and to the east lies Rodriguez and San Mateo, both in the province of Rizal.
The city can be divided into a number of areas. The southern portion of the city is divided into a number of places including Diliman, Commonwealth, the Project areas, Cubao, Kamias, Kamuning, New Manila, San Francisco del Monte and Sta. Mesa Heights. The northern half of the city is often called Novaliches and contains the areas of Fairview and Lagro. Most of these areas have no defined boundaries and are primarily residential in nature.
[edit] Sub-divisions
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[edit] Diliman
Diliman, located at the center of southern Quezon City, is where many government offices are located, including the City Hall. Diliman is also home to the main campus of the University of the Philippines. Far Eastern University's Institute of Technology (now FEU-FERN College) 15-hectare campus is located at the central portion of Diliman.
At Diliman's center lies the Quezon Memorial where the late President Manuel L. Quezon is interred. The monument, encased in marble, is the highest structure in that part of the city. Running around the monument is the two-kilometer Quezon Memorial Circle, also known as the Elliptical Road (R-7/C-5). The circle links Commonwealth (R-7/C-5), Visayas, Kalayaan, East, North(C-5), and Quezon Avenues (R-7). The last three avenues provide access to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) (C-4), the main highway in Metro Manila.
The Quezon City Hall, one of the highest city halls in the country is located along the Circle. Surrounding the city hall are spacious parks and open areas. Some of the national government agencies whose head offices are located in Diliman are the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security Systems (SSS), the National Power Corporation, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs), the National Computer Center (NCC), the Office of the Ombudsman, the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Surrounding the Circle are many important health centers and institutions. Along East Avenue stands the Philippine Heart Center, the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Mental Health Association. Along North Avenue is the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and the Philippine Health Association. The Philippine Children's Medical Center and Lung Center of the Philippines is located along Quezon Avenue (R-7).
The University of the Philippines, Diliman (UPD) lies at the northwestern portion of Diliman occupying 4.92 km² of rolling land. (See the University of the Philippines, Diliman (Campus section)). Other schools are also located in the Diliman area, such as the main campus of the Philippine Science High School system.
Most of the rest of the area is residential. Some villages in this portion of Diliman are Teachers Village, U.P. Village, and Sikatuna Village. Those closer to the University of the Philippines campus such as Teachers Village and U.P. Village remain mostly residential although many have converted spare rooms to boarding facilities for out-of-town students attending schools in the area: U.P., Ateneo, and Miriam College. The eastern edge of the Diliman area is roughly bounded by Katipunan Road which passes in front of Ateneo and Miriam and runs behind the U.P Diliman campus.
[edit] Commonwealth and Balara
North of Diliman lies the Commonwealth area, so-named because of Commonwealth Avenue (R-7) (formerly called Don Mariano Marcos Avenue) which runs through its center. This is primarily a middle-class residential area home to many subdivisions (residential associations) such as Don Jose Heights, Ideal Subdivision, Jordan Park Homes and Doña Carmen Subdivision. Commonwealth also plays host to one of the largest squatters' communities in the country, specifically in the areas of Batasan Hills (formerly called Constitution Hills), and within the proposed National Government Center. Commonwealth Avenue is the widest road in the Philippines, where in some parts can stretch to as much as 16 lanes across.
At the heart of Commonwealth is the Batasang Pambansa (literally, National Lawmaking Center), which is where the country's House of Representatives holds its sessions. Many congressmen stay in houses in the surrounding subdivisions.
South of Commonwealth and east of Diliman is Balara. The area of Balara along Tandang Sora Avenue is relatively poor, while the outlying areas contain some of the richest subdivisions in the city. Capitol Hills Subdivision, Ayala Heights, and Ayala Hillside Estates are affluent communities. Adjacent to Ayala Heights and Ayala Hillside Estates is the Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club, a popular golf course.
Moreover, the well-known Polytechnic University of the Philippines has an extension campus in Commonwealth area, serving the parts of northern Metropolitan Manila.
