Welcome Rotonda

Welcome Rotonda
Mabuhay Rotonda
The roundabout which features a marble monument in the center.
Location
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates 14°37′04.0″N 121°00′06.2″E / 14.617778°N 121.001722°E / 14.617778; 121.001722Coordinates: 14°37′04.0″N 121°00′06.2″E / 14.617778°N 121.001722°E / 14.617778; 121.001722
Roads at
junction		 E. Rodriguez, Sr. Boulevard
Mayon Avenue
Nicanor Ramirez Street
Quezon Avenue
España Boulevard
Construction
Type Roundabout
Opened 1948
Maintained by Department of Public Works and Highways

The Welcome Rotonda, officially known as the Mabuhay Rotonda, is a roundabout in Quezon City in the Philippines. It is located a few meters from Quezon City's border with Manila, at the intersection of E. Rodriguez, Sr. Boulevard, Mayon Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Nicanor Ramirez Street, and España Boulevard. It may also refer to the monument situated on its central island.

The roundabout was officially named Welcome Rotonda until May 17, 1995, when it was renamed Mabuhay Rotonda by then-Quezon City Mayor Ismael Mathay, Jr.,[1] following an initiative by local restaurateur Rod Ongpauco to promote the use of the Filipino expression "Mabuhay!" as a way of welcoming foreign visitors to the Philippines.[2]

History

The marble monument at middle of the roundabout.

The roundabout was first opened in 1948, with a marble monument designed by Luciano V. Aquino erected at its center to welcome visitors to Quezon City, which was then the newly declared capital of the Philippines.[1] The monument is surrounded by four lions indicating the cardinal directions.

It served as the boundary between Manila and Rizal Province, prior to the creation of Metro Manila in 1975. [3] It is also a site for rallies and protests.[4][5]

The roundabout attracted attention during the 1995 general election, when businessman Amando "Jun" Ducat, Jr.—who would later be known for kidnapping 26 students in 2007 near Manila City Hall—scaled the monument and staged a hunger strike at the top.[6] He did this to dramatize his opposition to Chinese Filipinos running for public office, who he opposed because of their alleged control of the Philippines' rice trade. He wanted the government to ban Chinese Filipinos from being candidates and he sought to convince voters to vote against them.[6][7]

Transportation hub

The Welcome Rotonda is known as a transportation center. It served as one of the first terminals for jeepneys as they began plying the streets of Manila after World War II.[1]

See Also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mallari, Perry Gil S. (March 14, 2008). "Timeless memories of Welcome Rotonda". The Manila Times. Manila Times Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ Luna, Luis (May 13, 1995). "Welcome Rotonda to have new name". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ Partitioning of Rizal
  4. ↑ "Allies, critics of Arroyo snarl traffic at Mabuhay Rotonda". GMA News. March 14, 2008.
  5. ↑ Mangosing, Frances (May 1, 2014). "Labor Day protesters gather in Manila-Quezon City landmark". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.
  6. 1 2 Jimenez-David, Rina (March 30, 2007). "Instant celebrity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Hostage taker Ducat has eye for publicity stunts -- friends". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. March 28, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
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