Batchoy Republic

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐖𝐕𝐒𝐔) 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰?

Quezon Hall, or Bulwagang Quezon, finished construction in 1926 and will turn 100 years old in 2026.

Then known as the Iloilo Normal School, it was originally made of reinforced concrete. It had a two-story main building with galvanized iron roofing and two one-story wings with tile roofing over asphalted felt.

Two decades after it was finished, this distinguished landmark weathered the havoc during World War II. Although it withstood the grim past, the building sustained significant damages for being used as a Japanese garrison.It was rebuilt under the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946.

Strategically located at an elevated area in the university, it was and is still now a focal point of WVSU and an imposing architectural piece for education.

Now that years have passed, this key educational heritage is undergoing renovation. The Henry Sy Foundation (HSFI), SM Foundation, and WVSU entered a memorandum of agreement on its adaptive restoration in June 2024.

This is a much-needed collaborative undertaking as the building has not seen a major rehabilitation since post-war and, most importantly, it shall meet the demands of the modern academic scene.