[edit] First "Malunggay" park
The Quezon City government opened on May 16, 2006, Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista's "Halamanan sa Bakuran's", the first "malunggay (Moringa oleifera) park" in Tivoli Royale Village in Barangay Batasan Hills. The park will be a learning center for Quezon City urban poor resident about planting the "wonder vegetable."[1]
[edit] Tandang Sora
This is located between Commonwealth to the east, North Ave to the south, Frisco to the west and Fairview-Sauyo to the north. It got its name from the Grand Old Lady of the Revolution, Melchora Aquino or Tandang Sora, whose remains lie on her own backyard now known as Himlayang Pilipino. The area is primarily residential with Projects 6 and 8 located here, as are other subdivisions, like Town & Country Gardenville, San Pedro Subdivisions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), NaPoCor Village, NIA Village, Reymar Subdivision, Villa Corrina, and many more. A large portion of Tandang Sora district is Barangay Bahay Toro, where a historic site of the Philippine Revolution known as Pugad Lawin is located. There are some industrial facilities especially near the Mindanao Avenue area. Culiat, a known Muslim compound is also to be found here. Also the prestige Subdivisions and Village like Tierra Pura Village and Gloria III Subdivision.
AMA Computer University's central campus lies in the western portion of Project 8. Most of its students are studying information technology-related degrees.
[edit] Loyola Heights
Loyola Heights, to the southeast of Diliman is Marikina City's gateway to Quezon City. The Aurora Boulevard (R-6) and Katipunan Avenue (C-5) provide easy access, but often experience traffic jams during rush hours. Also located in Loyola Heights is the Katipunan Station of the Manila LRT Purple Line (LRT-2), which runs in an east-west direction, providing rapid access to the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Marikina and Pasig, and San Juan. Passengers can transfer to the Manila LRT Yellow Line at Recto station in Manila, or to the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (Blue Line) at Araneta Center-Cubao station.
The main campus of the Ateneo de Manila University is located in Loyola Heights. Beside the Ateneo is Miriam College.
Loyola Heights also has numerous study centers such as: Kumon, Newton Study Center, MSA, and others.
Loyola Heights is an upper middle-class and rich residential area that caters to students of the Ateneo de Manila, University of the Philippines, and Miriam College, members of the schools' faculty and staff, and their families. La Vista Subdivision, north of the Ateneo, is an upscale gated community where some of the country's top politicians own residences, including Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as well as many of the country's moneyed elite. Accessed through La Vista is Loyola Grand Villas, another upscale gated community. Across Katipunan, the main thoroughfare of the area, are Varsity Hills and Xavierville, both upper middle-class subdivisions. Near these areas, and right beside La Vista, are some squatters' settlements, making the Loyola Heights area a place of mixed socio-economic classes.
[edit] Cubao
Cubao, south of Diliman is an important commercial area. At its heart is the Araneta Center, along EDSA (C-4) and Aurora Boulevard (R-6). It is a 35-hectare commercial estate owned and developed by the Araneta family. The Center houses a number of shopping malls often compared to Madison Square in New York. One such mall is the Ali Mall (named after the boxing legend Muhammad Ali), then also The Farmers Plaza, and the modern Gateway Mall. Department stores and retail centers can also be found here, such as Plaza Fair, Rustan's, Shopwise Supercenter, and Makro. At the center is Araneta Coliseum, often called the Big Dome. Many musical concerts, ice shows, circus shows, religious crusades, wrestling, cock-fighting and basketball games are held in this 50,000-capacity coliseum. Seedy nightclubs also abound within the Cubao area.
There are residential areas ranging from the upper-middle class, right through to the upper-upper class, in Cubao Quezon City.
North from Araneta Center along EDSA (C-4) are numerous bus terminals, a place where one can take a bus ride to almost any point in Luzon as well as in the Visayas especially in Samar, Leyte, and Iloilo. It is also an intersection point for two of city's commuter trains (The EDSA MRT which travels from North to South, and the LRT-2 which runs from East to West).
[edit] Libis
Located at the southeastern corner of Quezon City, Bagumbayan is one of the newly developed commercial areas in Quezon City. The Eastwood City Business Center is situated here. It consists of several office and residential skyscrapers, including many local IT and consumer electronic firms. Numerous bars and restaurants have been put up since 2000 along E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5). Many of which are open-air restaurants and coffee shops reminiscent of Paris boulevards, but with a modern architecture. With this, Libis is fast becoming one of the hippest areas for night entertainment, similar to the Malate and Ermita districts of Manila.
