Multiple temporalities...


At the very mouth of the river was the island called Maynila. As a town, it was just becoming well-known. In fact, it may have been founded only a couple of generations earlier. In the 1520s it was unknown in the Visayas (or Magellan would have been told about it) but by the 1560s the Visayans had already heard of the Kingdom of Maynila.

On its throne sat a young king: Rajah Soliman, who was Muslim and Bornean. His wife was Bornean too and so were his palace guards. Soliman was a warrior. The petty kingdoms along the river and on the lake lived in mortal terror of him. They cried that he was forever swooping down on them, to raid and plunder.

....

On May 19, 1571, Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi occupied Manila in the name of the king of Spain.

....

And on June 24, 1571, a municipal government was established in Manila.

....

The king of Spain would honor the new city with another title: Insigne y Siempre Loyal, or Famous and Ever Faithful. More familiar is the title of Noble y Siempre Leal--or Noble and Ever Loyal--that Manila still wears in oratory and nostalgia.

....

Like Troy, which was sevenfold, Manila has been many cities and will be many more. Like every great city, Manila sprang from a wilderness of question marks. Legazpi was not the beginning, nor yet Soliman.

The city was, is, and will be larger than these terms, even if reduced back to the original space of ground from which it began, from which it will always begin. Should atomic war annihilate Manila, the survivors, if any, will, one can bet, automatically start rebuilding on that same tongue of land where the River flows into the Bay. Both Soliman and Legazpi built there and they could only have been following in the footprints of those who, through he ages, like the makers of the Seven Troys, had been building and rebuilding on that original site.

There, apparently, is where the genius of the city is resident-- and Intramuros is once and future womb.

When we celebrate ... Manila, therefore, we can celebrate, not a date or founding, but a site, a scene, a location, a motherground. It has known too many dates and foundations. Races and empires and religions have washed over it; the warlike have used thunder to claim it and the city, smiling, has allowed them their foolish moment. Age after age, its lovers have hailed its rebirth or bewailed its perishing, while outside continued the traffic for strange webs with Eastern merchants.

And all this has been but as the sound of lyres and flutes.


Excerpts from Nick Joaquin's Manila, My Manila.

---

This is a thread for images of the City of Manila, heart of the Metro, Manila the Noble, Manila the Loyal. Maynila.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pfc5517f6937b708df68d320cd7f7a347/fb302562.jpg
City Hall

http://www.geocities.com/mikerasalan/philippines03/intramurosgolfcourse.txt
City walls.

Does anyone have pics of the Roxas Ave. scrapers? Especially the ones across from the US Embassy?

Also there were a few completed scrapers in the Malate area that I know very little about.

beautiful thread. i am sending you a picture of the few scrapers along manila bay at msn. but yo are busy right now. i can resend later. i dun have a good photohost.

there's a scraper in Roxas blvd that is quite tall (taller than Landbank), but has an ugly facade. i dunno it's name..

Is that a building or just a wall? Looks quite solid to me.

Originally posted by boybaha

http://www.geocities.com/mikerasalan/philippines03/intramurosgolfcourse.txt
City walls.

That low dark solid thing is a massive wall, several meters thick. Inside the walls are caverns and cells and places where they used to keep artillery. They were built a couple of centuries ago to protect the City of Manila from foreign invaders and ringed the whole city (that time just a small parcel of land). Since then, Manila has grown outwards beyond the walls. We call the area within the walls Intramuros (which means within the walls :))

You can actually walk most of the length of the wall, on top of the wall and get to see some pretty cool stuff. They still have cannons (not working anymore) and stuff in certain parts.

That big green lawn you see in front of it is part of a 9 hole golf course that rings Intramuros and was built during the American colonial period over what used to be the moat that surrounded the city. Yep, the golf course was moat.

Here's one of the entrances of the city walls. You can kind of see how thick it is.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p12ecb18e3b009760356ef6bad7f91892/fb302506.jpg

This entrance doesn't go into city proper anymore. It goes into a small side section where they have the Acuario de Manila, the Manila Aquarium. It's a pretty pathetic aquarium. But they have nice gardens and access to a part of the wall that look out towards Rizal Park and Manila Bay.

i'm planning to visit Intramuros in 2 weeks time. i haven't been there for like 6 years now. How's the views from on top of those walls?

btw, aren't those walls rebuilt by Marcos during the 70's?

Here's the view from the wall on top of the Acuario de Manila. Actually I made a mistake-- you can't see the bay.

I heard the view on the pasig river side is pretty cool-- accessible through Fort Santiago. Someone here posted some pics of that corner of the city walls a long time ago.

http://www.geocities.com/mikerasalan/philippines03/ manilahoteltmkalaw.txt

^^^

That pink and blue skyscraper is nice!

I don't know what that building is called. Here's a pic by weirdo.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pe5d9c3edc4a12584fac77ec59cdb9d5d/f93fb2d4.jpg

Can anybody ID this building?

I think you got the wrong one. I was referring to the tallest one in the pic :D

Yeah I realised I got the wrong one... Changed the image.

Anyway, the shorter less pretty building is called Embassy Pointe Tower (or is it Pearl of the Orient?)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p078d4e2ec476231f72285d1a426a4825/fb3025a7.jpg

The building on the foreground on the left is the Luneta Hotel. It's the oldest multistorey building in existence in the Philippines. The first skyscraper?

Here's another angle.

Thank you weirdo for the pic. (not his but he sent it to me)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/p48f62d3f70c192e4a796d90cd2a47f5c/f93fa954.jpg

i really like that photo. manila looks beautiful from that area and from breakwater.

i've been to that place in that last pic, on the lower-left hand side.

the 1322/Embassy Pointe pair is fast becoming Manila's skyscraper symbols

Originally posted by boybaha

Here's another angle.

Thank you weirdo for the pic. (not his but he sent it to me)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/p48f62d3f70c192e4a796d90cd2a47f5c/f93fa954.jpg

this is absolutely beautiful!!!

I recently visited Manila and it seems that everything Lito Atienza is doing to revive the city is working! I like the pedestrianized areas he's put up at Avenida/Rizal and the Baywalk as well as his "linear parks" on Muelle del Banco Nacional along Pasig River which have been decorated with nice lights and the classic yellow/maroon tiles. the way they've been done is real good and the old, dirty, squatter-like appearance of Maynila has been very well covered up. looks quite classy actually... if only I could've taken a picture to show.

He's also cleaned up empty public parks and tiled paths in these parks to allow people to walk and stroll around in them. I love the way he's lit up Manila with all those colorful lights along the previously dead areas of the city at night. the Jones Bridge (I think that's the one) looks fabulous with those lights at night!!! He's been able to successfuly bring people out of malls and back into the city streets... and that is one hell of a task!

He really has revived Manila into its former glory. If only I could vote in the coming elections, L.A. would EASILY get my vote as Mayor of Manila...

Originally posted by renell

the 1322/Embassy Pointe pair is fast becoming Manila's skyscraper symbols

of course. there's no rival. and the good thing is they look decent.

