The Quezon City barangays of Kamuning, Laging Handa, Paligsahan, Obrero, Roxas, and Sacred Heart started as a housing project of President Manuel Luis Molina Quezón (1878-1944) in the 1930s, to build a new capital city of the Philippines, called Balíntawak City (now Quezon City). Quezon’s People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation (PHHC) first purchased 1,529 hectares of Diliman Estate, from the Tuason clan, through the matriarch Doña Maria Teresa Eriberta De La Paz Tuason (1867-1951), as mitigated by her nephew Angel “Bobby” M. Tuason Valdez (1899-1948); and developed the Homesite’s Project 1 called Barrio Obrero (Worker’s Village), in 1939, as a housing area for blue collared workers and government employees.
However, Quezon’s housing projects were not the first development in the new city, as Catholic orders were establishing their convents and seminaries in the nearby areas. Among the first to be constructed were the 1926 Discalced Carmelites’ Carmel of Thérèse of Lisieux along Gilmore Avenue, the 1931 Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres Novitiate and Provincial House (now Saint Paul University Quezon City, or SPUQC) on the Marikina-Infanta Highway (now Aurora Boulevard), the 1932 Franciscan Sororum Franscicalium Immaculada Conceptione De Mater Dei’s (Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, SFIC) St. Joseph’s Academy and Convent (now St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City, or SJCQC), and the 1933 Society of the Divine Word’s (SVD) Christ the King Mission Seminary along the España Extension (now E. Rodriguez Sr. Boulevard). This area was first part of the Municipal of San Juan del Monte, and would be later known as the posh residential “Hacienda Magdalena” (now New Manila) of Doña Magdalena Hashim Ysmael-Hemady (1877-1955). President Quezon would move into the New Manila district, on Gilmore Avenue, to be close to the nearby Santol Sanitarium (now the Quezon Institute), to treat his tuberculosis.
The Homesite Project 1 has three major roads constructed in 1940: Kamuning Road, Sampaloc Avenue, and South Market Street. Kamuning Road is named after the Orange Jasmine Tree (Murraya Paniculata), The street spans 1.4 kilometers from its eastern intersection with Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA for short), to its terminus in the west. The Kamuning Road also used to have a cinema, the Mylen theater, which is now People of Grace Christian School in front of the Kamuning Police Station.
Kamuning Road’s western terminus connects with Sampaloc Avenue, which was named after the Tamarind Trees (Tamarindus indica) that grew abundantly along the sides of the street. Sampaloc Avenue stretched for 1.7 kilometers from the España Boulevard Extension in the south to the Eugenio Lopez Sr. Street in the north. In 1966, the road was later renamed as the Tomas Morato Avenue, after the first mayor of Quezon City, Mayor Tomás Eduardo Bernabéu Morató (1887-1965).
The 1.9 kilometer South Market Street spans from Sampaloc Avenue in the east, and stretches to the Quezon Boulevard Extension (now Quezon Avenue). Later, the road was renamed after the newspaper publisher, Don Alejandro Gonzalez Roces, Sr. (1875-1943), who was the general manager of the Homesite program. Before its renaming, the road was the site of the area’s first public market and police station from 1939 to 1942, which is now the current location of the Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology High School (DARRSTHS).
Most of the main roads of the barangays of Laging Handa, Paligsahan, Obrero, Roxas, and Sacred Heart are named after the 24 members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), who perished in a plane crash in 1963. The 20 boys and their 4 supervisors when on board an A. de Havilland DH.106 Comet, of United Arab Airlines Flight 869, to participate in the August 11th World Scout Jamboree, in Marathon, Greece. During the flight, the plane experienced turbulence and crashed into the Indian Ocean on July 28, killing everyone on board. This was the worse scouting tragedy to date, and sent shock waves throughout the world. In 1964, the streets of Project 1 were named after the BSP contingent; and Barrio Roxas was divided into two, with the eastern side named Laging Handa (Always Ready), after the BSP motto. In 1965, a monument to the BSP was erected in the center rotunda of Sampaloc Avenue, Timog Avenue (South) and West Avenue; which was sculpted by Florante “Boy” Beltran Caedo (1939-2004). And in 2008, an obelisk was added atop the Scout Memorial, with a statue of Mayor Morato at the top.
In 2019, a monument to Don Alejandro was erected in a rotunda close to the west terminus of Rocess Avenue and intersection of Mother Ignacia Avenue. The sculpture was created by José Dionas “Jonas” Funtilar Roces (born 1975).
The Roces monument occupied the former Rotary International District 3780 Plaza, which featured a bust of Alejandro Roces, Sr. The park was erected between 20014 and 2015, as part of the Rotarian’s beautification projects of the city.
Close to the corner of Kamuning Road and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA for short) is the Bernardo Park, which is named after Ponciano A. Bernardo (1905-1949), the 2nd mayor of Quezon City. Mayor Bernardo had the park built as part of the second city hall, also built in the area. However, from 1939 to 1946, the area of the Bernardo Park was the market for the residents of Barrio Obrero.
Beside the park is the Quezon City Library and Information Center Cubao Branch, which is part of the Lions Clubs International Quezon City chapter, which was completed in 1948, at the same time as the park. In front of the library is the Quezon City Jail, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Kamuning Police Station 10 of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), and the Junior Chamber International (JCI or Jaycees, est. in the Philippines in 1947) building.