West of Bagumbayan are many high-end gated communities like the Acropolis, Blue Ridge, Greenmeadows, White Plains, Corinthian Hills, and Corinthian Gardens. Further west are Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame. Camp Aguinaldo is the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines while Camp Crame is the headquarters of the Philippine National Police.
Located in Greenmeadows is the Manila Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons or LDS). The Manila Philippines Temple was dedicated on September 25, 1984 as the 29th operating temple, to serve the half-million plus Filipino Mormons.
[edit] Timog area
Surrounding Timog Avenue (South Avenue) and Tomas Morato Avenue is a popular entertainment area. Located along these two avenues are many fine-dining restaurants and bars. Discotheques, Karaoke joints and comedy bars provide patrons with all-night long recreation. It is home to many gay bars such as Chicos, Adonis and Gigolo, which are popular for their lively night time entertainment.
In the South Triangle (the area bounded by Quezon Avenue (R-7), Timog Avenue (South Avenue) and EDSA) are located the head offices of ABS-CBN and GMA Network, the top TV media companies in the country. Most Filipino entertainment shows are produced here, and it is also home to many Filipino celebrities.
- See also: Scouting memorials#Asia
Several of the streets in the surrounding area were named in honor of the 20 Boy Scouts who died in a plane crash en route to joining the 11th World Scout Jamboree. A memorial stands in the center of a rotunda at the intersection of Timog and Tomas Morato avenues. Because of this, Timog area is also often called Scout Area. In fact, one of the barangays (small local government unit) in the area is called Laging Handa (always ready), the motto of the (Boy Scouts of the Philippines). Near the scouting memorial is the location of the former Ozone disco, site of the worst fire in Philippine history.
[edit] Novaliches
The northern district is called Novaliches and is primarily residential. The La Mesa Dam Watershed occupies the eastern portion. The Dam supplies much of northern Metro Manila's water supply. Adjacent to the watershed is the La Mesa Eco-Park, where you can stroll and unwind at Metro Manila's only forest space. Also located in the park are convention centers, picnic areas, swimming pools, an orchidarium, and a large lagoon for boating activities. It was also the site of the rowing and dragon boat events for the 2005 SEA (South East Asian) Games. Rowing is regularly done here.
Premier malls have been built recently in this area such as SM City Fairview, Robinsons Place Novaliches, Fairview Center Mall, colleges like FEU (Far Eastern University) -NRMF, Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), AMA Computer College Fairview Campus, Metro Manila College (MMC), STI College Novaliches, National College of Business and Arts (NCBA), La Consolacion College-Deparo(LCCD), Montessori College: high schools like Lagro High School, School of St. Anthony, Faith Christian Academy of Novaliches, Sto. Niño De Novaliches School, St. Theresa's School of Novaliches, San Bartolome High School, Sacred Heart Academy of Novaliches, Our Lady of Lourdes School of Novaliches, Little Merry Hearts Montessori Center, Holy Child Academy, Divine Grace School, Mater Carmeli School and the Novaliches High School, among others.
Various SMEs (small to medium enterprises) are also booming in Novaliches, with offices and services offering health care, money transfer, software development, online trading, and many others.
The name Novaliches probably came from the surname of a Spanish governor general, Marquis de Novaliches. The town was once part of Rizal province before being ceded to Quezon City in the 1940s. This district is among the largest in the city, having shared boundaries with the two sections of Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan and Montalban, Rizal. The oldest part of the city is in the town center, aptly named Novaliches Bayan. But because of population growth the density of people gradually widened reaching up the edge of the La Mesa Reservoir (Lagro and Fairview).
In 1999, a plebiscite was held among the voters of Quezon City to determine the cityhood of Novaliches. The proposed creation of "Novaliches City" would have resulted in the secession of 15 barangays from Quezon City. At the plebiscite's end, votes that were against the separation heavily outnumbered those that were in favor.
[edit] Sta. Mesa Heights
Sta. Mesa Heights is said to be where many middle class and upper middle class families reside. Most of the areas in Sta. Mesa Heights are residential. It is also home to the national shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
[edit] San Francisco Del Monte
It was founded on February 17, 1590. It was meant to be a place for retreat for residents in Intramuros in Manila. The street's old name Retiro,(now called N.S. Amoranto Sr. Avenue) came from the word retiro, meaning retreat, because it offers a place of solitude nestled atop a hill to many retreatants. The church located in San Francisco del Monte was the first building in the area. It is named after its benevolent Spanish friar and founder, St. Francis (of Assisi ).