Originally posted by absent-minded

the Jones Bridge (I think that's the one) looks fabulous with those lights at night!!!

macarthur bridge is spectacularly lighted too. with pink and blue lights. these two bridges are a great sight from the LRT during night time. quezon bridge has been recently lighted too but not with those colourful ones. just plain light that would be enough to keep some squalogs from defecating in their corners during dark hours.

Originally posted by weirdo

macarthur bridge is spectacularly lighted too. with pink and blue lights. these two bridges are a great sight from the LRT during night time. quezon bridge has been recently lighted too but not with those colourful ones. just plain light that would be enough to keep some squalogs from defecating in their corners during dark hours.

oh... cool... it just sucks the way some people go along in the middle of the night and steal the lights... :rant: :rant: :rant:

that's why the gov't hesitates to respond to our requests for some projects. I mean, the gov't spends so much on something that's just gonna be destroyed by their own citizens in a few days, they might as well keep the money to themselves. and that's probably why they don't even bother replacing the stolen lights anymore, which is a lot more practical...

Originally posted by weirdo

of course. there's no rival. and the good thing is they look decent.

they also look good as pairs. and quite tall aswell:guns1:

@absent & renell: yea

i hope they build modern, classy, bridges across the Pasig river. get like an international architect to do it.. or better, an local competition for a new bridge..:guns1:

Originally posted by renell

i hope they build modern, classy, bridges across the Pasig river. get like an international architect to do it.. or better, an local competition for a new bridge..:guns1:

Yeah, they should build a innovative bridge like that Bamban bridge! That one was awesome.

A rare view. Between two Pasig River bridges. The first to identify both bridges wins a donut.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid109/p16ebb3bb5d9f39772dd690369a190b04/f9304971.jpg

1. Look at picture
2. Sing Red Hot Chili Pepper Song "Under the Bridge"

oops double post.

well one is the LRT bridge, i dunno if that has a specific name,

for the second bridge, ayala? jones?

The bridge on the left cannot be ayala because ayala connects to a hospital island... Cannot be Jones because Jones is further down the river... So it must be McArthur Bridge...and LRT.

so where's my donut?

ok,macarthurandlrt1 bridge then...

Another picture found on the web.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid109/pa668eaed46f6f41f7163fae8f711f4e2/f9304963.jpg
This is a picture of the statue of Rajah Soliman in Plaza Soliman in front of the Malate Church.

im looking forward to going to that place.. looks nice. especially the fountain.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid91/p23ff7cf2a87a169e54cc65d58a223875/fa6d03bc.jpg

guess the bridge. first one to guess gets nothing. hehe.

Jones?

Jones?

galing galing. very good. o un na ung prize mo.

im looking forward to going to that place.. looks nice. especially the fountain.

maybe i'm too late para magpost nito. and i suck at nightphotog. blurry pero i'm gonna post em anyway

plaza rajah sulayman fountain night pics
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid59/p8a1b8e018d161e9e619e85d8fdd918b7/fc59e12b.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid59/pcde6b55a2dfc5c7dd2a43639f2695e77/fc59e0b0.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pce4c58aa22880d6da4661a2b5c52860c/fc3aa733.jpg

yep. that place, ill certainly be going there.

I went to P.I. this February. I didn't explore Manila as much as I wanted to (very hectic sched). Never got a chance to see Rizal Ave., City Hall, Quiapo,etc. But I did go to Intramuros, Baywalk and Malate (at night). Malate has very good nite life (bars,restaurants,hotels,coffee shops,etc). Intramuros was very lively at night (I also went there in daylight to visit Fort Santiago). They closed some streets so restaurants can set table for al fresco dining. And they're not like cheap either, some looks like fine dining. It's cool to walk on top of the wall overlooking the golf course. Then I went to Baywalk the same nite, place was very lively,too. Tons of people walking even at midnite. Place was lined up with open-air bars and restraurants with live bands (although not top caliber). We left around 1AM, and the place still pack, lots of tourists still strolling. Overall, I like what I saw in Manila. I hope Atienza (or somebody else) continue to redevelop old landmarks and build new architectural wonders. I also went to Cebu city and in my obervation, Manila is still way better. Btw, here's some Intramuros pics and Plaza Raja Sulaiman.

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL199/2020052/3911409/50174275.jpg
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL199/2020052/3911409/50174299.jpg
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL199/2020052/3911409/50174304.jpg http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL199/2020052/3911409/50174296.jpg
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL199/2020052/3911409/50174302.jpg

The bridge on the left cannot be ayala because ayala connects to a hospital island... Cannot be Jones because Jones is further down the river... So it must be McArthur Bridge...and LRT.

so where's my donut?

You get a donut...
http://www.krispykreme.com/images/historytop1.gif

Krispy Kreme: the favorite pasalubong of the Filipino stars.

http://www.krispykreme.com/images/bigoriginal.jpg

btw Krispy Kreme is the name of Andrew E.'s latest album, or something like that..

anyways, i still have to go to Intramuros. i'll be looking forward to go there. i've already taken shots of the modern Manila, now i need something to remind me of Europe..:D

Nice pics, tony! Yeah Baywalk is filled with people every night.. It kinda lifted the spirit of Manila:D
interesting observations, too... Did you take pics of Cebu?

Central Post Office by sunset

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p04f8d9517ca607a1dd95182a4e4a8611/fb301abb.jpg

awesome! MM's sunset is a real value to our city:)

thanks for the krispy kreme..:eat:

man, i still have to go to that part of Manila.. and make good use of that sunset for photo opportunities

You still have lots of time;)

You still have lots of time;)

two weeks seems like an awful short time for me. but i reckon i can squeeze in the time. but i also hope the weather is good. today in Rockwell i got pics but the weather isnt so good. blue sky in MM is quite hard to get, with the sun against you and pollution.

hmmm...i hope you get more blue sky:)

hehe, whenever im there, i always check to see if there is blue sky everytime a wake up.:D

yeah renell! philippines have awesome sunset!

thanks for the nice pics tonydv. the street restos in inramuros are cool. not really expensive. abt P150/head eat all you can. masarap.

manila is very beautiful. yehey.

wow sarap donut. penge. hehe.

astig picture mike. yahoo.

the bay is the city's border to the west. along the coast is a walk and a boulevard. it is a great place to unwind and relax after an exhausting trip/work/study in the busy districts of the beautiful city.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/pd51e6ac331e217717e6c4d081d828d3f/f9d5ac6d.jpg

a sitting arsenio lacson, considered one of the better mayors of manila.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/p4609e567160aaa197729149ad0cdffbc/f9d58981.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/pb959da13b9fd4477d9a9e480b1307792/f9d5896b.jpg

i noticed weirdo being more positive about manila recently. has manila really improved that much recently? is it close to it's golden age or at least it's former glory? hehe.

yea. it's nice to be very positive. sometimes i cant help but feel really bad when i encounter some bad situation. but most of the time i feel positive. thanks to more optimistic people like you!

manila improved a lot. but i think matagal pa ang golden age.

