Is Proclamation No. 287 Referring to Plaza Bonifacio?

While browsing the net for any Sorsogon-related articles that I can share on the blog, I encountered this link regarding the allocation of 2 parcels of land for a plaza (Spanish for park) in the former municipality of Sorsogon. This proclamation was approved by the late president Manuel Quezon on July 19, 1938. According to the nation’s official gazette, presidential proclamation is as good as an executive order.

To quote:

RESERVING FOR PLAZA PURPOSES TWO PARCELS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SORSOGON, PROVINCE OF SORSOGON, ISLAND OF LUZON.

Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce and pursuant to the provisions of section eighty-three of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred and forty-one, I hereby withdraw from sale or settlement and reserve for plaza purposes, under the administration of the municipality of Sorsogon, Sorsogon, subject to private rights, if any there be, the following-described parcels of the public domain, situated in the municipality of Sorsogon, Province of Sorsogon, Island of Luzon, and particularly described in Bureau of Lands plan….

It also gives us hints where it is located. Some of the streets named were Calle Rizal, Calle La Guardia and Calle Bonifacio. I assume that Calle Rizal is Rizal Street considering that this during the Philippine Commonwealth period, there were still traces of the Spanish language.

The area was composed of 2 parcels with approx. area of 1,600 sqm.

I tried tracing the lot with the assumption that these lots are related to Plaza Bonifacio. I thought the 2 are sitting side by side, but they were not. However, the 2 lots are bounded by Calle Bonifacio on the north west. That’s where my assumption came from – the street along Chowking going to the former entrance of the cathedral was the former Calle Bonifacio; and the plaza name came about. But I know these parcels are currently located in Brgy. Sirangan. On another (more recent) link, La Guardia Street exists and it’s adjacent to the public market and adjacent to the barangay road. The latter was mind boggling – I grew up that there was only a single barangay road in the former town connecting Brgy, Balogo and Bibincahan.

As early as 3 weeks before the Sorsogon Fiesta, preparation can be seen at Plaza Bonifacio. The said place normally hosts to makeshift stores during fiesta.

The point of this article is that those 2 parcels may not being used as a plaza (or park) as stated by the presidential proclamation. The current Plaza Bonifacio is now being converted into a parking lot.

Preparing for the construction of the 4-level public parking building. Once it’s completed, the Plaza Bonifacio will cease to exist.

If it’s any consolation, I have more leads to search these old streets.