A few meters from Bernardo Park is the Marcelo H. Del Pilar Elementary School, which was established in 1964 as K-D Elementary School. The school was renamed in 1966, in honor of the propagandist, Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán (1850-1896), who wrote against the injustices of the Spanish colonial government (1565-1898).
There are other public schools in the area, such as Kamuning Elementary School, on Eagle Scout Antonio Rios Torillo Street; which was completed in 1939 as part of the opening of Barrio Obrero. On the corner of Teodoro E. Gener and Vice-Mayor Luis Sianghio streets is the Tomas Morato Elementary School, which opened in 1941 K-C Annex of the Kamuning Elementary School. Behind the Kamuning Elementary School at the corner of First Class Scout Victór Oteyza de Guia, Jr. and First Class Scout Rogelio Celis Ybardolaza streets is the 1947 Quezon City High School; which is the first secondary public school in Quezon City. And along Roces Avenue is the Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology High School (DARRSTHS), which opened in 1951 after the family of Don Alejandro donated the land to build the school as the Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Annex. Another specialized public school is the Eugenio Lopez Jr. Center for Media Arts Senior High School on Scout Torillo Street; which was developed by the family of media mogul Eugenio “Geny” Moreno López Jr. (1928-1999) to render professional classes on journalism, production, and film.
The General Roxas Elementary School (est. 1949) on Jasmin Street and the Manuel Roxas High School (est. as the Quezon City High School Annex, 1957) on Senior Scout Pathfinder Henry Cabrera Chuatoco Street are part of the Roxas District; which is named after President Manuel Acuña Roxas (1892-1948), who had continued Quezon’s Homesite program and expanded the area of Project 1. With the sudden death of Roxas, the presidency was taken over by his then-vice president, Elpidio Rivera Quirino (1890-1956), who would continue Quezon and Roxas’ housing legacies, by building the Homesite Projects 2, Project 3, and Project 4.
There are several Christian and secular private schools in the area. For the Christian schools, there is the Kamuning Bible Christian Fellowship’s Kinder Care (est. 1975) on 11th Jamboree Street, the Evangelical Asia Graduate School of Theology (est. 1984) and the Asian Theological Seminary on Senior Scout Pathfinder Paulo Cabrera Madriñán Street, the People of Grace Fellowship’s People of Grace Christian School (est. 1984) on Kamuning Road, the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei’s Parents for Education Foundation (PAREF) Rosefield School (est. 1990) on First Class Scout Felix Palma Fuentebella, Jr. and the Northfield School for Boys (est. 1994) on the corner of First Class Scout Pedro Hermano Gandia, Jr. and Eagle Scout Antonio Rios Torillo streets, the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community’s Cradle of Joy Catholic Progressive School (est. 1997) 11th Jamboree Street, and the Bread of Life Ministries International’s Meridian International Learning Experience (est. 2002) on Mother Ignacia Avenue. The only non-Christian religious school in the area is the Buddhist Soka Garden Learning School on Life Scout José Antonio Chuidian Delgado, Jr. Street.
For the secular private schools, there are the Piagetian Guided Educational Center (est. 1983) on Senior Scout Pathfinder Filamér Santos Reyes Street, the CIIT Philippines – College of Arts and Technology (est. 2007 as the Cosmopoint International Institute of Technology) on Kamuning Road, the TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) credited Academy of Elegance, Performing and Social Arts on Kamuning Road, the Children’s Little University at the corner of Samar Avenue and Eugenio Lopez Drive, the Kinderfield Learning Center on First Class Scout Pedro Hermano Gandia, Jr. Street, the Teaching Children Through Personalized Interventions (TCPI) on First Class Scout Felix Palma Fuentebella, Jr. Street, and the THERASERVE Children’s Assessment, Early Intervention and Therapy Center on K-2nd Street.
The only Catholic school in the area is Saint Mary’s College of Quezon City, at the corner of Mother Ignacia Avenue and Senior Scout Pathfinder Filamér Santos Reyes Street. Established in 1950, the school traces its roots to the boarding girls school Beaterio dela Compania de Jesus (est. 1725) of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM, La Cofradía de Hermanas de Religiosa de la Virgen María), in Intramuros, Manila. The RVM was founded in 1684, by the Filipina-Chinese Ignacia del Espíritu Santo Juco (1663-1748), who is best known as Mother Ignacia; hence the name of the road the school is located.
