By Lauren V. Macaraeg (March 30, 2020)
Let’s #MaximizeQMC! I’m glad Quezon Memorial Circle is finally starting to be used as a shelter for homeless & stranded Filipinos as our nation battles COVID-19. It’s a start but there’s so much more that our government can do to maximize this extremely spacious park so I’d like to make suggestions about potential sections in QMC that can be utilized by the LGU this 2020. As far as I know, only the covered courts are currently being used as a shelter for a few homeless families that were formerly housed by the good-hearted Popburri folks. I also read a few articles that there are isolation tents for COVID-19 PUIs and PUMs in QMC but I can’t find much information on the news so I don’t know where exactly these tents are. Here are other potential areas in QMC that can be repurposed for the public good ngayong Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), just in case they haven’t been used yet:
1) Liwasang Aurora – Open space around the dancing fountain plus one large stage and one small stage. The Quezon City government can use the open space to put up large tents or prefab structures to accommodate more people who need shelter (I’ve seen some event organizers put up several tents in the past at kasyang-kasya naman). The large stage can also be used to shelter several families. Even the small stage can be used to accommodate a few people, though not during rainy season (kasi mababasa ka pa rin. Na-try ko na sumilong nung umuulan lol). The challenge will be to provide restrooms for everyone because there are only a few restrooms nearby. Pero pwede naman magdagdag ng portable toilets if ever.
2) People’s Hall – A small function hall with a roof and no walls that was used for exercise sessions and social events. While it’s not that big, it can easily be used as shelter for several people kasi may bubong na siya. Bonus: there are two restrooms in the People’s Hall area.
3) Plant/Tiangge Area near the Main Entrance – Open space that was occasionally used for tiangge stalls and regularly as plant stalls. Since it is near the main entrance, perhaps it can be used as another soup kitchen area by the LGU. Less privileged people who need food, but are not necessarily homeless, can be provided food in the entrance area, without having to give them access to the inner portions of the park.
4) Row of Food Stalls, Carinderias & Sari-sari Stores (near the playground/public gym) – I suppose they’re closed now since the park is closed to the public. But if the LGU is planning to open another soup kitchen, not just for those who are temporarily living in the park, but also for others who need food too, perhaps you can ask the small business owners if they are willing to cook for the new soup kitchen. It’s like giving life to two birds with one piece of bird food: Hungry Pinoys from QC will be fed and small business owners will have a source of income again.
5) Fresh Market Area (near Quezon Memorial Shrine/Monument) – Small open space. It was formerly used as the venue for the Fresh Market, a weekend market where we could directly buy vegetables and fruits from local farmers, for the past few months, and recently, also for the Veggie Drop Off and Rice Pinas project (ang dami naming bumili doon this March para suportahan ang farmers… tapos biglang nag-lockdown. Hay). Perhaps this section can be used as an area for food storage or donation drop-offs.
6) Flower Garden (near Quezon Memorial Shrine/Monument) – It’s a garden. With flowers. Chos. Haha. Anyway, the open space can be used to put up small tents as a rest area or office for volunteers or LGU workers.
7) Tropical Garden (near Quezon Memorial Shrine/Monument) – This garden with a pond is actually surprisingly large, but since the terrain is highly uneven, it’s not exactly suitable to put up tents or prefab structures, It can be used as an exercise or meditation area for both the refugees and the workers. Malaki ito kaya puwede ang social distancing…
8) Planas Garden (near Main Entrance) – A small enclosed garden. Perhaps it can be repurposed as a first aid clinic or a meeting place.
9) Outdoor Gym/Playground/Picnic Area – This could be used as a dining area since there are already built-in tables and benches. More tables and chairs can be added too.
10) Etc./Atbp. – I’m sure marami pang ibang areas that are potentially useful pero di ko na iisa-isahin. Pero wag na natin isali ang Rock Garden kasi nga puro… rocks. Lol.
Also, I have a clarification: As I said earlier, I read some articles that Quezon Memorial Circle is also being used as an isolation place for COVID-19 PUIs and PUMs, though I’m not sure which parts. I’m not a medical expert so I have a question for those who are: Is it safe to put both stranded folks/street dwellers and PUIs/potential patients in the same area, even if QMC is admittedly very big? Inputs from more knowledgeable people will be appreciated. Baka pwedeng i-consider na gamitin din yung other park, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, as another shelter venue later on if the numbers of temporary residents will increase?
I’m not a politician or a professional who plans public projects so please feel free to improve on my suggestions or to correct me if I get any of my facts wrong. I’m just a Quezon City resident who loves Circle kaya nanghihinayang ako sa potential nito. These are just thoughts by a private citizen. I just need to express my ideas kasi ilang gabi ko nang naiisip yung Circle pag nahihirapan ako matulog.
QMC is special to me because it has been instrumental to my mental health healing during the past few years. While I miss Circle a lot now that I can’t go there to exercise or Zumba or dance or pray or uminom ng buko or milk tea (sa sobrang pagka-miss ko, napanaginipan ko pa ngayong lockdown hehe), I hope and pray that other people who need it more will experience it as a welcome haven too.
I’m thankful that Quezon Memorial Circle is finally starting to be used for the public good during this corona virus crisis. I also hope and pray that it will be maximized for the good of Quezon City residents and Filipinos.
To our fellow Quezon City residents, let’s all do what we can, big or small, to help for the sake of our city and the Philippines. And let’s pray hard na God will help us all to survive this kasi ang tindi nito.
To our Quezon City local government, please, please do your best to make the most out of QMC. It will be a big help for those who can’t help themselves, especially now that they need help the most. Kailangan nila, at naming lahat, ng tulong niyo sa panahong ito.
I’m sure President Manuel Quezon, who himself died from tuberculosis, would love to have the park named after him be maximized and utilized to protect other Filipinos from dying from sickness too. 🌳🌞🇵🇭🙏⛑️❤️
#MaximizeQMC by #LaurenVMacaraeg (March 30, 2020)
#PrayForQuezonCity #QMC #Philippines #COVID19
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Blog Post Title: MAXIMIZEQMC QUEZON MEMORIAL CIRCLE SUGGESTIONS FOR COVID-19 CRISIS 2020
Written by: Lauren V. Macaraeg ✏️
Date Posted: March 30, 2020
Photo by: Lauren V. Macaraeg 📸
Photo Date: This photo is from March 8, 2020, the last time I went to QMC before the lockdown, though I had no idea na last na pala yun. Kung alam ko lang, sana nagtagal ako sa QMC para nakapagpaalam sa favorite place ko. Pero I’ll see you again someday, Circle! 💖
