SM and QC: Visions of a city

MANILA, Philippines - In line with the Quezon City Day celebrations this August, mallgoers had the rare opportunity to learn more about the city and one of its most popular landmarks in the “SM and QC: Visions of a City” exhibit, which opened at The Block of SM City North EDSA.

The launch was curated by well-known architect and writer Paulo Alcazaren, who is also the director of PDAA Design International and editor in chief of Bluprint magazine, which caters to designers and enthusiasts of architecture. The exhibit was on display at SM City North EDSA and then moved to other SM Quezon City malls, like SM City Fairview Annex, and then to SM City Sta. Mesa.

SM and QC: Visions of a City traces Quezon City’s origins to what it is today in 18 panels. It brings mallgoers back to 1941, when Quezon City was planned to be the new capital of an independent Republic of the Philippines. It was envisioned as a city filled with grand civic spaces, expansive housing sites, lush public parks, and vibrant centers for commerce and entertainment.

In the last seven decades, the city has evolved, emerging as a premier component of the larger metropolitan capital. The exhibit is the story of the city and its landmarks, with a special focus on a contemporary landmark and a section of the 1941 plan, a section that was destined to become the focal point for the Capital City.

SM and QC: Visions of a City is the story of Quezon City and its most popular commercial complex today, a miniature metropolis in itself — SM City North EDSA. This is the story of two cities and how the visions of its planners have started from dreams and how these dreams are becoming reality.

Bundled with this story is that of how we projected the dreams and aspirations of our country through pre-war carnivals. The Philippines’ participation in World’s Fairs, and even what was to have been our own World’s Fair, was planned in time to celebrate independence, at the site of which is SM City North EDSA today.

Manuel Luis “Manolo” Quezon, President Quezon’s grandson and namesake who is now the Undersecretary for Presidential Communications, Development and Strategic Planning was the guest of honor during the event. Also present were QC Tourism head Allen Ponsaran, UP College of Architecture dean architect Mary Anne Espina, broadcaster Twink Macaraeg who hosted the program, and members of the United Architects of the Philippines were among the guests. SM executives headed by vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, vice president for operations Steven Tan, SM City North EDSA mall manager Hershe Angeles, and AVP for marketing Ruby Reyes welcomed them.

The event also launched the Annual Visionary and Design Competition (AVID 2011), which had Breaking Grounds: Designing the National Pavilion as its theme. It is open to all UAP architects, who must be full -fledged members from time of participation; as well as students of Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture; and the general public with no limits to age or nationality.

Taking off from the exhibit’s theme, the competition will involve designing a National Pavilion for a future World’s Fair, with the Skygarden at SM City North EDSA as its hypothetical site.

The pavilion can be free standing or a complex of structures and landscapes using native construction materials on a structural framework or wood, bamboo, reinforced concrete, or any combination of these.

The National Pavilion shall contain exhibits of Philippine culture, creativity, and industry, as well as venues for performances; and shall reflect the values, aspirations, and achievements of the Philippines and Filipinos with the goal of inviting visitors and investors along the tagline of The Philippines: We’ve Got it All For You as an inspiration. The deadline for the submission of entries will be on Oct. 15, at 12 noon. For more details, visit www.blurpint.mag.com.

The SM and QC: Visions of a City exhibit is one of the many exciting events at SM City North EDSA.