A Revisit to the Town of Tiaong, Quezon

* entrance to the Moises A. Escueta Ala-Ala Park

* park amenities and views
* monuments honoring the Tiaong townsfolk
who fought during World War II
* a building donated by Lucio Tan;
found inside the Escueta Park

* a monument in honor of General Ye Fei (Sixto Mercado Tiongco),
a Filipino-Chinese Tiaong native who joined the Chinese Liberation Army

I have termed Tiaong, Quezon as Quezon’s gateway, and I see it now as the province’s beginning and end, at least in the geographical sense. A rather free (and uneventful) afternoon compelled me to go out and seek for some merienda to eat but ended up traveling in a jam-packed ordinary fare bus to Tiaong, Quezon along with my ever-reluctant sister.

* a statue of slain Congressman Jun Punzalan

near the town municipal building

* view of Tiaong municipal building

* seal of the town of Tiaong

* a Rizal statue found near the entrance
of Tiaong municipal building
* promotion materials of the town of Tiaong

The general calmness of the place even in the town proper imbues the place with a rural feel. Despite the Moises A. Escueta Ala-Ala Park being found along a busy highway, the place is still a conducive place to enjoy with friends or family or just relax solo under the towering trees which cool the place.

* a bust of Moises Amat Escueta

Man Behind the Park’s Name: Moises Amat Escueta

A bust of Moises Amat Escueta (November 25, 1925 – January 8, 1983) is erected near the entrance of the park along with the following note:

“Ka Isis”, as he was fondly called served his birthplace and his country well as a young guerrilla fighter during the Second World War, a lawyer for the poor and needy, a town mayor of Tiaong, Quezon from 1960 to 1969 and a congressman of the then 1st congressional district of Quezon Province from 1969 to 1972.”

I see that the townsfolk of Tiaong really has the deep sense of respect for their local heroes.

* an old, dilapidated house near Tiaong church

* a road sign now partially concealed by the new highway

* the facade of the church in Tiaong

* a Christmas tree made out of old bottles;
now you’ll know when we did the revisit

* a taclobo held by a pensive angel

* candle stands

* statue of the risen Christ
* the baptistery inside the church in Tiaong

The residential area encircling the central place that is the town church will still remind a visitor of the traces of Spanish-imposed form of settlement. The church itself, with its pink facade, is reminiscent of festive events. Unfortunately though, I was not able to obtain any notes regarding the beginnings of the church.

* monument in honor of Claro M. Recto

* an image of Claro M. Recto

One bonus for us was the ‘discovery’ of a monument for Claro M. Recto, a Tiaong native but more known as a staunch nationalist during his lifetime.

* a bas relief / mural of the life and works of Claro M. Recto;

made by A. Bulaong in 1998

* Trailer Pransis striking a pose

A short note found on the place provided by the National Historical Institute in 1984 reads:

Claro Recto y Mayo (1890-1960): Makabayan, Estadista, Parlamentaryan, Hukom, Mambabatas, Awtor, at Orador. Isinilang sa Tiaong, Quezon noong Perbrero 8, 1890. Nagtapos ng A.B. sa Ateneo de Manila 1909; LL.B. at LL.M., Pamantasan ng Santo Tomas, 1913 at 1914; LL.D. Honoris Causa, Pamantasan ng Maynila, 1936, at Pamantasan ng Arellano, 1949, kinatawan ng Batangas at lider ng minorya ng mababang kapulungan. Senador, at pansamantalang pangulo at lider ng mayorya ng Senado ng Pilipinas. Pangulo, Konstitusyonal Kumbensyon at Ama ng Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, 1934-1935.

Kasapi sa Bar ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman ng Estados Unidos at Katulong na Mahistrado ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman ng Pilipinas. May akda ng tulang Bajo Los Cocoteros, dulang Solo Entre Las Sombras, at maraming aklat pambatas at pangkasaysayan. Namatay sa Roma noong Oktubre 2, 1960.

The monument resembles an obelisk. And although the place where it is found is rather unfortunate as it stands quite too far from the busy town center. But before the sunlight finally left the town of Tiaong, we unintentionally found the famous haunted mansion of Tiaong.