Quezon City rolls out plans for ‘Future Perfect’ diamond jubilee celebration

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City, a dynamic city for business, entertainment, culture, wellness, and education, has much to celebrate as it is now a vibrant and progressive metropolis that nurtures the environment and dreams of its citizens.

A milestone event that aims to mobilize active participation and partnerships among all Quezon City residents is about to take place, as the city moves towards becoming a “premier global city.”

The Quezon City government has conceptualized the biggest and grandest string of major initiatives for its 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration from Oct. 11 to 12.

In his keynote address during the recent stakeholders’ meeting held at the UP Technohub in Quezon City, Mayor Herbert M. Bautista shared this grand master plan as he called on the business sector, the academic community, the media, representatives of various sectors and barangays to support the city government’s plan of a yearlong celebration.

“As the birthplace of many important events, endeavors and revolutions that shaped the nation’s historical and economic history, Quezon City is indeed a bastion of continued innovation,” said Mayor Bautista. “The 75th-year celebration of cityhood gives us the perfect opportunity to show off what Quezon City has to offer. Thus we came up with a master plan that commemorates its rich past, as well as welcomes its progressive future, which we all excitedly look forward to.

“To make this happen, the city needs the support and pioneering efforts of countless volunteers, community partners, private sectors, and citizens to work together with the city government to be able to create this vision a reality for all,” he continued.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM AT ITS FINEST

According to Tadeo Palma, secretary to the mayor, who is also the overall chairman of the 75th Year Diamond Jubilee Commission, part of the proposed grand 75th yearlong cityhood celebration will include monthly as well as simultaneous commencement of event festivities that will then lead to the culmination in October 2015. One of the first events to mark the Jubilee year is the search for Miss Quezon City, which will begin in May.

“Our general theme is summed up perfectly in two words: ‘participatory’ and ‘partnership,’” Palma said. “We are inspired by one common goal, and we need all the support that we can get from everyone to make this happen. It’s not all revelry, but a grand coalition of mutual minds and hearts.”

FREE MEDICAL SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE, ART & LEGACY PROJECTS

For her part, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said the entire Quezon City community — composed of 142 barangays, 24 areas, and six districts — will be engaged in the development and execution of the citywide efforts. 

This participation, she added, will include creating ideas that will complement or incorporate the celebration of cityhood into their projects.

Some of these potential projects include scholastic conferences for the academic community, public health clinics, medical missions and colorful food and cultural events like the La Loma Lechon Festival and the Grand Diamond Salubong.

“All these plans, initially created for the 70th anniversary of the city, were set aside as at that time Quezon City had to allocate for rehabilitation efforts after the Typhoon Ondoy onslaught,” Belmonte said. “Hopefully, this year, we can see the fruition of all these efforts.  We are so excited commemorating the future now, and that is by preserving the past. The jubilee will kick off permanent legacy markers such as the reconstruction of the late President Manuel L. Quezon’s Heritage House within the Quezon City Memorial Circle, as well as the launch of the City with a Soul history book in June, and the release of a non-denominational anniversary commemorative coin by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.”

“There is so much to celebrate, so much in store for everyone,” Bautista added. “Being part of and taking part in this special endeavor is itself an opportunity to demonstrate our pride as we help make the City set its desired course of progressive development.”