the bay
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/pe50dbc29d2e6252d456327399ea41b3a/f9d5717d.jpg

a girl sitting beside one of the open air cafes along the bay
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/p2423f0ee4b46ba64484a744cb1321f4b/f9d57177.jpg

baywalk's second statue, benigno aquino.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/p98c77dd68cf28827b974dc39e80fa193/f9d57171.jpg
i think boybaha's got better ninoy pics. maybe he'll post it some time.

well Manila has indeed improved in the surface, but there is still a lot of things to be done. if you're a tourist, you can see the differences, but if i were a lower-class manileno, i wouldnt see much difference in my life in the city. thats my opinion, i could be wrong

i think he's right. but i guess it's not only for a lower-class manileno but for an average filipino, nothing much has changed.

and i agree with renell too that lots of things have to be done. but we should not forget or dismiss the fact that a lot has already been done. if we constantly remind ourselves of our city's accomplishments we won't be very pessimistic most of the time.

i think now atienza should be setting sights for improving the other parts of Manila, the parts where tourists dont go. youd be amazed with those pics posted, but you wont be if you visit quiapo, binondo, san andres. nothing much has changed

i am amazed with quiapo, binondo and san andres. it all depends on the way you look. your presupposition has a great influence on your reaction.

i think boybaha's got better ninoy pics. maybe he'll post it some time.

I think your pic is better. In your picture, obviously Ninoy is happy about the sunset.

In my picture, it looks like he's happy about the American Embassy being there (maybe he was? the Americans did give him asylum from Marcos).

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pd250e25a619c1c970c4cc5d2d7f59dd7/fb2fe858.jpg

thanks for granting my request. your pic is beautiful. it gives an idea of how big the statue is etc. but none of our pics reveal his face. hehe.

thanks for granting my request. your pic is beautiful. it gives an idea of how big the statue is etc. but none of our pics reveal his face. hehe.

hehe... here's his face.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p7ad9ccdd9eacee1fd43663dbd43b6274/fb2fe88b.jpg

and here's his plaque.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pcf5a523d5ba3263a8f63a164734786fa/fb2fe8b7.jpg

cool. thanks again.

i am amazed with quiapo, binondo and san andres. it all depends on the way you look. your presupposition has a great influence on your reaction.

i mean compared with the Roxas blvd. area, those places need some rehabilitating. surely they must not be left behind. and maybe Manila should start trash segrergating and recylcing (are those the same?)


anyways, i still have to go there. man, only 5 days

of course they shouldnt be left behind. maybe their strategy is to clean up areas where income can be generated more in order to have money for cleaning up the rest.

5 days na lang? kaya mo yan.

Only 5 more days left? so fast...

Manila imo, is doing quite well in improving its image. Its getting nicer, cleaner and more vibrant. But however some old, classic buildings are getting demolished:(

that's one sad thing. i'm afraid that there'd be a time when locals will look for these old, classic and historical structures but they're gone forever save for intramuros buildings and some more old churches.

Is it because of the lack of space that they are demolishing this structures? Imo, there are old shophouses that are ugly, and should be demolished instead of these classic, historical buildings if all they need is space.

Is it because of the lack of space that they are demolishing this structures? Imo, there are old shophouses that are ugly, and should be demolished instead of these classic, historical buildings if all they need is space.
i think it's more like they're not getting any money from these structures. those ugly shophouses are private property so the government cannot really do much about it. :(

Not all shophouses should be demolished. I like how Singapore and KL are using their shophouses to retain a certain flavor in their urban areas. There's a way to upgrade them and to renovate them that keeps them commercially viable.

Here's one that I don't think is ugly, but could use a little work. Its on Avenida Rizal.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p684c8b4f3991246e574d8df601148f86/fb301b8f.jpg

i agree. i'm sorry if i sounded like i wanted them demolished. i didn't. :D

well they look ugly because they are abandoned. they need to be used to be maintained.

actually i find such structures beautiful. i wouldnt want them to be demolished. but then i dont have the power, influence to force my opinions on the city govt.

here's the same thing last november
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/pbf25aebfc8d99bf57fe75e2114dbccf3/f9d85c95.jpg

by now the refurbishing must be done. it looks good.

regarding the remaining of old buildings in manila, it's very sad to see how they are being demolished for new building. i beleive it's the mentality of the majority of filipinos to always like newer things than older things.

but a lot of countries are giving new use for a lot of their older building (adaptive reuse). this is totally possible in the philippines, our government officials and public should be exposed to the other possibilities of these older buildings. but again, even the mayor of manila, atienza, showed such a bad example of demolishing the Jai-alai building in the middle of the night.

Speaking of buildings that need adaptive re-use...
Luneta Hotel in front of Rizal Park.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pe02b07e5a6c6e7b5a70a4385fbc25cfc/fb3025fc.jpg

he demolished meisic cuartel. :(

i visited that place couple of hours ago. nothing changed:(

Not all shophouses should be demolished. I like how Singapore and KL are using their shophouses to retain a certain flavor in their urban areas. There's a way to upgrade them and to renovate them that keeps them commercially viable.



Well, i didnt say all shophouses. there are a lot of nice classic shophouses in Manila... But there are some ugly, poorly maintained ones that need to either be renovated or torn down. (i just said i prefered to have these torn down than other structures)

I'd rather draw a dermarcating line.... A lot of shophouses built prior to 1960s have a certain charm to them, no matter how run-down. They need work. But there are many eyesores that appear to have been built in the 60s, 70s, 80s, that are just squat, ugly concrete bunkers and those can be destroyed.

luneta hotel
yeah this is a very beautiful & charming building. well, i heard the reason why it's bandoned is because it's not structurally safe but i beleive it's just a reason to be demolished.

this is the onlt french baroque architecture in the country. this will be great to be transformed into a hotel or condos. i bet it would sell like pancake especially the location and view of the bay and luneta park.

it's been abandoned for years now, so i dont know what's going to happened to it.

makes me so sad to see buildings like this being abandoned =(

maybe they think it would be cheaper to build a new one than renovate old ones

I guess so too. To most people, they dont care about a building's heritage, they just care about how much money the save or make.

I guess so too. To most people, they dont care about a building's heritage, they just care about how much money the save or make.
AND NOW OUR CULTURAL LANDMARKS LIKE ART DECO BLDGS ARE SLOWLY DISAPPEARING AND BEING DESTROYED TO GIVE WAY TO MORE MODERN BUILDINGS AND HIGHRISES

Here's an art-deco classic that looks like it was recently renovated. This one is on Roxas Blvd, across the street from the US Embassy.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p4c4b67e893ebd3800aebbfce0a219d50/fb30264d.jpg

I believe it's a low-rent hotel.

that's a bautiful building! i remembered when they were renovating that. the upper most unit must be really awesome with high ceiling and hight windows!

a UST prof of mine have a penthouse unit on an art deco building nearer to luneta park and it had a different feeling and he turned the interior to be very modern! very nice.

u a UST grad? UST got real old buildings...some stairways got moss on them.

u a UST grad? UST got real old buildings...some stairways got moss on them.

their Direcho Civil building dates back to 1734, and their gym where the Growling Tigers play is real old, they got plans to build a bigger one. i had my cousin to tour me around there. they have well maintained classical buildings

i forgot to tell today i visited the Malacanan Palace. i got some rare pics inside:)

really? what about showing us some of those pics u got?

i forgot to tell today i visited the Malacanan Palace. i got some rare pics inside:)

wow! you're some tourist!;):D How come you went inside?

yes francis i graduated from UST =)

renell, is it possible for anyone to visit malacanag? i never been there before, maybe i could go on this trip! did you see the famous shoes?

