The greatest strength of Tago town plaza is its design: sprawling with impeccable symmetry. Thus, to improve it is to respect this very element that makes it a park that’s a cut above the rest. And to do that, some structures have to be uprooted and others relocated.
Pagoda must go. No ifs, no buts. Without any historical relevance whatsoever, the Pagoda has become a canvas for vandals and a convenient comfort room for the uncivilized. From years of deterioration and neglect, it is reduced to an eyesore.
Same goes for the Kiosk. That it sticks out like a sore thumb is not its greatest crime; it is its forfeiture of an old pathway that is! By closing that passage to traffic and ruining symmetry, the Kiosk has to be demolished.
The Veteran Marker must be relocated. While we recognize the memorial’s importance, it doesn’t have to be where it’s at right now. Surely there must be a place in Tago that is historically appropriate for this marker.
As centerpiece, the rotunda must be given a make-over with Jose Rizal as the focal point, standing tall on a pedestal facing the town hall. A water filament may be fitted on the pedestal that is an architectural delight in itself so that even if the water filament stops or is not working, the pedestal can still fascinate on its own. (This is why I dislike fountains because maintaining them is next to impossible and once they stop working, they become eyesores. Dare: If you can show me a fountain that works 24/7, you’ll have my brains. But that’s assuming I have one.)
The rotunda may be done in cobblestone, in a pattern that replicates ripples. Brick benches will replace those scattered around the rotunda and other parts of the plaza. Instead of gaudy lamps other cities and towns are using unabashedly, humungous lamps on antique posts will be placed strategically to achieve the desired rustic effect. Think Vigan!
In place of Pagoda, a huge cobblestone pathway leading to rotunda will be built, with brick benches and flower beds on both sides.
What the plaza lacks is a community stage, something better structured and situated than the Kiosk. To address this, the tennis and basketball courts should be moved parallel to each other toward the center path, after all this southern portion of the park will get bigger by the uprooting of Rizal and the Kiosk. But first off, the pathway from Rizal to Garcia Street must be restored to facilitate human traffic and symmetry.
The stage shall be built along Garcia Street, on the area where the tennis back-stop now stands. For symmetry, on the basketball court side parallel to the stage, a multi-rung bleacher shall be built. These two courts shall be framed by bleachers facing each other to facilitate viewing.
The see-saws and the slide shall be repaired and restored to their original shape. The swings shall be relocated to areas where their use shall be maximized without sacrificing symmetry. The two posts fronting the Catholic Church shall be spruced up with wrought iron and unique but conservative lamps.
Existing old flowers and palmeras shall be uprooted and replaced with newer, nicer, and easier to maintain species. Floral beds and vignettes shall be established in strategic locations to serve as focal points. Existing trees shall be pruned to make them taller, thus providing a better view of the heavens.
While the plaza’s area is big, certain parts are not maximized, especially that stretch from the corner of Dr. Garcia’s residence to the corner of Hall of Justice. Ironically, this is where people usually stay in the afternoon and at night. But as it is, people just sit on a small ledge by the drainage canal which is both unsanitary and hazardous. To make them better places to hang out in, back-to-back long benches shall be placed, especially in the area fronting the Church where people wait for requiem mass to end. But again, this must be done with symmetry in mind.
As I said, one of the greatest strengths of Tago town plaza is its sprawling nature. And the only way to highlight this feature is to make our plaza free from visual obstruction to provide an uncompromising view of all corners. Other than Jose Rizal standing tall, everything else should be structurally flat. Think Luneta!
I want the plaza to have no wires crisscrossing the skies, no ungrammatical billboards, streamers, and tarpaulins hanging loose. I want the plaza's streets to be rid of old, unserviceable heavy equipment and other vehicles of government. I want the plaza to have nothing but space---a huge space!---with a scattering of lamps, posts, and benches to exude an old world charm.
The road from the Church to the PNP station will set the delineation of the park, that is, the southern part is for sports and recreation, while the northern part is for hanging out and passing time.
Lastly, I would keep the plaza well manicured and clean. Always!
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