Republic of the Philippines

Bicol University
INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
Legazpi City 4500

AD 9 – Architectural Design 9 - Thesis Research Writing

Concept Note
Name: James Louis M. Delos Santos
Course and Block: BS Architecture - 5B

Concept Note No. 1

Proposed Title

A Proposed Night Market along the Cory Aquino Boulevard

Research Area/Discipline (It is the area of study where your research is expected to
provide the most relevant contribution.)
Research Area
Arts & Humanities Architecture, Engineering
Urban studies, Social Issues, Development
Social Sciences
Studies, and Business & Economics

Scientific/Theoretical Background to the Study (What have you read that you decided to
pursue this topic?)

The Cory Aquino Boulevard, also tagged as the longest boulevard in the Philippines is an
ongoing government project that has a length of about 8.7 km (when completed) that connects
4 towns – Mercedes, Daet, Talisay, and Vinzons – in Camarines Norte. It was opened for public
access last April of 2019 and is expected to boost economic activities in the province. One of
the major economic activities that informally emerged alongside the boulevard was a night
market.

In tourism destination areas, shopping is an important aspect to consider as it is one of

the primary inviting factors that tourists look forward to. The study of Manoj Kumar and
Amitabh Upadhya (2017) entitled, Night Shopping a Tourist Attraction: A Study of Night
Shopping in Dubai, highlighted in their study that night-markets are a distinct tourism product
that can be adapted to various tourism destinations. Their findings also reveal that tourists
prefer a relaxed shopping experience during nighttime than daytime.
 A study of Khursiah Binti Abd.Aziz and Lye Wai Yeng (2011) entitled, Exploring the
Potential of a Night Market as a Tourist Attraction, reveals that the local government has an
important major contribution in improving the night market at Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.
The study believed that addition of new public facilities and fixation of existing broken facilities
are necessary. Six major factors were identified to maximize the potential of the night market in
Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam; (1) cultural composition, (2) convenience, (3) strategic placement
of stores, (4) cleanliness, (5) strategic location, and (6) cost of goods and services.

There is a great potential for the night market along the Cory Aquino Boulevard. It is not
just an ordinary boulevard – it is a seaside boulevard. Traveling on the boulevard will give
people sights of Baybay beach in Mercedes, Bagasbas beach in Daet, San Jose beach in Talisay,
and Mantigbi beach in Vinzons. Not only does it make traveling faster within the province, but it
also makes it more fun and relaxing. A night market will further improve livelihood of locals,
and boost economic and tourism engagements of the province. The proposed night market will
value, protect, and improve the existing environmental condition within the site.

Knowledge Gap to be Filled (What new contribution to knowledge does this study hope to
generate?)

The purpose of this study is to:

a. explore the potential of the night market along the Cory Aquino Boulevard
b. identify existing conditions at the night market
c. suggest improvements to identified problems and enhance identified strengths
d. propose a night market along the boulevard

Main Research Question (What is the main research question that you intend to provide
answers to?)

a. What are the potential factors that will help improve the night market along the
Cory Aquino Boulevard?
b. What new spaces should be added to the existing night market? / What spaces
needs improvement, or fixation?
c. What architectural design solution and technologies would best fit for the proposed
night market?

Research Design, Methods, and Materials (Outline the key aspects of the design,
methods, and materials for the research.)

The study will be conducted using the following strategies/methods:

a. Structured Survey Questionnaire
b. Ocular/Natural Observation
 c. Interview

The study will also use secondary sources of information such as journals, articles,
studies, literatures, and more.

Most Relevant References

Abd.Aziz, K.B., & Wai Yeng, L., (2011). Exploring the Potential of a Night Market as a Tourist
Attraction retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/1141817/EXPLORING_THE_POTENTIAL_OF_A_NIGHT_MARKET_AS
_A_TOURIST_ATTRACTION

Kumar, M., & Upadhya, A., (2017). Night Shopping a Tourist Attraction: A Study of Night
Shopping in Dubai retrieved from
https://jots.cz/index.php/JoTS/article/view/doi_10.29036.2017.8.15.1

Morstar, R., (2019, April 19). PH's longest boulevard and its nice beach views, ABS-CBN News.
Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/19/look-phs-longest-boulevard-and-its-
nice-beach-views