In the days of Cory, you could go in and see the famous shoes. But today, I believe those are actually in a warehouse and not in Malacanang. Since Erap I believe, the executive started living inside Malacanang instead of the guesthouse in the back. So I am no longer sure if there are tours anymore unless you know someone special.

I used to work in Malacanang when I was doing a kind of practicum thing for my undergraduate years. I worked at Mabini Hall, one of the buildings inside the Malacanang complex, the one right next to St. Jude's church so I used to go through Malacanang gates everyday. My security clearance only allowed me to go through the administration buildings and Kalayaan Hall which flank the main palace and not the palace itself because the president lived there already.

I used to work in Malacanang when I was doing a kind of practicum thing for my undergraduate years. I worked at Mabini Hall, one of the buildings inside the Malacanang complex...

astig ka talaga kuya! Lawyer ka siguro...ala lang. My teacher in HS told me that the easiest way to get into Malacanang, or to work there is to be a Lawyer. I dunno.

yeah, one of my aunts had a contact inside the Palace, so we were able to visit inside. but I think you can go inside, though i dunno how.


no i didnt see the shoes, someone told me it was in Marikina now.. and they only showed a half, literally, of the palace, only the right wing.

Yeah, show us pictures of Malacañang! Anyway, found this 1966 picture of the Palace, prior to the 1978 Marcos renovation:
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pcf4c47e80264f79efdec9515e24d5756/f901bd4b.jpg"></img>

that was beautiful.

yeah malacanag is pretty. by the river =)

Looks quite different to what it looks like now. Very nice. Yeah, Malacanang is beautiful along the river shores. They should really clean up Pasig River to crystal clear waters to make a picturesque sight.

One thing i dont like about Malacanang's location is outside its walls, the area is very congested/crowded, and not very attractive. Its not ugly, but isnt grand either.

Here's an art-deco classic that looks like it was recently renovated. This one is on Roxas Blvd, across the street from the US Embassy.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p4c4b67e893ebd3800aebbfce0a219d50/fb30264d.jpg

I believe it's a low-rent hotel.

beautiful, one great example of restoration of older buildings.

The Palace looks great from the inside. i can attest to that.



what is confusing is if that Luneta Hotel cannot be repaired and is in bad condition, how come it's not being demolished? it should have been demolished years before then.. maybe the owner of the lot has other plans.. and is waiting financing

maybe not enough money to demolish:D but why demolish? they should renovate.

well if i recall well someone said it is beyond repair. if it's structurally unsafe, what on earth is it doing still standing? i think that's not the reason. is it used as anything at all? storage? or is it owned by anyone?


ps. this new editing feature is great, check out the bottom

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p35928763eb23c45bb4d1e4d49b7c25d0/f8fb9467.jpg

a small preview of what's to come

Nice pic! Where you on the baywalk when u took that? One of the best of Roxas 1332.

Nice pic! Where you on the baywalk when u took that? One of the best of Roxas 1332.

i took it near the Ninoy statue. and btw, Ninoy has a new neighbor in Baywalk. it was just built recently. i can't remember his name though.

more Manila pics.

University of Santo Tomas
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pe6b3714980defb5836238c60bfd2a314/f8f92753.jpg

View from the entrance of Manila Hotel
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From Ermita Church
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they're slowly uploading...

more UST
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Rizal Park
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1322 and POTO (Pearl of the Orient Tower) surrounded by Manila's smog. View from the top level of Robinson's Place Ermita parking
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more ust
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http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p3c85d2a56d88ddb07ec65dc6f7e78de8/f8f926e8.jpg

UST main building entrance (?) from the parking lot
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that's all today.

nice nice. wow. di ka nagtitipid ng pictures. siguro sobrang dami niyan. astig.

whoops. sobrang bilis ba ang release ng mga pictures? sige wala na until next saturday. lol. but remember i have 2 CD's worth of pics

wow! dami pa palang pics ni renell. :carrot: :applause: :pepper:

I like that UST pics.

nga pala, I think the security in UST is not that tight (or during weekends only), me & my two thesismates had entered the main gate and the guard didn't bothered asking us where is our ID. :weird: that was last year tho. Sabagay, face value siguro...hehehe.joke! :drunk:

off-topic. :down:

well the security in the campus was normal like any other important place in Metro Manila when i visited

Classic Architecture in Manila by Ka Ernie Baron from Knowledge Power and ABS-CBN News Weather...

FYI (For Your Information): Sinaunang gusali sa Maynila

Isa ang gusali sa mga pangunahing tagumpay ng bawat sibilisasyon. Sinasalamin ng gusali ang panlasa ng panahon kung kailan ito naitayo.

Sa Pilipinas, ang impluwensya ng mga dayuhang sumakop ng bansa ay nagmarka rin sa arkitektura. Ilan sa mga gusaling ito ay matatagpuan sa lungsod ng Maynila.

Isang halimbawa nito ang Manila Central Post Office building. Idinisenyo ito ni Juan Arellano noong 1934. Bahagi ang gusaling ito ng isang development plan para sa Maynila.

Pinangunahan ang planong ito ni Daniel Burnham, isang Amerikano.

Sa kasalukuyan, isa na lang ito sa mga natitirang "neo-classical" na gusali ng pamahalaan sa lungsod.

Karamihan sa ganitong uri ng gusali ay napinsala at tuluyang nagiba noong Ikawalang Digmaang Pandaigdig.

Matapos ang digmaan, isa ang Post Office sa mga gusaling kinumpuni upang mabalik sa dating anyo.

Sa likod ng gusaling ito matatagpuan ang Ilog Pasig.

Tumatawid naman sa ilog ang Jones Bridge, kilala noong panahon ng Kastila bilang Puente de España. Ngunit hindi na ito ang tulay na itinayo ng mga Kastila. Nasira na ang orihinal na tulay sa pagdaan ng mga panahon.

Sa kabilang bahagi ng ilog, naroon ang Calle Escolta. Ang Escolta ang sentro ng kalakalan noong panahon ng Kastila.

Bunga na rin ng kapabayaan, iilang gusali na lang noong panahong iyon ang nakatayo sa kasalukuyan.

Isa sa mga gusaling ito ang Regina Building na itinayo noong 1935.

Sa lugar rin ng Escolta matatagpuan ang Plaza Lawton at ang McArthur Bridge. Mula dito, matatanaw ang ilog at likod na bahagi ng Post Office.