Aside from Christian schools, there are also many Christian institutions in the area. The oldest of these is the Kamuning First Methodist Church, which was founded on Kamuning Road in 1941, as the Kamuning Fellowship, and First Methodist Church of Kamuning in 1943. There are also the Philippine Campus Crusade for Christ Center for Evangelism and Discipleship (est. 1965) on Air Scout Observer Gabriél Nicolás Borromeo Street, the Alliance of Bible Christian Communities (est. 1972) on Star Scout Romeo Rafaél Rallos Street, the Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon (est. 1975) on Star Scout Ascario Ampíl Tuason, Jr. Street, the Ligaya ng Panginoon’s Christ’s Youth in Action Foundation (est. 1975) on Roces Avenue, the Norwegian Mission Alliance Philippines (est. 1976) on Mother Ignacia Avenue, the Metro Manila Church of Christ (est. 1970s, Metro Manila Church of Christ) on Samar Avenue, the Bread of Life Ministries International (est. 1983) on Mother Ignacia Avenue, the Higher Rock Christian Church (est. 1996) on Timog Avenue, the Christian Stewardship Association (est. 2000) on Senior Scout Pathfinder Paulo Cabrera Madriñán Street, the Christlife Assemblies on First Class Scout Rogelio Celis Ybardolaza Street, the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints on Panay Avenue, the Church of World Messianity Philippines (est. 1935, in Japan) on Scout Borromeo Street, the His Life City Church Quezon City on Panay Avenue, the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on K-5th Street, the Catholic Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato and of the Sorrowful Mother Retreat House on First Class Scout José Fermín Gonzales Magbanua Street, the Servant of the Word on First Class Scout Benecio Suarez Tobias Street, the Trinity Lutheran Church at the Kamuning Road and EDSA, the Triumphant Generation Church on Senior Scout Pathfinder Henry Cabrera Chuatoco Street, and the Word of Grace Christian Fellowship at the corner of 11th Jamboree and Scout Rallos streets.
Aside from Christian institutions, there are also religious/spiritual organizations of other faiths, such as the Brahma Kumaris Lotus Center (est. 1985) at the corner of Teodoro E. Gener Street and Kamuning Road, the Islamic Botanical Mosque Jamah Association on Cadena De Amor Street, and the Hare Krishna’s International Sri Krishna Mandir Philippines on First Class Scout Roberto Corpus Castór Street.
The Kamuning First Methodist Church was established two years after the completion of Barrio Obrero in 1939. For the Catholic residents, first went to the Society of the Divine Word’s (SVD) Christ the King Mission Seminary along the España Extension. The first mass was held on Christmas day 1940 on K-A Street (now Vice-Mayor Luis Sianghio Street), by Fr. Koodring of the SDV. And in 1941, the SVD priests opened a chapel on a lot between now-Scouts Ybardolaza, Fernandez and Fuentebella streets, and named the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, designed by Arch. Arturo M. Mañalac (1915-1990).
The two other Catholic churches in the area are the Holy Family Parish and the Saint Paul: The Apostle Parish Church. The Holy Family Parish started as a makeshift chapel inside the General Roxas Elementary School, and was later established as a parish on the nearby Lilac Street, in 1953. The Saint Paul: The Apostle Parish Church started with local residents holding masses in the chapel of the St. Mary’s College; and when a chapel was moved and declared as parish in 1978, the administrations of the sacraments was managed by the SDV priests, then the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC, Missionarii Sacratissimi Cordis) from the nearby MSC Mother Superior House (est. 1917), on Gilmore Avenue, in New Manila. The current church was completed in 1986.
The most eye-catching Catholic institutional structures in the area is the Dominican Sisters of the Regina Rosarii provincial house, located along Assistant Scoutmaster Librado L. S. Fernandez Street. Atop the provincial house is a 6 meter (20 ft.) tall statue of Regina Rosarii (Our Lady: Queen of the Rosary) by Jose “Joe” Barcena Jr. Established in 2005 by Sister Mary Epifania F. Brasil, who broke off from the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary, and founded the new Dominican order in nearby Scout Santiago Street, before moving to its new home in the same year. In 2009, they established the Regina RICA Institute for Contemplation, in the Municipality of Tanay; with a 21.6 meter (71 feet) stature of Regina Rosarii in the property.
Although the Project 1 area is primarily a residential neighborhood, many business establishments have cropped up. Tomas Morato Avenue, along with Timog and Quezon avenues, have become the business and entertainment district of Quezon City. The oldest surviving business establishment is the Kamuning Bakery, which was opened in 1939 at the corner Judge Damian L. Jiménez and K-1st streets. Don Alejandro Roces invited the husband and wife, Miguel and Jovita Bonifacio, owners of Los Baños Bakery in Manila, to set up shop in Quezon City. So in 1939, their daughter, Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier and her husband, Marcelo Javier Sr., opened the Kamuning Bakery. In 2013, the Kamuning Bakery was purchased by the journalist and businessman, Wilson Lee Flores, who continues to promote the heritage of the establishment. The Kamuning Bakery has been celebrating World Pandesal Day since 2015, by giving free pandesal bread every October 16.
Tomas Morato Avenue, and its outlying streets, is the current foodie capital of Quezon City, with new restaurants opening up every year. Some of the restaurants with the oldest histories can be found on the said road, such as the Alba Restaurante Español at the corner of Rover Scout Roberto del Prado Lozano Street, and was established in Manila as the Alba Cocina Española, on 1954, by the Spaniard Anastacio B. de Alba (1927-2016). Another Spanish found restaurant is the Dulcinea Restaurant at the corner of First Class Scout Antonio Mariano Limbaga Street, which was opened in Manila in 1963 as the Dulcinea Pasterleria y salon de Te, by Santos Ruano. On Roces Avenue is Lydia’s Lechon that started as a small lechon stand in Pasay City by Mrs. Lydia and Benigno de Roca in 1965, which they would start into a restaurant business by 1986 in Manila. Next is the Mario’s Restaurant at the corner of First Class Scout Pedro Hermano Gandia, Jr. Street, which opened in Baguio City in 1971 by Mario and Nenuca Benitez, before the launched the Quezon City branch in 1974. And at the corner of Scoutmaster Bonifacio Vitan Lazcano, M.D. Street is the Alfredo’s Steak House, which started by Alfredo Araneta in 1968, before transferring it to its present location in 1973.
