Last September 17, 2024 is the 108th anniversary of the founding of this park. It was formally dedicated on this day in 1916 and was named after statesman Manuel L. Quezon, in recognition of his role in passing the Jones Law on August 29, 1916—years before he became President of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. As one of the country’s resident commissioners to the U.S. House of Representatives, Quezon helped draft versions of the Jones Bill and developed a deep connection to Dumaguete, often visiting over the years. On March 6, 1942, Quezon and his family, along with military escorts, escaped to Australia from Dumaguete by submarine during the Japanese occupation in World War II.

It features a wide-open space for public activities, a relief sculpture of Negros Oriental, playground, gazebo, fountain designed by Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti, a stone bust of Quezon (with a missing historical marker), and statues of Jose Rizal and Maria Clara standing on opposite sides of a clock tower donated by Silliman University.

It is home to a variety of trees and other plants—narra, ylang-ylang, teak, auri, talisay, dalakit or balete, acacia, neem, bitoon, coconut, mango, mahogany, Peacock flower, Orchid Tree, and several others, providing a much-needed cool and breezy refuge in the city, especially in the face of rising temperatures.

Parks and recreational spaces like Quezon Park are vital for the community, offering spaces for relaxation, social interaction, and physical activity. These green spaces, especially one that is an invaluable built heritage in the province, improve both mental and physical health, foster community engagement, and enhance the overall quality of life. I just hope none of these trees will suffer from underdeveloped ideas of “progress” which are usually under the guise of “development.”