BACOOR PLAZA SQUARE

BRIEF BACKGROUND Bakood or Bakoor (named after "Fence" made of bamboo, Fence in Pilipino is "Bakod"), was founded in 1671. When the Spaniard troops arrived in "Bacoor", they met some local inhabitants in the process of building a fence around their house. The Spaniards ask the men what is the city's name, but because of the difficulties in understanding each other, the local inhabitants thought that the Spaniards were asking what they are doing. The men answered "Bakood". It was then pronounced Spanish which is "Bacoor" by the Spaniards soldiers and was soon officially called "Bacoor". Bacoor was also the site of the Battle of Zapote Bridge in 1899 which involved Philippine and American troops. It was in this battle where Gen. Edilberto Evangelista was killed. In the aftermath of the Philippine Revolution which coincided with the declaration of the first Philippine independence on June 12, 1898, Bacoor was designated as the first capital of the Philippine Revolutionary government by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo until it was transferred to Malolos, Bulacan. "Gargano" was then the revolutionary name assigned to Bacoor by Aguinaldo's henchmen. During World War II, The occupation from the Japanese Imperial armed forces entered the towns in Bacoor on 1942 during the Japanese Invasion. From 1942 to 1945, many several of the Caviteos between men and women was joining the strong

group of the recognized guerrillas under the Cavite Guerrilla Unit (CGU) and the Filipino-American Cavite Guerrilla Forces (FACGF) led by Colonel Mariano Castaeda and Colonel Francisco Guerero of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, FAGCF in the towns of Bacoor and arrival by the local Filipino soldiers under the ongoing 41st and the pre-war 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army during the Japanese Occupation. From January to August 1945 during the Allied Liberation, Filipino soldiers of the 4th, 41st and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary including the Caviteo guerrilla fighters of the Cavite Guerrilla Unit (CGU) and the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the FilipinoAmerican Cavite Guerrilla Forces (FACGF) was liberated and recaptured the towns in Bacoor and defeating Japanese Imperial forces and ended in World War II. Bacoor is a newly proclaimed city last June 23, 2012 through the efforts of the newly elected Congresswoman Lani Mercado. She filed HB00521 that created the City of Bacoor. It was filed last July 1, 2010 and is enacted into law as Republic Act No. 10160. Republic Act No. 10160 was ratified by the registered voters of Bacoor through a plebiscite conducted last June 23, 2012, converted the municipality of Bacoor in the Province of Cavite into a component city to be known as the City of Bacoor. There were about 40,800 voters who cast the plebiscite ballot in the towns 792 polling precincts. The yes votes won overwhelmingly. The yes votes got 36,226 while the no votes got 3,854. It is the closest part of Cavite to the cities of Metro Manila making it accessible to different commercial areas of the municipality. Bacoor has developed into a site of commerce. Trade, banking and the service sectors are Bacoor's primary income earners. Commercial activities are sporadic throughout the city ranging from wholesale to retail establishments, restaurants and eateries, hardware and construction supplies and other service-related industries, especially those located in SM City Bacoor where it serves as the city's main income earner. The mostly residential area of Molino is also home to SM Center Molino at the corner of Molino Road and Daang Hari. The entrance area from theCoastal Road to Aguinaldo Highway in Talaba and the area surrounding the Zapote Public Market (now the Bacoor Public Market) are other commercial centers. Bacoor has branches of 11 different commercial banks all over the city.

ANALYZING THE BACOOR PLAZA SQUARE

The plaza is located at the back of the activity stage of the City Government of Bacoor just in front of the City hall. It serves center island of the one way road going to the hall. In analyzing the site, it involves intensive investigation and assessment in order to prove that the plaza is architecturally fit for any users. To make our assessment more effective, we provided a checklist together with our groups verdict.

SECURITY
The plaza itself is very accessible to the city hall and an outpost. Even though the area is very public, still it has security features where users should not worry.

POSITIVE

SAFETY AND HAZARDS

In terms of health issues, some features of the plaza contain a large amount of lead content. These can be found on the metal components of the plaza which are covered with paint. Dry paint residues that are removed from the metal component when ingested can cause sickness or death.

NEGATIVE

Sanitary and cleanliness

Although there are trash bins around the area, they are still not enough to cater the continuous disposal of waste of vendors and other users. Food residues from street foods are commonly to be seen littered around. It also has a clogged drainage system which causes the waste waters stagnate from a certain area which can lead to contamination. They also implement the No to Plastic, No to Styrofoam policy

NEGATIVE users

Accessibility
The location of the plaza is very desirable. It can be accessed easily and is surrounded by important and helpful facilities for users demands. But of course, there should always be improvements in terms of giving way for PWDs.

It is very user friendly Accommodating Any people can access the plaza without restriction Suitable for relaxation and unwinding

Positive landscape
Even though the plaza is not that big, still it didnt forget to add green features which made the place lively. Indeed, they contribute to the green aspects of the design but still maintenance to these landscapes must be observed.

Positive

Positive

Activities and festivities

The place itself is very narrow. During Sundays and special festivities and gatherings of the church and newly proclaimed city, it cannot accommodate that large number of people. It becomes crowded and sometimes the root cause of crimes. The area of the plaza is based on the population before a large number of people migrated. That is why the scale of the area is not updated on the current number of people.

negative Psychology
There are also monuments that are used as markers and also serve as an invitation to people to come over the plaza. There are also lots of bystanders letting their time pass inside the plaza.

environment
Since the area is open, it is exposed to the dusts and smokes made by the passing vehicles along the highway. It is also surrounded by one-way roads also making it close to noise pollution and inconvenience.

positive materials
The use of glazed tiles on sitting areas and floor is not safe when applied with liquids. It can cause accidents or not death. In public places like this one, textures must be observed.

negative Local ordinances

The area itself is abiding on its local ordinances. But still there should always be consideration on making the plaza wider so that it can accommodate more people.

negative development

positive

Now that the Bacoor is a newly proclaimed city, improvements and developments in public facilities are already can be seen especially on plaza monuments, signage and grounds. The local government is starting to create its new face for the progress of the city.

positive