Isa pa sa mga katangi-tanging lugar ang Metropolitan Theatre na halos abandonado na ngayon. Ang gusali ng teatrong ito ay kumakatawan naman sa sinaunang estilo ng "art deco."

Patungo sa Quiapo, madadaanan naman ang Quezon Bridge. Itinayo ito noong matapos ang giyera. Sa lugar na ito unang itinayo ng mga Kastila ang tulay na tinaguriang Puente Colgante noong 1852.

Ngunit para lang sa mga tao ang tulay na ito at bawal tumawid ang mga sasakyan. Ginamit ang nasabing tulay hanggang noong 1930s.

Maliban sa popular na simbahan ng Quiapo, isa pang natatanging gusali ang makikita sa Maynila. Ito ang simbahan ng San Sebastian na may estilong "neo-gothic" ang pagkakagawa.

Ito rin ang nag-iisang simbahan sa buong Pilipinas na gawa sa bakal. Ginawa sa Belgium ang mga bahagi nito at isa-isang dinala sa Pilipinas ang mga piraso.

Taong 1891 nang basbasan ang simbahan ng San Sebastian. Ngunit ngayon, may panganib na bumagsak ang simbahan dahil sa kinakalawang na istrukturang bakal nito.

May kuwento pa nga na iisa ang nagdisenyo ng simbahang ito at ang Eiffel Tower sa Paris bagamat walang ebidensya dito.

Sa kabila nito, mayroong istrukturang idinesenyo ang gumuhit ng Eiffel sa Pilipinas. Ito ang Ayala Bridge sa Maynila.

Ngunit hindi na ito ang tulay na makikita sa Maynila ngayon. Nag-iba ang istruktura nito noong panahon ng giyera.

Samantala, makikita rin sa loob ng Intramuros ang mga lumang istruktura. Karamihan sa mga gusali dito ay hindi na luma ngunit isinunod na lang sa estilong Kastila.

Isa na rito ang simbahan ng San Agustin, tampok na gusali sa Intramuros. Higit nang 100 taon ang edad ng simbahang ito.

Ito rin ang pinakamatandang gusaling bato sa Pilipinas. Mayroon rin itong museo ng mga gamit ng Kastila sa loob.

Sa labas ng Intramuros, matatagpuan ang tatlo pang gusaling neo-classical. Ang mga gusaling ito ay itinayo rin noong 1920s.

Dalawa sa mga ito ay okupado ng Pambansang Museo at Kagawaran ng Turismo.

Ang pangunahing gusali ng Museo ang dating bulwagan ng Senado. Tulad ng ibang kaedad na gusali, nasira rin ito noong giyera ngunit muling inayos gamit ang orihinal na disenyo.

Those are really amazing pictures.I've never seen how the De La Salle in Taft looks like.Is it far from UST?

great photos. i like the building next to roxas 1332.



ust havent changed =)

hi boybaha! im truly a manilena by heart, but its realy quite frustrating to discover most of the classical structures here in a very sorry state. even our present manila mayor joselito atienza, who sucessfully initiated the 'buhayin ang maynila' project to restore the capital city's old glory was never spared from the controversies, like demolishing the jai alai, to giv way for a new city hall of justice, the juan luna haus turned warehaus in san nicolas & the meisic quartel in tondo to construct a new mall, etc. all these brouhaha were caused by very active environmentalist groups who claim these areas should be preserved bec. of its historical value. well, nasa korte n clang lhat, so just leave evrything to them. on the other hand, many elderlies here were in fact saying that the world war 2 was the perfect chance for manila to reconstruct coz everything was practically destroyed, but thats part of the past nway. u sometimes just cant avoid feeling loathesome for all the chances we lost to finally implement the metropolitan master plan for this badly planned city. ryt now, the city govt has been very busy reviving the long neglected parks & pocket gardens all around the city. we know so many things has still to be done, but whats impt is seeing the local govt doing something to at least cover up the problem as totally eliminating them is truly impossible. :-)

yeah... I fully support Atienza's whole-hearted effort to really revive Maynila into its past and former glory! you can tell he's not just doing stuff for elections from projects that were quickly started pretty much right after his election. I love that new Muelle del Banco Nacional Linear Park that I've mentioned a few times in this thread. would love to take some pics to show... the Baywalk redevelopment was also real good, but because of lack of population control, it hasn't been maintained too well. hopefully, with the help of other gov't and non-gov't orgs, we'll be able to see a whole lot more in time for the 2005 SEAG....

and yeah, even though it is practically impossible to totally clean up the city, he has at least tried and kept trying....

SEPTEMBER 1 , 2000 VOL. 26 NO. 34

http://image.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0901/a.s_building.jpg
Joel Nito for Asiaweek.
Once one of Manila's most striking structures, the sports building was neglected for years before demolition began.

The Game's Over
A link with the past goes as Manila's Jai Alai stadium is torn down
By PETER CORDINGLY and RUEL S. DE VERA Manila

Ignore, if you can, the poverty and garbage that spill on to the city's streets. Block out the sight of vagabond children hawking tat at traffic intersections. Peer, instead, through the diesel fumes and back to a time when Manila was a gentler place, a blossoming metropolis tipped to be the pride of Asia. This was in the years just before World War II, when the Philippine Commonwealth was preparing for independence from the U.S. and anything seemed possible. Among the jewels of that period: Taft Avenue, a mini-Champs Elysee, with grand homes, sparkling movie houses, colleges and spectacular Art Deco buildings. One of the finest was the Jai Alai stadium, opened in 1940 as a home for the Basque game of the same name and quickly adopted as a playground by the rich and glamorous.

Today, little of the old Taft Avenue is left. Grimy and eternally ensnarled in traffic, it is clogged by too many people living in too little space, with many of the old buildings flattened by American or Japanese bombs. And, as of last week, the Jai Alai building was just about gone too. Despite a determined and emotional campaign to save it, the Art Deco edifice was being pulled down to make way for a court building. Conservationists are livid but powerless. With the disappearance of the sports center, they say, the Philippine capital has lost one of the few remaining landmarks from a time when the city cherished elegance. Says John L. Silva, a member of the Heritage Conservation Society: "Every time we tear down an old structure, particularly one that resonates with history and milestones, we as a people lose another marker that explains who we are as a nation, where we came from and where we are going."

The four-story Jai Alai building was the work of noted American architect Welton Becket, a friend of Hollywood celebrities and designer of the homes of such screen legends as James Cagney and Cesar Romero, as well as of Los Angeles airport. The Jai Alai's sleek, cylindrical glass front was said to evoke the velocity of the game, in which pelotaris use curved scoops to hurl a rubber ball at speeds of up to 200 km an hour against three walls of a court. But the building was a lot more than a sports hall. Every night, Manila's socialites would gather in the elegant Sky Room to party and dine. Those seated closest to the balcony could also watch the competition. "They had a grand view of the game," says Silva, a consultant to the National Museum. "They would conduct bets through the waiters while enjoying dinner." Says newspaper columnist, socialite and conservationist Bambi Harper: "Back then, the Sky Room was really the only place to hold big functions, aside from the Manila Hotel."