The oldest of all restaurants in the area is the Max’s Restaurant along Star Scout Ascario Ampíl Tuason, Jr. Street. Opening in 1945 as Max’s Bar and Café at the ground floor of his home, founder Maximo F. Gimenez (born 1901) started his restaurant when he would regularly invite for meals the American GIs for the nearby JUSMAG camp (Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group). When the GIs insisted of paying for their meals, Gimenez decided to open the restaurant. The Max’s restaurant started to franchise its business in 1988, with its classic fried chicken recipe, which was conceived by Gimenez’s niece, Ruby S. Trota; thus using the tagline of “The House that Fried Chicken Built.”
There are other many of the old restaurants in the area started in the area; and by the 2000s the new entrepreneurs started repurposing the old post-war homes into business establishments. However, the first to repurpose a house is the Annabel’s Restaurant on the corner of Scout Delgado, which opened in the 1980s. By the 2000s, the first to do this was the fashion designer, Toby Albrando, who renovated a 1950s home on Kamuning Road into the Seventy Seven Bar & Café, which opened in 2004, along with Albrando’s boutique. Another repurposed home is the Kaida Art Contemporary Gallery, which opened on Senior Scout Pathfinder Paulo Cabrera Madriñán Street in 2006. And in 2017, the Roice’s Restaurant + G (now Delgado 112) opened in what was my ancestral home, on Scout Delgado Street.
Aside from restaurants, there are many commercial establishments and business offices throughout the area. From fashion boutiques to knick-knack stores, groceries to drug store, there are many things to purchase on a simple stroll along Tomas Morato Avenue. One interesting shop is the Popular Bookstore which opened in 2001, but has its roots in Manila when Joaquin Sr. and Flordeliza Po opened his first shop along Doroteo Jose Street in Manila, in 1946.
However, one of the oldest stores in the area is connected with Project 1’s post-war reconstruction. The Kamuning Swap Meet is started with the many garage sales for residents to barter or sell old family heirlooms to add more money to their budgets, or to replace the ones that were damaged by the war or by time. By the 1970s, several thrift stores opened along the road, and would hold monthly swap meets. This would lead to the establishment of the Kamuning Swap Meet, with several stores within the building. Aside from the Swap Meet at the corner of K-D Street and Kamuning Road, there are also some antique shops along Tomas Morato Avenue.
Another business that deals with heirlooms and antiques is Alfred Motor Works at the corner of 11th Jamboree and Kamuning Road, which specializes in the restoration of classic cars. Established by Alfred Perez in 1993, the biggest project that company has had was to restore the 16 vehicles of the thirteen presidents for the Presidential Automobile Museum, which opened in the Quezon Memorial Circle in 2017.
Barrio Kamuning was part of Barrio Obrero, but decided to change the name by 1941 because they were not laborers, but government employees. To develop their community, the residents first set out to erect their parish, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, in which the first mass was held in a makeshift chapel, on an empty lot along the now- Vice-Mayor Luis Sianghio Street, before moving the church to its present site. On the location of the first mass, the residents would build what is now the Kamuning Public Market. These days, the Kamuning Public Market is not just known for the typical wet and dry goods, but also offers many stalls that sell native products and fabrics, as well as several tailoring shops to have clothes made from the textiles purchased at the market.
The next major landmark on Kamuning Road is the Jesus C. Delgado Memorial Hospital (JCDMH), which established as a small clinic by Dr. Jesus Concepción Delgado Jr. in 1948. Dr. Delgado came from a prominent political clan, but decided to pursue the field of medicine, as inspired by his father, a doctor turned diplomat, Dr. José María Salcedo Delgado (1887-1978). Dr. Delgado specialized pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology; and when the Delgado Clinic expanded into a hospital, it was renamed the Delgado Maternity and Children’s Hospital, then later changed again to its present name after the death of the founder in 1988. Other medical facilities in the area are the Capitol Medical Center (opened 1970) on Quezon Avenue and Scout Magbanua Street, and the Kamuning Health Center at the corner of Teodoro E. Gener Street and Vice-Mayor Luis Sianghio Street.
With the many businesses, food and entertainment establishments in the area, as well as the proximity to shopping centers and the Quezon City Hall, there are many hotels in the district to cater to any type of visitor. These hospitality establishments are the B Hotel on Star Scout Romeo Rafaél Rallos Street, the Casa Pura at the corner Scout Rallos and Star Scout Wilfredo Mendoza Santiago streets, the Cocoon Botique Hotel at the corner of Scout Rallos and First Class Scout Benecio Suarez Tobias streets, the Go Hotels at the corner of Senior Scout Pathfinder Paulo Cabrera Madriñán Street and Tomas Morato Avenue, the Hive Hotel and Convention Place at the corner of Scout Madriñan and Star Scout Ascario Ampíl Tuason, Jr. streets, the Hop Inn Hotel on Air Scout Observer Gabriél Nicolás Borromeo Street, the Hotel Rembrandt at the corner of Tomas Morato Avenue and Senior Scout Pathfinder Patricio Dulay Bayoran, Jr. Street, the Icon Hotel and Imperial Palace Suites at the opposing corners of Timog and Tomas Morato avenues, the Kamuning Hostel on K-1st Street, the La Breza and Sequoia Hotel on Mother Ignacia Avenue, the Luxent, Red Planet, and Sir Williams Hotel on Timog Avenue, the Torre Venezia Suites on Scout Santiago Street and Timog Avenue, and the OYO 508 Vista Wil Tower on Eugenio Lopez Drive. However the most interesting of all these lodgings is the Camelot Hotel at middle of Mother Ignacia Avenue, Scout Bayoran and Scout Tuazon streets. Based on its name, the Camelot Hotel is designed to resemble a medieval castle, and with an Arthurian theme inside.
