If you’ve walked around Marikina’s 2nd District, you might have spotted it — government buildings, covered courts, health centers, fire stations, and vehicles all stamped with a bold “Q.”
That letter isn’t just a design choice. It’s everywhere, like a signature marking projects left and right. And if you’re wondering why, the Quimbos have an explanation.
During Rappler’s Kapihan, a Marikina resident phoned in a question directed at the Quimbos and the Teodoros (though the latter skipped the forum despite several invitations): How will they address epal politics — where politicians shamelessly slap their names on public projects?
The Quimbos — mayoral candidate and congresswoman Stella Quimbo, along with her husband, former representative Miro Quimbo — didn’t shy away from the question.
Their defense? Those initials aren’t about self-promotion — they’re about “accountability.”
“Wala kaming choice d’yan eh,” Miro, who’s running for Marikina’s 2nd District representative, said. (We don’t have a choice there.) He insisted that the Q is just resibo — evidence of their work.
“In my first year of service, the people were demanding results from me. ‘What have you done? Huh?’ They’d say, ‘You’re all about looking good, but you’re not actually doing anything.’ So I told them, ‘This school building? I had it built. This health center? I had it constructed — it used to be infested with termites.’ They kept asking me, holding me accountable,” he said.
And if they don’t put a Q on it? Miro claimed someone else will.
“‘Pag hindi nalalagyan ng ‘Q,’ kinabukasan, pinipinturahan ng blue. And it has happened,” he said. (If the ‘Q’ isn’t there, by the next day, it gets painted blue.)
Marikina 1st District Representative and mayoral candidate Maan Teodoro was invited to the forum but declined. Meanwhile, her husband, incumbent Mayor Marcy Teodoro, had planned to run for 1st District Representative — but his candidacy hit a roadblock after the Commission on Elections’ 1st Division ruled that he misrepresented his residence. Teodoro filed an appeal.
The Quimbos and Teodoros aren’t the only ones stamping their names on government buildings. Stella’s running mate, former congressman and Mayor Del de Guzman, has his name prominently displayed on public facilities as well. Just take a look at Concepcion Uno’s health center.
Miro said that it’s common practice. “Everyone in the city is doing it,” he said.
And as for accusations of epal? Stella thinks it’s unfair.
“‘Pag ginamit mo ang LGU (local government unit), hindi epal. Pero ‘pag ginamit mo ang isang simbolo ng pangalan ng congressman, epal, parang it’s a little bit, I find it a little bit unfair,” Stella said. (If you use the LGU (local government unit), it’s not epal. But if you use a congressman’s symbol, suddenly it’s epal. I find that a little unfair.)
Stella didn’t hold back when throwing shade at the couple’s political rival: “If you put ‘Marikina City’ there, it doesn’t help that ‘MAR’ and ‘CY’ are in orange.”
“What matters is the resibo — proof of what we’ve done,” she said.
And if it helps, Stella insisted the “Q” has actually shrunk over the years. “Lumiit na ‘yan! Nasa isang tile na lang ngayon,” she said. (It’s gotten smaller! Now it’s just on a single tile.)
She even opened the floor for suggestions: “Kung meron kayong mabibigay sa amin na mungkahi sa ganyang situwasyon, definitely makikinig kami.” (If you have any suggestions for that kind of situation, definitely we will listen.)
Rappler reached out to Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Marikina Representative Maan Teodoro for comment, but neither has responded as of writing. Maan is running for Marikina mayor, while her husband, Marcy, is seeking a congressional seat — though his candidacy is currently still on hold due to a residency issue. This story will be updated once they respond.
Efforts to pass an anti-epal law have been stalled time and again, leaving politicians plenty of room to slap their initials — or even full names and faces — on publicly-funded projects.
“Government projects are funded using taxpayers’ money. However, it has been the traditional practice of government officials to label or acknowledge the procurement of items with their names or identities as if the projects or items were personally funded,” one of the many versions of the bill reads.
And with the election season creeping in (although the campaign period for local elections has yet start as of writing), those Qs are popping up everywhere — not just in government buildings.
Along J.P. Rizal Street, a flashing pink light beams a Q symbol into the night — like Marikina’s own Bat-Signal. Near the bridge on A. Bonifacio Street, a tower bears the same mark.
And then there are the tarpaulins — everywhere.
Because in Marikina, if there’s a project, there’s bound to be a Q.
– Rappler.com