Silva says the disappearance of the Jai Alai building is one more example of city hall's "consistent disregard" for Manila's cultural past. Writing in the Philippine Inquirer, he accuses: "Last year, it tried to destroy the Army Navy building, now the Museo ng Maynila [Manila Museum], and to gobble up the adjoining Museong Pambata [Children's Museum] by attempting to put up a boutique and shopping mall." He says another Manila landmark, the 69-year-old Metropolitan Theater, is in a poor state because of lack of official attention. "When it rains, it pours inside the Met," he complains.
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Before its eventual demise, the Jai Alai building had gone the same way, accelerated toward its fate by the anything-goes years of the Marcos regime, during which it was closed in a match-fixing scandal. Under the control of the national government, it fell into disrepair, as did the neighborhood. Those who could afford to get out got out, replaced by squatters living in shacks, with, at first, a red-light district around the corner and now a rumbling Light Rail Transit system overhead. The sport of jai alai, meaning "merry festival," returned to Manila in 1994, but to new premises a short distance from the original. The old building was handed over to the City of Manila in 1999.

Mayor Lito Atienza, who studied architecture in college, says he is aware of the Jai Alai building's pedigree, but argues that it was necessary to tear it down. He believes the need for a new courthouse far outweighs the sports center's historical value. "I've been given an opportunity by the national government to build a hall of justice," he told Asiaweek. "I am proceeding with the task even if we have to sacrifice part of our historical past in the process." To suggestions that the Jai Alai building could have been saved and adapted as a court, he replies: "That building has been housing criminals, [purse-] snatchers and pickpockets and even deteriorated into a casbah. It would not work as a new justice building if we kept the faCade because people would remember the game-fixing and the cheating, instead of the dignity that befits a hall of justice. It just wouldn't blend."

Atienza is portraying the demolition of the Jai Alai building as the beginning of the rehabilitation of Taft Avenue — "You get a hall of justice and you get rid of a decaying part of Manila." Conservationists concur about the need to clean up the district, but argue that there was no need to pull down the building. Says Silva: "The Heritage Conservation Society felt the building was a good candidate for adaptive re-use. The demolition was completely unnecessary." Many people agree. Columnist Harper would have liked to see the Jai Alai turned into a college or a modern-art gallery. Architect Emmanuel MiNana envisaged a mixed-use building with podium parking, a commercial mall, office space, and high-end service apartments or a hotel on the upper floors. He says such a development would also have generated good revenue for the government, "an all-win situation with regards to the balance of preserving a large part of a building's cultural heritage as well as providing an economically viable solution that is realistic for the City of Manila."

Urban economist Raymund Magdaluyo believes the Jai Alai building could have been converted into a world-class theater, bringing culture back to Manila "big time." The mayor thinks all this unfeasible. "We cannot keep clinging to the past in the name of conservation if government has limited resources," he says.

As the demolition team prepared to move in July 15 for 45 days of work, conservationists stepped up their efforts to save the building. They held demonstrations at the site and blitzed city hall with e-mails. Says Silva: "Many neighboring countries and cities have now recognized that buildings with such distinctions go a long way to promoting national and cultural pride." Atienza was not convinced. Nor was the presidential palace, which let it be known that President Joseph Estrada would not intervene.

Atienza promises to protect Manila's remaining landmarks. The Heritage Conservation Society says it will believe that when it sees it. It argues that the only guarantee is legislation to safeguard old buildings. Meanwhile, conservationists have a new slogan — "Remember the Jai Alai."

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Here's another article:
Saturday, June 21, 2003

MY METRO MANILA
By Edong

Born in Manila

-snip-

An authentic Manileño would have taken a ride in the tranvia, the forerunner of the LRT train, or would remember when the Tutuban was not a shopping mall but a train station for stops and departures.

Have you enrolled at the Cosmopolitan College, State College, Feati Institute, the Philippine College of Commerce and Business Administration (the former University of the East) or Harvardian College? Then you qualify as an old-timer.

A true-blooded Manileño would have enjoyed the stage shows at the Clover Theater and the Manila Grand Opera House, the presentations at the Metropolitan Theater or watched lachrymose Tagalog movies at Life and Dalisay.

If you had a photo of your party taken at the Panciteria Moderna, Wah Nam, Ambos Mundos, Selecta, Bulakena, D&E, the original Ramon Lee, Country Bakeshop, Sam’s Kitchenette, Taza de Oro, or La Perla, you will not have difficulty convincing the outstanding Manileno contest panel.

Have you swum in the Pasig River or Manila Bay when their waters were cleaner and clearer? Or fished at some of Manila’s famous creeks, such as the Estero Cegado, Tripa de Gallina or Estero de Bangkusay?

Have you impressed friends that you visited the Escolta–Manila’s premier street–and dropped by the Botica Boie Soda Fountain, Lyric Theater, La Estrella del Norte or Hickock’s Watches?

You also qualify if you used to be a reader of Liwayway, Bulaklak, Sinagtala, Tiktik, Pilipino Komiks, the original Philippines Free Press, The Manila Times and The Daily Mirror.

Do you remember catchphrases like “Keep ‘em flying!,” “Hanggang pier,” “Alis diyan!,” “Magsaysay is my guy,” or “Remember Erlinda!”?

An original Manileño would have traipsed at the Santa Ana Cabaret, placed a bet at the San Lazaro Hippodrome or wagered at the first-born Jai Alai fronton.

Have you entered the premises of the Army and Navy Club, the Elks Club, the Luneta Hotel, Jardin Botanico, Old Bilibid Prison in Quiapo, Tanduay Fire Station and the original Philippine General Hospital?

You must have shopped at Berg’s Department Store, Erewhon Bookshop, Camara Shoes, Good Earth Emporium, Arcega’s Department Store, or the Soriente-Santos.

One who has bended arms at the Lion’s Den, Taboy’s, Los Indios Bravos, the original bar at the National Press Club, Café Indonesia and Black Angel qualifies for membership.

You probably may not have gone places. That being the case, just tell the unbelievers about the old neighborhood. Tell them how one could ask the Chinese storeowner for free vinegar or soy sauce, when the sanidad used to roam the streets checking on the state of public health, when truant officers assiduously searched for school kids playing hooky, or when five centavos could buy a hearty lunch of rice and ample dish and when kids invented their games at no cost to their parents.

What a shame about the Jai Alai! Manila lost a gem. It could have been such a luxurious space. If it were converted into a theater it would've been a fine place to see a show.

Sad, sad articles...The Jai-Alai building was designed by the the same architect that design LAX. It is simply beautiful. Too bad they are demolishing these great works of architecture. I love Atienza's redevolopment projects to improve Manila, but i do not like how he is demolishing buildings for that.

