Coming from the Lung Center of the Philippines where I had to fix some documents in the hospitalization of my dearly departed sister recently, I walked around the periphery of the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to while away the hours as the traffic was horrendous going home to the south.
After I walked through half of the Circle, I boarded a free ride bus parked outside the City Hall designed for QC residents and employees and whoever is standing in the bus stop hub to send oneself to Cubao, for instance.
The bus had not hit the road yet.
I was conveniently seated in an elevated portion of the ride when I heard a familiar voice.
It was historian and media personality Xiao Chua’s catchy speaking voice coming somewhere from a plastic medium.
True enough.
When I turned around, it was indeed Xiao’s image on TV on board a Quezon City bus.
Chua’s standupper was talking about the history of Quezon City, particularly the creation of the city during the American period.
It’s entitled “The Birthplace of our Nation” which tackled the acquisition of a vast tract of land from the Tuazons to be converted into a city through the vision of President Manuel Luis Quezon and his leadership.
The documentary type of AVP was peppered visually with historical facts like the Cry of Pugadlawin or the Cry of Balintawak, the revolutionary spirit of Andres Bonifacio and his KKK, the bravery of Melchora Aquino, also known as Tandang Sora in healing the sick and other pertinent data even during the Second World War.
It was very educational while bus riders were glued to the digital TV set so that they were able to be given insights into the role of history in their daily lives, inspired to integrate and influence others of the purpose of the video or to be refreshed with the significant past of Filipinos, in general.
Stuck on traffic or smoothly running the streets, the video was a handy platform for integration and assimilation among citizens who love their country so much.
I was reminded of our own doc film, “The Making of Quezon City,” a film project of the Quezon City Public Library (QCPL) which Fil-Briton filmmaker Jowee Morel directed and produced by yours truly.
In the blurb of Chua’s project, “Tayo ang Quezon City” was written.
It was produced by PAISD or the Public Affairs and Information Services Office (Department).
Mabuhay (Long live)!
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