Bigkis: Transforming the Bocaue Public Market and Fish Port into an Integrated Communal Urban Space

CONTEXT OF THE PUBLIC MARKET “Palengke” is a large open-air public market where you can buy almost anything in the Philippines. More technically, the government refers to it as “a place, building or structure or any kind owned and/or operated by a city or municipality dedicated to the service of the public in general and where basic food items and other commodities are displayed and offered for sale.” All cities and municipalities in the country rely on public markets as their principal commercial hub. The advantages of functional public markets are numerous. Every “palengke” has a significant influence on local enterprises, governments, and citizens by boosting access to fresh, quality food and generating significant sources of income. But, perhaps on a deeper sense, a “palengke” functions as public gathering places for individuals of various ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds making it a civic center of our neighborhoods.