@ renell's UST pics. Awesome, its as if we have gone back through time after seeing that campus.

that building in UST if you see it in person, it's quite placed in the middle of modern buildings. so if you thought UST contained building like that, those set of pics really did deceive you:D

Manila Museum.. that's across Manila Hotel isn't it? and it's beside the Museo Pambata

amazing how the local government of Manila says they do not have the capacity to maintain such classical buildings, and yet have the resources to demolish and build malls in the same site. :bash:

Manila Museum.. that's across Manila Hotel isn't it? and it's beside the Museo Pambata

I believe it's the former Army-Navy Club, which was beside the Elks Club, which is now the Museong Pambata. :)

sunking
great photos of jai-alai. yeah it's so depressing hot atienza just started demolishing the facade of the jai-alai one late evening. he even promised HCS (the Heritage Conservation Society) that he would not demolish the building and would work with the group to try to save the building and be reuse.

I believe it's the former Army-Navy Club, which was beside the Elks Club, which is now the Museong Pambata. :)

ah ok. thought so, but i wasn't completely sure.

Sampaloc: RP’s new cyber capital?

By Cecille Suerte Felipe
The Philippine Star 04/22/2004


Which city or district will emerge as the country‘s cyber capital.

One businessman running for office is convinced Sampaloc will soon earn the distinction.

Manuel "Nonong" Bagatsing said he envisions for the fourth district in Manila if he gets elected as congressman.

"We have the capability and capacity to do it," said Bagatsing, who owns the Makati City-based Channel Technologies Inc. (CTI) with branches nationwide, the United States and various countries in Asia and the Middle East.

To start with, Bagatsing plans to establish the website sampaloc.com, which would offer known Sampaloc products and varied businesses in the district.

With sampaloc.com, residents can promote their goods and businesses such as the famous flowers in Dangwa.

Residents can also promote their expertise in piano tuning, and frame-making, among others.

"The website would surely help promote Sampaloc products not only here but also worldwide," Bagatsing said.

The fourth district has jurisdiction of the whole Sampaloc and a portion of Sta. Mesa. Universities including the country’s oldest, the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) as well as the University of the East (UE), University of Manila (UM) and Far Eastern University (FEU) are all located in the Sampaloc district.

Know-how in computers and its programs are vital components in students’ studies.

Bagatsing, who holds a Masters degree in Management from the Asian Institute of Management, said the website can also accommodate resumés of residents seeking jobs.

Bagatsing’s CTI has dislodged a number of known computer firms in the fields of repair and supply of existing computer facilities or re-engineered equipment.

On entrepreneurship, Bagatsing said he will initiate the development of micro-economic industries like cooperatives in the district’s 192 barangays to take charge in the bulk purchases of commodities, such as rice and sugar and retail them at low prices.

He explained that the set-up would provide extra income for cooperative members and provide employment for others.

Bagatsing assured business friends here and abroad are willing to extend loans to local residents at low interest rates without collateral for them to gain self-employment.

Bagatsing, son of former Manila Mayor Ramon Bagatsing and brother of former congressmen Dondon Bagatsing and Amado Bagatsing, enjoys the support of political groups.

He is running against incumbent Rep. Rudy Bacani, who is seeking another term in the House of Representatives.

He said the Bagatsings have proven their best in public service and have not been linked to a single accusation of corruption. The family is conscious in keeping the good image, he added.

If elected, Nonong promises to closely coordinate with the city residents for him to be able to efficiently and effectively represent them in Congress

Erm... I think the writer of this article needs to get a better understanding of things. Bagatsing's plans are not about "cyber," they're about developing cottage industries.

Having a website does not a cyber-capital make. Everyone's a cyber-capital these days. Except that most other people started jumping on the cyber-bandwagon in 1992.

"Residents can also promote their expertise in piano tuning, and frame-making, among others."

"On entrepreneurship, Bagatsing said he will initiate the development of micro-economic industries like cooperatives in the district’s 192 barangays to take charge in the bulk purchases of commodities, such as rice and sugar and retail them at low prices."

Not really "cyber." These are decidedly low-tech cottage industries. Good for local entrepreneurship but not really fitting the "cyber" tone the article's author is using.

The writer misunderstands Bagatsing's plans.

City Hall workers don
new, floral uniforms
Posted: 1:16 AM (Manila Time) | Apr. 23, 2004
By Tarra Quismundo
Inquirer News Service

A VISIT to the Manila City Hall today would bring one to a sight of clerks and secretaries dressed in bright floral blouses.

But their new look is not just because of the mood that came with summertime.

The floral shirts are the new uniforms of female employees, an attire that Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza Jr. is known to be fond of.

"At first they were hesitant because they were not used to wearing (floral printed blouses). But the others are getting used to it, and they are slowly acquiring it," said City Personnel division chief Corrie Arambulo.

Arambulo related that a Uniform Committee, composed of Manila's department heads, came up with the floral design upon Atienza's suggestions.

Before the new floral blouses came, City Hall's departments had their own uniforms.

The new uniforms for women are two sets each of turquoise blouses with large white flowers, and red ones printed with pink and white flowers.

The textile used, imported from Taiwan, was chosen by Atienza.

Two pairs of navy blue pants and a skirt complete the uniform set, which cost the annual clothing allowance of 4,000 pesos each for almost 3,000 office-based female personnel.

"My belief is that you are more productive when you are wearing a colorful attire. It brightens up your day, when you look at the mirror in the morning," said Atienza
------------------------------------------------------------------------

hm.. uh oh.

hmm....he should make manila more colorful first then the staff!

hmm....he should make manila more colorful first then the staff!

well this certainly is the most radical uniform i've seen or heard in the Metro.

Erm... I think the writer of this article needs to get a better understanding of things. Bagatsing's plans are not about "cyber," they're about developing cottage industries.

Having a website does not a cyber-capital make. Everyone's a cyber-capital these days. Except that most other people started jumping on the cyber-bandwagon in 1992.

"Residents can also promote their expertise in piano tuning, and frame-making, among others."

"On entrepreneurship, Bagatsing said he will initiate the development of micro-economic industries like cooperatives in the district’s 192 barangays to take charge in the bulk purchases of commodities, such as rice and sugar and retail them at low prices."

Not really "cyber." These are decidedly low-tech cottage industries. Good for local entrepreneurship but not really fitting the "cyber" tone the article's author is using.

The writer misunderstands Bagatsing's plans.

haha yeah. The writer made it very confusing. I wouldnt call it a new cyber zone but just a normal upgrade:D

let's talk about Manila's oldest high-rises.

Grand Boulevard Hotel Manila (Sofitel)
http://www.southtravels.com/asia/philippines/grandboulevard/gifs/hotelview.jpg

i was looking back at some of my sister's old pics, andone dates back to 1987, and Grand Boulevard is at the background. there was also 2 more i saw, but this was the one i noticed most.

