9 reasons why you should visit the QCX Museum
In celebration of Quezon City Day, make a pitstop at QCX Museum, a newly-opened interactive museum and the first of its kind in Quezon City.
In celebration of Quezon City Day, make a pitstop at QCX Museum, a newly-opened interactive museum and the first of its kind in Quezon City.
If you’re expecting a gallery filled with endless paragraphs and long footnotes, you’re in for a delightful surprise. The QCX Museum likes to tell a story not with words, but with audience interaction. The Quezon City Experience, also called the QCX Museum, has galleries designed to help you familiarize yourself with the city on an interactive level. You can soak up history at Manuel L. Quezon’s office, pull out cyber postcards, hear Pinoy jeepney tunes, play trivia games, and pose for a virtual photobooth. Here’s more of what the Quezon City Experience has to offer:
You’ll imagine the 360 degree view of the city
The most notable landmark of Quezon City is the Quezon Memorial Shrine, the three-pronged structure with angels perched on top of each side. It’s that majestic structure viewable from the Elliptical Road where highways from Commonwealth, North Avenue, Visayas Avenue, East Avenue, and Quezon Avenue converge.
Drawn on the walls around the first gallery are landmarks seen at vantage point. Seen here are Iglesia ni Cristo’s Templo Central, the Big Dome, the oblation sculpture of University of the Philippines, the Mabuhay Rotonda, and more!
...and find what’s up with the tripod-looking design
The Quezon Memorial Shrine stands 66-meters high, the age when President Manuel L. Quezon died of tuberculosis. No two angels are also the same, as each represents the three main islands of the Philippines. How do you tell them apart?
Luzon wears a Balintawak dress characterized by bell-shaped sleeves. Visayas wears a cross-pendant to symbolize the birthplace of Catholicism. Meanwhile, Mindanao is clad in malong, typically worn in the region and by Muslims.
You’ll theorize about the Babae sa Balete Drive
The “Babae sa Balete Drive” is a horror story that gained popularity in the 1950s about a white lady lurking at Balete Drive in New Manila. Our QCX Museum tour guide relates us two stories as we passed by the War Gallery—one more interesting than the other:
The first theory is that it was about a hit-and-run victim who died beneath the tree. This white lady is now held responsible for car accidents by nightfall and ghastly apparitions inside taxi cabs. The second story was that “Babae sa Balete Drive” was merely a made-up tale by a journalist looking for a headline. Which tale do you believe?
...and sing Mike Hanopol’s song, ‘Laki Sa Layaw’ to a new tune
In Mike Hanopol’s song entitled “Laki Sa Layaw,” “jeproks” is actually a slang term for “projects!” Those refer to the housing programs developed in Quezon City we now know as Projects 1-8.
Laki Sa Layaw narrates an easygoing and vice-ridden lifestyle, as it was common among middle-class hippies living within the housing projects. In this gallery, QCX Museum recreates a stereotypical Filipino home. It’s complete with large beaded rosaries, a Last Supper painting, and giant wooden spoon and forks!
You’ll discover your barangay’s origin stories at the QCX Museum
Quezon City is bordered by the riverbanks of Marikina, the cityscapes of Pasig, and the markets of Manila. Each barangay in this city also holds an interesting back story.
Brgy. Teachers Village, now known for the Maginhawa eat street, was a housing project for Manila public school teachers. Brgy. Paligsahan was named so because of the tournaments held in the Amoranto Sports Complex. Krus na Ligas’ name came from a poison ivy tree (ligas) that’s shaped like a cross. The latter is actually the oldest barangay in the city!
...and stroll along a typical QC street
Did you know the origin of the word jeepney? According to the QCX Museum, the Jeep was the military vehicle from the World War. The
-ney literally stands for “knee.” Since jeeps are heavily packed, you’ll be rubbing knees with the other passengers! This unique public transportation is ubiquitous not just in QC, but in the entire country!
Another gallery depicts a typical street scene in QC. The hallway is livened up with ice cream carts, sarisari stores, newsstands, wayside barber shops, and karinderias. You’d think you’re in a Home along da
Riles set. Don’t forget to check out what’s cooking in the fish ball stand!
Time-travel to the glory days of Philippine Cinema
Why is Quezon City called the City of the Stars? One thing’s for sure, it’s not about astrological mysteries!
The country’s major networks are stationed in the city. This makes it very common to encounter A-list “stars” inside studios, malls, and restaurants in the area. As such, an entertainment gallery in the QCX Museum is dedicated to a throwback to the glory days of Philippine Cinema.
Together with old-school weather forecasting, black and white films, and showbiz posters are items donated by celebrities. The Comedy King Dolphy’s Famas Awards trophies and the Master Showman Kuya Germs’ suits are displayed here.
…and you’ll watch a President’s dreams come true
From a nameless rock to a seat of power, the museum portrayed Quezon’s own “I Had a Dream” reverie.
In the Quezon on a Hill gallery, you can sit on a rock overlooking the imagined terrains of QC. This is where the young President once sat to rest, as he imagined urban developments in the vast and empty area. Quezon had actually dreamt for the city to be the Philippines’ capital. No wonder lots of government buildings and public schools and hospitals were built here! The adjacent gallery, Malacañan, is a dramatic representation of how he made things happen as President. You can now sit at his throne, a replica of his office in Malacañan, and find the map of roads now built in the city. You’ll also get to know what being the first President to stay in the Palace feels like!
It’s #RealTalk with the non-Utopian approach
Even though the 15-gallery museum glorifies the unique heritage of Quezon City, it also reveals the real struggles that the city faces. With art, no less.
Education is symbolized as a can of sardines, primarily because of the overcapacity of classrooms. Healthcare is rendered as a burnt seat because of the long waiting times to get a doctor’s appointment. Poverty alleviation is as a haphazard wooden ladder, as many would fall on the wayside before making it to the top. Housing was a cluster of boxes containing individual tools, as substandard materials are often used for construction. Lastly, environment is represented by a rotting tree, as humans pollute the air, land, and the sea.
The QCX is at the Quezon Memorial Circle, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Sundays. Regular rates are at R100 for QC residents with valid IDs and R150 for non-QC residents.