## 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotonda (Boy Scout Circle), Quezon City — History, What to See, and How to Visit

**Location:** Timog Ave. × Tomas Morato Ave., boundary of South Triangle, Laging Handa, and Sacred Heart barangays, Quezon City, Metro Manila
**Coordinates:** 14.6348409, 121.0353466

### Why this small roundabout matters

At first glance it’s “just” a traffic circle where **Timog Avenue** meets **Tomas Morato Avenue**—Quezon City’s well-known dining and nightlife corridor. Look closer and you’ll see 24 life-size bronze figures arranged around a circular pedestal. This is the **11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotonda**, widely called **Boy Scout Circle**, a public monument honoring the Philippine contingent that never reached the 1963 World Scout Jamboree in Marathon, Greece. Their plane—**United Arab Airlines Flight 869**—crashed off Bombay (now Mumbai) on **July 28, 1963**. The monument, unveiled in **1965** and sculpted by **Florante Beltran Caedo**, keeps their names and ideals visible in the heart of the city. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## Quick facts (verified)

– **What it commemorates:** The **24-member** Philippine delegation—**22 Boy Scouts, 2 veteran Scouters, and 2 chaperons**—who perished in the 1963 crash en route to the **11th World Scout Jamboree**. [ City Government](https://quezoncity.gov.ph/place/11th-world-scout-jamboree-memorial-rotonda-tomas-morato-monument/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Artist & inauguration:** Sculptor **Florante B. Caedo**; unveiled by Mayor **Norberto S. Amoranto** in **1965** at what were then **Sampaloc and South Avenues** (today’s **Tomas Morato** and **Timog**). (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **2007 renovation:** Addition of an **obelisk** atop the structure honoring **Tomás Morató**, the city’s first mayor and namesake of the avenue. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Where exactly:** Center of the Timog–Tomas Morato roundabout; the circle forms a boundary between **South Triangle**, **Laging Handa**, and **Sacred Heart** barangays. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Context:** The surrounding “**Scout Area**” includes streets renamed in **1964** after the fallen Scouts and Scouters (e.g., **Scout Tobias, Scout Tuason, Scout Rallos**). [ City Government](https://quezoncity.gov.ph/place/tomas-morato-timog-avenue-area/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## What you’ll see at the Rotonda

– **Ring of bronze figures:** The 24 statues are placed around a circular base, each representing a member of the delegation. The composition is sober and symmetrical—meant to be viewed in the round while circling the island on foot. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Obelisk and dedication panels (post-2007):** The vertical element added during renovation carries the dedication and contextualizes the site within the city’s memory of Scouting. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Urban backdrop:** The circle anchors a dense grid of restaurants, cafés, comedy bars, and studios along **Tomas Morato** and **Timog**, historically known as a food and entertainment row. (https://en..org/wiki/Tomas_Morato_Avenue?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

> **Nearby historical note:** The area northeast of the circle includes the former site of the **1996 Ozone Disco Club fire**, one of the country’s deadliest nightlife tragedies. If you’re exploring places of memory in Quezon City, this context often appears in local histories. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## How to visit (practical, on-the-ground tips)

### Getting there by public transport
– **MRT-3 corridor:** The Scout/Triangle district is served by MRT-3; many visitors approach via **GMA-Kamuning**, **Quezon Ave**, or **North Ave** stations, then transfer to short jeep/bus hops (e.g., stops at **Scout Limbaga**, **Timog/Scout Tuason**) to reach the circle. Always confirm the live route in a transit app. (https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-Timog_Avenue_Boy_Scout_Circle-Manila-site_77626021-1022?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Buses/jeeps:** Frequent services run along **Quezon Ave., Timog, and Kamuning** with drop-offs a few minutes’ walk from the roundabout. Schedules and stopping patterns change; check same-day instructions before you go. (https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-Boy_Scout_Circle-Manila-site_42519133-1022?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

> **Data freshness:** Public-transport specifics (e.g., “nearest station” callouts) vary by operator and time of day. Treat in-app times as guidance, not guarantees. (https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-Boy_Scout_Circle-Manila-site_42519133-1022?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