For public athletics, there is the Amoranto Sports Complex, located between Scout Chuatoco and Roces Avenue. Completed in 1966, the sports facility started with an eight lane track and field oval with bleachers and a gymnasium, but latter development saw the adding of a tennis court, a cycling track, a boxing and weightlifting gym, six badminton courts, facilities for martial arts, and a swimming pool. The 5.8 hectares (14 acres) complex was first named the Quezon City Sports Complex, but was renamed after the longest serving Quezon City mayor, Norberto Salandanan Amoranto (1907-1979), who served from 1954 to 1976. The Barangay was also renamed Paligsahan (Tagalog for “competition”), in honor of having the many sports events hosted in the complex, such as the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in 2005. The venue can hold as much as 15,000 people, and has also been the site for many concerts, festivals, and political rallies. Within the complex is the Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. (QCPADFI), which gives free training in the performing arts for young people from indigent communities. Other sports facilities in the area are the Bernardo Park skating rink, swimming pool and basketball court, under the Quezon City Youth and Sports Development Office; the Power Up badminton courts , the Planet Infinity crossfit training center, and the Elorde Boxing Gym on Mother Ignacia Avenue; and the Best Center basketball courts Scout at the corner of Senior Scout Pathfinder Filamér Santos Reyes and Rover Scout Roberto del Prado Lozano streets.
At the very end of Tomas Morato Avenue, and occupying the triangular property between Eugenio Lopez Jr. Drive, Mother Ignacia Avenue and Sergeant Esguerra Avenue, the tower of the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center stands not just as a landmark to the media giant, but also to the history of area and the Philippines. The streets surrounding the ABS-CBN complex were named after the former media chairman, Eugenio “Geny” Moreno López Jr. (1928-1999), who had invested heavily in developing the area; and the former Bohol Avenue was renamed after Sergeant Octavio Esguerra, the lone casualty in siege of the ABS-CBN facilities, where government forces took back the station after it was taken over by rogue military forces, during the August 28-29 1987 coup d’etat against the administration of Pres. María Corazón “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (1933-2009).
The ABS-CBN media network takes its name from the two media corporations that merged in 1957, Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) and Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN). The first Philippine television station was launched by the American, James Lindenberg (1921-2009), as the Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC), in 1946. In 1952, Lindenberg would partner with Judge Antonio Rivera Quirino Sr. (1906-1992), and rename the company as the Alto Broadcasting System (ABS), and launch DZAQ-TV in 1953. The brothers, Eugenio Hofileña López Sr. (1901-1975) and then-Philippine Vice President Fernando Hofileña Lopez Sr. (1904-1993), would launch the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1956; and later purchase the ABS corporation from Quirino and Lindenberg in 1957. In 1968, Lopez would open the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in its current site, which would be followed by the Eugenio Lopez Junior Communications Center in 2000. The first buildings in the ABS-CBN compound were designed by Arch. Carlos Corcuera Arguelles (1917-2008), who had also designed the Chronicle Broadcasting Network Studios along Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Blvd.) in 1952.
Drive is the ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother house (PBB), which is the site of the Reality-TV that has been airing since 2005. Based on the Dutch Big Brother franchise, the PBB house has become a popular tourist spot for fans to have their photographs taken. In 2000, the congressional franchise of the ABS-CBN group of companines had been revoked by the Hose of Representatives, forcing the media giant to shift its operations toward digital streaming.
The ABS-CBN compound was once the JUSMAG camp (Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group). It has since transferred to the LOGCOM (Logistics Command) in Camp Aguinaldo.
A little more than a kilometer to the south is the chief rival of the ABS-CBN corporation, the GMA Network Center, located at the corner of Timog and Epifanio de los Santos avenues. The GMA Network corporation started in 1950 as the DZBB radio station. Founded by the American, Robert “Uncle Bob” La Rue Stewart (1918-2006), the business would expand to RBS TV Channel 7 in 1961. And 1974, the company would rebrand itself as the GMA Radio-Television Arts, with GMA meaning “Greater Manila Area” and later “Global Media Arts.” And in 2000, the media company moved into its new home, GMA Network Center, which was designed by Architect Roger Villarosa. And at the driveway of the GMA Network Center is the sculpture “Beyond Broadcasting” by Eduardo Castrillo.
In 2020, the statue of “Ad Astra” (Latin for “To the Stars) as installed at the corner of Timog and Sgt. Esguerra avenues. Sculpted by Priscillano “Jun” Rodrigo Vicaldo Jr. (born 1963), the artwork represents the human drive towards enlightenment and hope, but it can also be translated as a connection to the two media giants of ABS-CBN and GMA and how these companies help shape the dreams of many a celebrity hopeful.