It was an independent town during the Spanish era that had an area of 250 acres (1.0 km²) of land filled with wildlife and trees. It was later absorbed by Quezon City when it was created. Today, it is a heavily populated district. Although it contains many residential areas such as Barangay San Antonio, there are many industrial facilities here, mostly found along Judge Juan Luna street. The two main intersections of this area are Roosevelt Ave. and Del Monte Ave.
When it was first founded, it was around 2.5 km² in area. It reached out to what is currently Project 7 and 8 and all the way out to Timog Ave area. Currently, it is composed of Brgy. Paraiso, Paltok, Masambong, Damayan and Del Monte.
One of the famous people that lived in this town is the famed Filipino actor Fernando Poe, Jr. whose ancestral home still exists.
[edit] Galas-Santol
The Galas-Santol District of Quezon City is located in its southwest border with the City of Manila. Araneta Avenue (C-3) is the primary dividing line between the rich and the poor. West of the avenue lies the residential corner of many of the poorest in the city. Shanties predominate the area, stretching from Araneta Avenue to Galas, while east of the avenue features the palatial mansions of some of the richest. SM City Sta. Mesa lies at the end of the avenue.
[edit] The Project areas
The Project areas include Project 1 (presently Roxas), Project 2 (Quirino-A), Project 3 (Quirino-B), Project 4, Project 5 (presently Kamias), Project 6, Project 7, and Project 8. These areas are among the first residential subdivisions in the city developed by former Philippine Presidents Quezon, Quirino and Marcos.
[edit] Economy
The commercial center of the city is in Cubao where many shopping malls and the Aurora Tower can be found. There is a farmers plaza and farmers market. Fiesta Carnival is an enclosed amusement park cum carnival which is located in the heart of the Cubao Commercial Center. You will also find the Araneta Coliseum, a venue for concerts as well as sports events.
Quezon City is also home to major television broadcasting networks. Major television companies (ABC, ABS-CBN, GMA Network, NBN, RPN, UNTV, and IBC) are all based in Quezon City.
Quezon City also has a vibrant nightlife. Tomas Morato Avenue is known as restaurant row where restaurants range from fine dining to fast food. Bars and cafes also line up Tomas Morato. West Avenue also has its own version of restaurant row, but the difference is that West Avenue restaurants come in clusters, while Tomas Morato has restaurants in nearly the entire stretch.
For the more adventurous, Quezon Avenue, Timog (South) Avenue and West Avenue with nightclubs and other drinking joints, have a lot to offer. Some are seedy while others are wholesome.
[edit] Communications
Quezon City's communication system is powered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Globe telecoms, Bayan Telecommunications Corporation and others. Cellular networking in the Philippines, particularly the Metropolitan areas, is increasing rapidly together with the low cost of calls and text messaging. Such big companies that control the cellular networks in the Philippines and Quezon City itself are Globe Telecoms, Smart Communications (PLDT) and Sun Cellular from Digitel.
