I usually post one sketch at a time, but I have such a backlog of stuff to post, here are all the sketches I did on Sunday when I joined #UskQuezonCity. Quezon City launched the Katipunan Freedom Trail as a bike run on Sunday (according to one website 500 cyclists joined – but we didn’t see any) and we just tagged along in a jeepney sketching at each of the 5 historical sites, where important events took place during the revolution to overthrow Spanish rule in the 1890’s.

The first site was the Andres Bonifacio National Monument. He founded the Katipunan society in 1892. Nothing says Metro Manila more than an important historical site, overwhelmed by a giant ugly mall.

The second site was the Apolonio Samson Marker – he was a farmer and a lieutenant who led a group of Katipuneros (revolutionaries) in Novaliches. The marker is in front of the Barangay hall and in my sketch is a bit dwarfed by the amazing birds nest of cables.

The third site was the Cry of Pugad Lawin. This place marks the moment when Bonifacio gave a speech and convinced the people joining a clandestine meeting to destroy their ‘cedulas’ (community tax certificates) as a symbol of their defiance towards the Spanish, raising the cry of ‘revolt!’. I am not sure who made the sculpture that occupies the site.

Our last visit was to the Shrine of Tandang Sora. I learnt that her real name was Melchora Aquino – and that she became known as Sora (from Chora) and that Tandang means elder. She was a key figure in the Filipino revolution who offered shelter and medical aid to the Katipunan revolutionaries.

Sun-22-Oct-2023