The next major landmark in the area is the headquarters of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), which was completed on Scout Rallos Street in 2005, and designed by Architect Teofilo I. Vázquez. The UAP is the duly government recognized professional organization for architects, with a mandate to upholding standards of practice in line with working with the government in developing regulations, as well as issuances of architectural licenses. The UAP’s origin starts with the first professional organization for architects and engineers, the Academia de Arquitectura y Aguimensura de Filipinos (AAAF), which lasted from 1902 to 1911. With the 1921 passing of the Engineering and Architect’s Law, in which Maestros de Obras (Master Builders) had to register as architects, and new organization was needed to help in professionalizing the practice. So in 1933, the Philippine Architects Society was formed, and later renamed as the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA). After the war, two more architectural organizations were established: the League of Philippine Architects (LPA) in 1950 and the Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA) in 1958. With the founding of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in 1973, representatives of the PIA, LPA and APGA were part of the structuring of the National Building Code as well as the examination and licensure of new architects. And in 1975, the APGA, LPA and PIA were merged as the United Architects of the Philippines.
As of the writing of this article, the latest landmarks in the area are the two sculptures of traditional Filipino games, located along Tomas Morato Avenue. Unveiled in 2017 by the Marikina artist, Jonas Roces, the two sculptures are part of a 5-piece series, which are all in display in the Quezon Memorial Circle. At the intersection of Roces and Morato avenues is the “Agawan Buko” (Snatch the Coconut) which shows two boys in chase, trying to pull a coconut from the lead player’s hands. Located at the corner of Scout Fernandez Street and Morato Avenue, the “Luksong-Baka” (Jump the Bull) shows two boys playing “leap-frog”. Usually unnoticed by passersby, the two sculptures are the best representations of the history of the area that was once known as the Philippine Homesite Project 1. Beyond the buildings, churches, schools, restaurants and shops, the district is still primarily a residential area, with stories of families told since the 1930s. The statues of the children at play look back at a more carefree time, as the children from the neighborhood would run up and down the streets, engaged in various games.
Now-a-days, the Project 1 district is always in a flux, as old residents move out and new families come in, and businesses close and open every year; and this goes with the very spirit of the neighborhood. Starting with few stores, such as the Kamuning Bakery in 1939, to the boom after the war, Project 1 will continue to evolve and add more stories to the history of Quezon City and the country.
Lakbay ng Lakan 
hello sir, parang may kulang naman ang history mo ng kamuning gaya ng kamuning bakery then, ang kamuning market and ang school ng tomas morato . sana lang mas palawakin pa if you like i have a complete history of kamuning . dati po cyang obrero
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In the case of Barrio Kamuning, it is already mentioned that it was once part of Obrero. However, they formed their own Barrio,, because they were government employees and not workers. Kamuning Bakery, the Kamuning Market and Tomas Morato school are all mentioned, but it will make the article too long, if I add longer histories
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You did a very good job…we live in fr Martinez who was the priest at the 11th jamborees
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Thank you, we used to live in Scout Delgado
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Sir, the PBB house is where VIVA Films started… Back in the days, people called it the Viva House…
I know this because Viva Films Prod. Rented service cars for the staff and my dad is one of them with our old Toyota red tamaraw, 80’s.
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This article is very informative and comprehensive.
Just a note. Society of the Divine Word is SVD and not SDV… SVD is from the congregation’s latin name Societas Verbi Divini (SVD)
Aside from this, I enjoyed the article. I was enlightened on the history of Kamuning, my home.
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Very scholarly.
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Thank you sir
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Hello sir, there’s a little bit of correction regarding of the article on Sacred Heart Parish, “Society of the Divine Word’s (SDV)” it should be SVD. Thank you 🙂
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Thank you for the reminder.
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Correction po sa may bandang 3rd paragraph. The cinema (Mylen Theater) along 58 Kamuning Road corner Judge Jimenez is NOW People of Grace Fellowship/ People of Grace Christian School NOT Kamuning Police Station. Thank you po.
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Noted. And will edit soon
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The first 2 restaurants in T. Morato were Swedish Steak House, a small restaurant & Alfredo’s Steakhouse around 1973 or 1974. Our school bus used to pass there every day. Mario’s arrived in the mid 1980s. You also forgot to mention The Goblet restaurant in Roces Ave.
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Dagdag insights lang, ung 67 kamuning road na ngaun ay paradahan ng mga jeep ay dating bahay ng mga Avacenia na related kay dating Presidente Manuel L. Quezon.
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Our ancestral house is located at 69 Kamuning Rd
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Marissa J. – korek ka dyan. Yang Alfredo’s Steak house ay halos kapitbahay namin – nasa Scout Gandia lang kami.
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Merci Molina the singer use to lived in that house that you mentioned and may be related to the late President Manuel Quezon as his mother’s maiden name is Molina.
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This article’s are all about the housing project for the blue collard workers that President Quezon made into reality for the regular workers and their families. Yet, all that was highlighted here was the rise of the rich and famous Filipino’s who’s dominated the entire articles. I understand that “this” People became the backbones of what is now made Quezon City a fast growing metropolitan city. Why not give tribute as well to the original housing project by showing the rows of finished housing and how the working people of Kamuning benefited the projects that my parents was grateful to live in and I myself grew up. Thank you.
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I actually agree with your point of view. However, the essence of my blog is to tell the stories of the landmarks.