[edit] Education
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The city has several major educational institutions. Two of the most well-known are the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Also in Quezon City are medical schools such as the Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Our Lady of Fatima University - Fatima Medical Science Foundation and the University of the East - Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines also has an extension campus in Commonwealth area. Business and management schools include Entrepreneurs School Of Asia located in Libis, National College for Business and Arts (NCBA). Popular women's colleges such as Miriam College are also found in the city. Other academic institutions include:
- AMA Computer University
- Colegio de San Lorenzo
- Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College
- Fatima Medical Science Foundation
- Foursquare Bible College
- La Consolacion College-Deparo
- New Era University
- Quezon City Medical Center and Colleges
- Quezon City Polytechnic University
- Saint Paul University- Quezon City
- Saint Pedro Poveda College
- St. Mary's College, Quezon City (formerly Colegio del Beaterio)
- Siena College
- STI Colleges (DLS-STI College)
- Technological Institute of the Philippines (Quezon City)
- Trinity University of Asia, an institution of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines
- World Citi Colleges
Notable secondary public schools include Philippine Science High School, Quezon City Science High School, Quezon City High School and the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS). Quezon City also holds the largest number of private elementary and secondary schools in Metro Manila. Distinguished private schools include:
- Angelicum College
- Ateneo de Manila (Grade School and High School)
- Asian College of Science and Technology
- Claret School of Quezon City
- Colegio de San Lorenzo
- Diliman Preparatory School
- Divine Grace School
- Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College
- New Era University
- Faith Christian Academy of Novaliches (FCAN)
- Holy Child Academy
- Holy Family School
- Holy Spirit School
- International Christian School of Quezon City
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (Quezon city)
- Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS)
- Kostka School
- Lourdes School of Quezon City
- Mater Carmeli School
- Mercedarian School
- Our Lady of Fatima University
- Our Lady of Lourdes School of Novaliches
- Quezon City Academy
- Quezon City Christian Academy
- Sacred Heart Academy Novaliches and La Loma
- Ste. Anne de Beaupre School
- St. Bridget School Quezon City
- Saint Claire School
- St. James College of Quezon City
- St. Joseph Catholic School (Project 3)
- Saint. Joseph's College of Quezon City
- St. Mary's College, Quezon City (formerly Beaterio College)
- St. Paul College, Quezon City
- St. Pedro Poveda College
- St. Theresa's College
- St. Vincent Academy
- School of the Holy Spirit
- School of St. Anthony
- Stella Maris College (Quezon City)
- Sto. Niño De Novaliches School
- The Seed Montessori School
- Trinity University of Asia (formerly Trinity College of Quezon City)
[edit] Transportation
Currently, two elevated light rail systems run through Quezon City: MRT-2 - at Aurora Blvd (R-6) connecting Santolan (Pasig City) and Claro M. Recto Avenue (Manila), and MRT 3 - at EDSA (C-4) from Taft Avenue (R-2 in Pasay City) to North Avenue.
An elevated rail transit system (MRT-4) that was supposed to follow the general alignment of Quezon and Commonwealth Avenues (R-7) was shelved. In its place, a 22 kilometer rail system will be built. The MRT-7 project will commence at North Avenue, connecting the MRT-3 at its northern terminus. It will then go through Commonwealth Avenue, then through Regalado, Quirino Highway, ending in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. The system has a proposed spur line to connect itself to MRT-2 in Katipunan, passing through the University of the Philippines Diliman and Katipunan Avenue.
Public transportation within the city, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys and buses. Tricycles give access to more secluded areas, while taxi cabs are available to navigate any course.
[edit] Religion
The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, and in 2002, Quezon City was made an episcopal see for two new Catholic dioceses: Cubao and Novaliches, as the very populous Archdiocese of Manila was carved up and five new dioceses created. Various Protestant faiths have seen a significant increase in membership over recent decades and are well represented in Quezon City. While the Islamic faith is has its largest concentrations in the south of the Philippines, there is a significant population in Quezon City. The Salam compound in Barangay Culiat houses one of the area's landmark mosques. The Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry is based in Novaliches, Quezon City. The Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) Central Office is located in Quezon City. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has its Philippines Manila Temple located near the Libis area of the city while the Philippine Branch office of [1]Jehovah's Witnesses is located in San Francisco del Monte Avenue. The seat of the Presiding Bishop, the Cathedral of Sts. Mary and John of the Episcopal Church, the national offices of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines as well as a number of Protestant seminaries are located in the city.
[edit] Government
Like other cities in the Philippines, Quezon City is governed by a mayor and vice mayor elected to three-year terms. The mayor is the executive head and leads the city's departments in executing the city ordinances and improving public services. The vice mayor heads a legislative council consisting of 10 members. The council is in charge of creating the city's policies.
Quezon City, being a part of the Metro Manila region, has its mayor in the Metro Manila Council headed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). This council formulates development plans that seeks to solve the problems and improve the conditions in the metropolis.
Quezon City is divided into 142 barangays (the smallest local government units) which handle governance in a much smaller area. These barangays are grouped into four congressional districts where each district is represented by a congressman in the country's House of Representatives.
- See also: Barangays of Quezon City
[edit] History
Before Quezon City was created, it was composed of small towns. These were San Francisco del Monte, Novaliches, and Balintawak. In August 23, 1896, the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio declared a revolution against Spain in the house of Melchora Aquino in Pugad Lawin (now known as Bahay Toro, Project 8).