### Best time and safety
– **Light & heat:** Early morning or late afternoon gives softer light on the bronze figures and avoids the harsh midday glare.
– **Crossing the circle:** There’s **active traffic** around the island. Use the designated pedestrian points and be patient; several reviews over the years emphasize caution when attempting to reach the center. (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g298574-d10257636-Reviews-Boy_Scout_Monument-Quezon_City_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Combine with a food stop:** Many visitors pair a short memorial visit with a meal along **Tomas Morato** or **Timog**, where options range from casual Filipino comfort food to specialty coffee bars. (https://en..org/wiki/Tomas_Morato_Avenue?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## Understanding the “Scout Area” around the circle

Following the 1963 tragedy, **Quezon City Council resolutions in 1964** renamed neighborhood streets to carry the surnames of the scouts and scouters—embedding memory into the everyday map. Walking a few blocks from the circle, you’ll encounter signs like **Scout Tobias**, **Scout Tuason**, **Scout Ybardolaza**, **Scout Lozano**, **Scout Fuentebella**, and more. Several city and local-history sources document this renaming drive and its intent. (https://quezoncitylocalhistory.blogspot.com/2013/07/renaming-of-south-streets-in-honor-of.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

> **Cultural layer:** The barangay **Laging Handa**—literally “Always Prepared”—shares the motto of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, an alignment that’s often noted in local write-ups of the district. (https://experienceqc.weebly.com/tomas-morato.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## A short history of the 1963 Jamboree and the flight

– The **11th World Scout Jamboree** was held in **Marathon, Greece** in August **1963** under the theme **“Higher and Wider.”** Delegations from nearly 90 countries were expected. (https://en..org/wiki/World_Scout_Jamboree?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– The Philippine contingent’s aircraft, **UAA Flight 869**, crashed into the **Arabian Sea** near **Madh Island** off Bombay at **01:50** on **July 28, 1963**. Flags at the Jamboree were placed at half-mast; the BSP later sent a small token delegation. The Quezon City memorial followed two years later. (https://en..org/wiki/11th_World_Scout_Jamboree_Memorial_Rotonda?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## Plan a respectful visit

– **Time needed:** 15–30 minutes for the memorial itself; longer if you’re tracing multiple **Scout Streets** or combining with a neighborhood food crawl.
– **Accessibility:** The circle is fully outdoors with curbs, islands, and active crossings. Wheelchair users may prefer viewing from the perimeter if mid-island access feels unsafe amid traffic.
– **Photography:** A mid-telephoto lens or smartphone 2×–3× zoom lets you isolate individual figures without standing in the roadway. Dawn/dusk helps cut glare on bronze.

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## What’s nearby (walkable radius)

– **Tomas Morato restaurant row:** A dense cluster of dining spots along a north–south spine; it’s been part of the city’s entertainment identity for decades. (https://en..org/wiki/Tomas_Morato_Avenue?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Media studios:** The district has long-standing links to TV networks and production houses, which helped shape the area’s late-night economy and explains why many eateries open late. (https://en..org/wiki/Tomas_Morato_Avenue?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## Responsible travel & inclusivity notes

– **Quiet conduct:** This is a **memorial** first and a photo spot second. Avoid climbing the base or obstructing traffic for long shoots.
– **Names matter:** If you’re researching or posting about the site, include the **individual names** of the scouts/scouters when possible; many nearby street signs reflect them, and several city history projects work to keep those biographies visible. (https://quezoncitylocalhistory.blogspot.com/2013/07/renaming-of-south-streets-in-honor-of.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Data accuracy:** Official write-ups and city pages confirm the key dates, the artist, and the 2007 obelisk. If a blog or map contradicts those basics, defer to the **Quezon City Government** page and consolidated references. [ City Government](https://quezoncity.gov.ph/place/11th-world-scout-jamboree-memorial-rotonda-tomas-morato-monument/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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## Essential references used for this guide