However, I do wish to expand on the Kwentong QC when I start on my book.
But first I do have to finish around 50 more articles on the various landmarks and districts of QC, before I can start with my book
Would you have by chance any old pictures of your home way back then?
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Just want to know if you’re related to the Olivares family from Lagonoy. My father is from Lagonoy.
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As far as I know the Olivares were originally from Laguna. But many migrated to other provinces by the early 20th Century
We are from San Pedro
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Thanks for this. I grew up in Scout Fuentebella right across Sacred Heart Parish in the 80’s. I have so many good and happy memories whenever I think about that place. I can’t believe how much has changed. I went back to visit about 13 years ago and could not recognize it anymore. Too many taller buildings have been erected and even Sacred Heart itself is hidden behind tall gates and walls. It used to be all open and you can see the people attending mass from the gates of our family home. It feels so crowded and cramped now. Sad.
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Many thanks for the mention of our Foundation- Hindu Brahma Kumaris Lotus Center (est. 1985) .
Comment: The Brahna Kumaris is not Hindu as it does teach or practise Hinduism. The word lotus attached to our name is a word of endearment used by members and friends of our Foundation. It is simply a symbol. Our official name is Brahma Kumaris Philippines Spiritual Foundation Inc. We are a meditation center.
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Noted. Will edit it.
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Very informative. This is where I grew up and it is so nice to know about the landmarks. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
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This is superb. Younger generations will never get to know these history without this. Hope you can also cover other parts of QC’s history… like UP diliman area, tandang sora, visayas ave…etc…
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I have currently covered 70% of QC territory with my articles. Please check my block, it have 200+ articles on QC history
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Thank you
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Great article. Small correction on the Big Brother franchise: The show is from the Netherlands, not from Norway.
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Note and will edit
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Glori supermarket that caught fire in the 90’s used to be a landmark too. I remember seeing the huge black smoke through the windows of St. Mary’s College.
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Yes, I do remember that
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sir could feature San Francisco Delmonte Quezon City. thanks
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I am writing about QC district by district and will complete my article on San Francisco del Monte within a few months
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I love your article. I used to live in Sct. Lozano St. across the house of Mang Tuning Olivares and used to play with his children. I would love to reach out and catch up with them. I remember Mrs. Olivares, Tunyiko , Mila(?), Christina, Merce, Molly. I remember going to your place on Sct. Delgado St. from time to time. Happy childhood memories..
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I would like to congratulate the author of this well-researched and highly informative article . I grew up in Barangay Sacred Heart. My family owns the old apartments right across Kamuning Elementary School along Scout Torillo and my 98 year old lawyer mom Atty. Michaelina Balasbas still lives in our same compound on Scout Lozano (the street of Alba’’s Restaurant). She is probably the oldest living resident of this area and she can share with you so many beautiful stories about this wonderful place.
The Sacred Heart Parish Church where I used to be a wedding singer, member of the Youth Civic Organization (YCO), and part-time member of the Children’s Choir and Bungang Himig choir – is known to have produced many famous personalities in different fields. Our childhood was rich and colorful because of Father Resty Lumanlan who made sure that the youth of Sacred Heart Parish Church would develop their full potential by joining choirs and participating in educational workshops, sports activities and leadership training seminars. I vividly remember Father Resty Lumanlan looking like a hippie in white shirt, maong pants and sandals and sporting long hair. A young priest who was way ahead of his time – he removed organ music and replaced it with Guitar Masses, said to be the first in the country. He ordered the printing of a booklet of mass songs with chords that was reprinted and spread all over the country then all over the world. This parish church though the guidance of Father Resty developed the likes of Nonoy Zuniga, Noel Cabangon, Malou Evidente (of the Ambivalent Crowd), Lilet (of the famous Coke commercial), and the Family Birth Control Band, with soloist Jiji who was another Sacred Heart Parish wedding singer like me. Our alternate singer was Joey San Andres who currently holds a high position in the Bureau of Customs who has put up his own restaurant along K 1st – the Good Guys. Among those who played basketball in the Church basketball court were Richard Gomez and Willy Revillame. Maricel Soriano, who lived on Scout Fuentebella, used to play volleyball at the church courts, too. Bembol Roco, the multi-awarded actor is the brother of Charling Balakubak of the famous shampoo commercial. He was in that commercial with Evelyn Morato of the eminent Morato clan that lived along Scout Rallos. Maribel Sison – a popular television speaker on Family Relations is the sister of Senatoriable Dado Sison and flutist Rey Sison. The whole Sison clan was very active in the church. The Trono and Zuñiga families raised great singers. Zebedee Zuñiga was with The Opera band with me. Zoey Zuñiga is still the male soloist of the famous Spirit of ‘67 band. Did you know that rock icon Joey “Pepe” Smith of the Juan de la Cruz band was also from Kamuning?
In the field of law, former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raul Daza graduated from Kamuning Elementary School where she was a student of my mother . He never fails to greet my now 98 year old Mom every time she celebrates her birthday. When I graduated Class Valedictorian of Kamuning Elementary School in 1972, the Class Salutatorian was former Supreme Court Chief Justice Meilou Sereno. My brother Atty. Fortune Balasbas was a Bar Topnotcher in the 1986 Bar exams. Former DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas was also a product of the school. The De Pano children – several of whom graduated as K.E.S Class Valedictorians were also incredible talented. Adlai de Pano, aside from being K.E.S. Class Valedictorian, also graduated Class Valedictorian of Philippine Science High School. Arnel de Pano is the composer of the famous religious song “Lead Me Lord.” You can catch folk singer Kuya Albert de Pano in top acoustic bars like “My Brother’s Mustache.”