In the early 1900s, President Manuel L. Quezon dreamt of a city that would become the future capital of the country, replacing Manila. In 1938, President Quezon created People's Homesite Corporation and purchased 15.29 km² from the vast Diliman estate of the Tuason family. The National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth passed Commonwealth Act 502 known as the “Charter of Quezon City” originally proposed as Balintawak City, Assemblymen Narciso Ramos (father of President Fidel V. Ramos) and Ramon Mitra, Sr. (father of Speaker Ramon Mitra, Jr.) successfully lobbied the assembly to name the city after the incumbent president. President Quezon allowed the bill to lapse into law without his signature on October 12, 1939, thus establishing Quezon City.
After the war, Republic Act No. 333 was signed by Elpidio Quirino on July 17, 1948 declaring Quezon City to be the republic's capital. On June 16, 1950, the City Charter was revised by Republic Act No. 537, extending the city's boundaries to its present area of 153.59 km². Baesa, Talipapa, San Bartolome, Pasong Tamo, Novaliches Poblacion, Banlat, Kabuyao, Pugad Lawin, Bagbag, Pasong Putik of the old Novaliches municipality ceded to Quezon City. The rest of the municipality was ceded to Caloocan thus becoming North Caloocan.
In October 1, 1975, Quezon City was the actual site of the "Thrilla in Manila" fight between Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier.
On November 7, 1975 the promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 824 of President Ferdinand Marcos established Metro Manila. Quezon City became one of Metro Manila's 17 cities and municipalities. The next year, Presidential Decree No. 940 transferred the capital back to Manila on June 24, 1976.
On March 31, 1978, President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the transfer of the remains of President Manuel Quezon from the Manila North Cemetery to the erected Quezon Memorial Monument within the Quezon Elliptical Road.
On February 22, 1986, the Quezon City portion of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue became the venue of the bloodless People Power Revolution.
On February 23, 1998, Republic Act. No. 8535 was signed by President Fidel Ramos. The Act provided for the creation of the City of Novaliches comprising the 15 northernmost barangays of Quezon City. However, in the succeeding plebiscite on October 23, 1999, an overwhelming majority of Quezon City residents rejected the secession of Novaliches.
Quezon City is the first local government in the Philippines with a computerized real estate assessment and payment system. The City government developed a database system that now contains around 400,000 property units with capability to record payments.
[edit] Mayors
President Manuel L. Quezon acted as mayor from October 12 to November 4, 1939, pending the resignation from another position of his intended appointee, Tomas B. Morato. Since a president can, under Philippine law, hold multiple portfolios inferior to the position of president, Quezon took the position of mayor in a concurrent capacity. However, it is erroneous to view him as the first mayor, as a president holding a concurrent, lower, position is not listed in the roster of incumbents for those offices.
| Mayor | Starting Date | Ending Date | Vice-Mayor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomas B. Morato | Nov 5, 1939 | Dec 1942 | unknown |
| Ponciano A. Bernardo | Jan 1, 1947 | April 29, 1949 | |
| Nicanor A. Roxas | May 4, 1949 | Jan 6, 1950 | |
| Ignacio Santos Diaz | Jan 6, 1950 | Dec 30, 1953 | |
| Norberto S. Amoranto | Jan 1, 1954 | Mar 31, 1976 | |
| Adelina S. Rodriguez | Apr 1, 1976 | Apr 13, 1986 | Ismael A. Mathay Jr. |
| Brigido R. Simon, Jr. | Apr 20, 1986 | June 30, 1992 | Vicente Sotto III (1988-92) |
| Ismael A. Mathay, Jr. | June 30, 1992 | June 30, 2001 | Charito Planas (1992-95) |
| Herbert Bautista (1995-98) | |||
| Connie Angeles (1998-2001) | |||
| Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. | June 30, 2001 | present | Herbert Bautista (2001-present) |
[edit] Sister cities
New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Chiba City, Japan
Taipei, Taiwan
Daly City, California, USA- Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
General Santos City, Philippines
Caracas, Venezuela
[edit] External links
- Quezon City Official Government Website
- Unofficial website of Quezon City
- Quezon City, the largest city in terms of population
[edit] References
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