Child actors Romy Lapuz and Jingle were acting on TV even as they were students of Kamuning Elementary School. A young multi-awarded UNTV host and broadcaster Angela Lagunzad, married to fellow broadcaster, Angelo Castro, Jr. , is also a product of the school.
Former actress Jackie Aquino, daughter of former Senator Butz Aquino, also grew up in the streets of Sacred Heart Parish. Vice-President Leni Robredo and family also lived in the area.
The big Silvestre family continue to be staples in Kamuning Sacred Heart. Kuya Danny Silvestre became the Dean of the UP College of Architecture. His younger brother Monette Silvestre is a member of the famed a cappella group Tux. Up to this day, Mel Silvestre sings with the Bungang Himig Choir – the longest lasting choir of the church of which my brother Fortune was a co-founder. The choir boasts of classical singer Nanette Moscardon-Maigue and her daughter – the multi-awarded young singer Lara Maigue who continues to sing with the choir every Sunday. Another multi-awarded personality, this time in the field of Medicine – is television host and much-in-demand speaker Dr. Lulu Marquez – who is one of the stalwarts of the Youth Civic Organization (YCO.)
There are many more stories to share but my cel is almost empty bat.
Thank you from the deepest crevices of my heart to the one who shared this article with me.
Again, warmest congratulations and thank you very much to the author of this comprehensive article that brought back beautiful memories of the neighborhood where I grew up and developed valued friendships that last up to today. Keep up the good work.
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Thank you for your kind words and great stories. My family also grew up on Scout Delgado, and I was a good friend of Pepe Smith and know Noel Cabangon, while my father worked with Nonoy Zuñiga for a while.
If you are interested, I also have articles on the Sacred Heart Parish, the Saint Joseph Academy, the history of the 11th Jamboree Monument, and much more.
Salamat at samuli
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Enjoyed travelling through time with your article! What a heartwarming and highly informative read about the neighborhood my Mom and I grew up in!!!
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Peña Clan 78 k-1st Kamuning
Nabigyan kmi ng citation ng barangay kamuning during the term of barangay captain BoyEspiritu as the oldest resident of kamuning.
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Hi. Thank you for your very informative article. I live at Scout Chuatoco (South 19th St before) since 1956. You failed to mention former landmarks or places of note in Quezon Ave. which I think is also part of Proj. 1. To name a few starting from the corner of Scout Chuatoco are: 1) Llanes Piano Store (presently the parking lot of St. Peter); 2) Carbungco Bldg at the corner of Dr. Garcia St. (presently occupied by Maxima Industries; Stan Carbungco was a former Mr. Philippines & maintains a body building gym there); 3) Pacosta Ice Cream Store (presently occupied by Meralco) 4) D & E Restaurant at the corner of Roces Ave. (Owned by the Enriquez Family & one of the few restaurants in the area then; presently occupied by Jollibee); 5) Residence of Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara, noted scientist & inventor, founder of FEATI University (BDO presently occupies the front part of the property); 6) Tops Supermarket at the corner of Scout Reyes.
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Thank you for sharing your memories of our place
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Thank you for another well researched and written article. You have brought to light so many new and interesting details about the Kamuning area which we did not know of though we have lived here since childhood. Your way of connecting the topics and the easy flow of your narrative makes for a great guide even for those who are not from around here. Thank you, too, for the mention of my father Arturo Mañalac as the Architect of Kamuning Parish Church.
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Thank you so much for including us in your article. We are just recent members of the Scout Area 2005 so we are very grateful for the privilege of being mentioned. Our 70 Scout Fernandez property however is a Motherhouse not a provincial house. God bless you all.
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Hello. JUSMAG personnel used to live in Barangay Sta. Cruz, in the Heroes Hills subdivision. They had small white houses with centralized air conditioning but large yards, and until the 1970s no fences. Several also lived in houses right behind buildings along the nearby Quezon Ave., and one of the buildings also housed the JUSMAG Club. The end of the street leading to Quezon Ave. used to have a small fire station and, years earlier, the American School.
Also, the location of Northfield School used to house the Learn and Play preschool.
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Thanks for sharing
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Interesting research article. There are so many interesting stories in Kamuning that are waiting to be uncovered in research. Most interesting were those during world war 2 and during martial law period. The 1st parish priest, Padre Doro was the 1st desaparecido in Kamuning, reportedly was taken by Japanese forces. Many residents left their houses during WW2, only to be occupied by Makapili. Those who remain became the eyes & ears of guerillas based in Montalban mountains. Hope you include also the struggle of Kamuning residents as part of its history and not only the physical part. Congrats to your work.
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Thank you, each neighborhood has so many stories to tell, and I wish I could write all of them. Maybe in the future
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Thank you so much! This is a great resource about the history of the area. Just a note, though. St. Mary’s is not the only Catholic school in the area. COJ Catholic Progressive School along 11th Jamboree St. is also Catholic School.
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I did mention it in my article on the Projects
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