Didn't that hotel have a Playboy Club when it was still the Silahis International?

i dunno:D

anyhow, here are more pics. i might have posted some, but please bear with moi
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p3c3feb4b63e5e13b6e9033e749dca939/f8f8fe06.jpg
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http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pf10125cb8026f4bb13a01d635b525902/f8f8fdeb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pcd377a9e70746da8a4351614d5beddd6/f8f8fe09.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pa80ecb96eb3375ea818a3a4066365a4c/f8f8fde7.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p0147899f1c0722102d39b238edbcae89/f8f8fdf5.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p1fb0d4c09fb89cd8ddcc8ea884632196/f8f8fddc.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p54709b47e1ff20f14d77d2929cab68fe/f8f8fdfd.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p52861989e430797aae9c0d39006cd259/f8f8fe01.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p23622b408e17ba30c9b4747caa8ba3db/f8f8fdec.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p1c4743e9cb51b83ba4b9d8ca5bacc795/f8f8fe04.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pd2e1c225f2c2fb9568828bef5613eb94/f8f8fde0.jpg

last set of Manila pics for today
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/pbbd166fcc6c15e1336a6004093a4547b/f8f4bce8.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p818e00922131b96471f143e477656395/f8f4bc5a.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/pc1cd41b0d59e13614eb54b1fb85a8e88/f8f4bd0c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/pe9672dc44d89218c1ff5970e6161b0d9/f8f4bc93.jpg

:eek: I love your Manila pics!! Some of the best in recent years!:applaus:

Shows how the skyline really looks like.

@ Sunking, hahaha. I dont think renell and i would know of it:D We are still quite young.

@ Sunking, hahaha. I dont think renell and i would know of it:D We are still quite young.
I'm still quite young myself, I'm just a wide reader. :colgate:

i could have heard of it, but i dont think i have. but renell is younger than both of us;)

you have a lot of people to thank too for those good pics:D like my uncle for driving me around Manila, even when he has a business to run, lol..

i will be uploading more pics..

i will be fast-tracking the uploading and the posting of my pics. i hope that's fine with some people here.

that's why i'm posting like 20 at a time. i'm convinced we can have a lot of discussion even without these pics

Atienza sees a more progressive Manila

By REDEN S. VIAJE

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza yesterday said that he expects a more progressive Manila in the coming years as he urged his constituents to vote for the candidates who would work for the city’s prosperity.


"To realize this, we need to have continuity in the city leadership and Manila friendly congressmen who would work in congress for the passage of laws that would redound to the benefits of Manila and the country as a whole," Atienza pointed out.

Expecting to double the city’s income, Atienza said there are laws the Manila congressmen need to work out citing the ineptitude of the previous city solons.

He said that since his assumption to office he has been expecting the city representatives in congress to work for the repeal of Presidential Decree 1515, which would revert the administration of Intramuros area to the city hall, the passage of laws returning the ownership of Rizal Park and Ninoy Aquino Sports Complex to the City of Manila, and passage of a law giving Manila shares in the revenues being collected by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in the South and North Harbors.

"It is very unfortunate that these important works that should have been done by our congressmen were virtually disregarded," Atienza lamented.

Manila is the only city in the country that has six seats in the House of the Representatives.

Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda came from Manila’s 4th District. He lost his mayoralty bid in the 1998 election after Atienza chided him for his failure to do wholesome laws that would benefit the country’s capital city.

Atienza pointed out that his leadership has still a lot of things to be done after the election to prevent the city from returning to its past decays.

Here are some miscellaneous UST pics:

UST Arch:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/21784/ustarch.jpg

UST Clock Tower:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/21784/ustclocktower.jpg

Central Library (Front):
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/21784/centrallib.jpg
San Lorenzo Ruiz:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/21784/sanlorenzoruiz.jpg

i remember visiting all those sights in UST.. cool

UST - good old memories =)

Here are pics of Avenida Rizal circa 2003. Under construction. I think Jude was talking about this in another thread. (welcome btw and thanks for your valuable contributions! :)) Maybe we can do a retrospective of Avenida. Avenida in its glory days, Avenida in its sad days and Avenida today.

Here's Avenida in flux:

http://www.geocities.com/mikerasalan/philippines03/avenida1.txt

http://www.geocities.com/mikerasalan/philippines03/avenida2.txt

Since we're talking about old buildings in Manila here, I thought it would be appropriate for me to post a feature I wrote a few months back for the Manila Bulletin about the Instituto Cervantes building. What came out in the paper was heavily edited (kinasal kasi si Gladys Reyes kaya nakain yung espacio :-( ) so I think this is the first time that "the public' will get to read the unexpurgated version. :-)


These Walls Can Talk in Spanish (and they tell quite a tale)
Passionate Conversations About Philippine Conservation

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p48a6a14395baefdec2ffab7a708b19e6/f8d9ce55.jpg

The Mayflower building was built in 1938 on the site of an old estate. Ancient trees, even older than the building itself and all that remain of the original lands, continue to stand guard over the grounds. A Filipino architect was commisioned by then Vice President Fernando Lopez to design an innovative structure to rise within the fashionable district of Malate. The property started out as a residential enclave of great exclusivity and elegance. Its large apartments fronted a spacious courtyard and.it even featured a separate building for the servant’s quarters. During the Japanese occupation, the Mayflower saw its share of devastation, and many endangered souls took refuge in its sturdy walls. But the structure proved its resilience by surviving the ravages of the war.

After the liberation of Manila, the building was quickly put to good use. It was leased to the US Agency for International Development to serve as their offices, and also as the residence of the agency’s director. The Mayflower then became a favorite haunt of President Quirino and in turn, President Magsaysay. They would often drop by to discuss affairs or enjoy breakfast with the USAID director. In the 1970’s the building was occupied by the Embassy of Indonesia, and then in a bit of foreshadowing, the Embassy of Spain. It was then taken over by the Opus Dei in the 1980s for their Maynilad study center. But it was destined to fall back into Spanish hands when in 1994 it became home to the Instituto Cervantes. The inauguration of the new facilities was graced by the presence of no less than Her Royal Highness, the Infanta Elena of Spain.

Senor Javier Galvan Guico, who holds a doctorate in Heritage Architecture, has been the Instituto’s director since 2001. But he first visited the building when he was invited to give a lecture in November 1994, shortly after the inauguration. An amiable and exceedingly humble Spanish gentleman, he gamely posed for photos and allowed us the run of the facilities. At first, he half-seriously proposed that we hold the interview in Spanish, but finally agreed to speak with me in English, that is until after I’d finished a few more classes at the Instituto. “But the next time, hablamos en Espanol.” he teased.

An architect might appear to be a curious choice to head an institution that is best known as a language school. And although he is a very accomplished and cultured man, Dr. Galvan considers himself to be no linguist. He originally came to the country in 1993 as the senior architect of a multinational team funded by the EU to assist in the reconstruction of Baguio and Dagupan in the wake of the 1990 earthquake. While in the Philippines, he found himself fascinated by Spanish colonial architecture, particularly the Filipino style of “architectura mestiza”, and ended up touring the country to better appreciate its unique principles. He gave lectures, held conferences, wrote papers, and spearheaded exhibitions on the subject here and abroad. His research work and proposals helped develop the master plan for the revitalization of the historical center of Vigan. The Spanish crown clearly appreciated his efforts when “for his outstanding service to Spanish culture and his work in strengthening ties between the Philippines and Spain” he was awarded The Cross of The Order of Isabel the Catholic. All these sterling qualifications, combined with his passion for our history and heritage, singled him out as an inspired choice for the director of the Spanish government’s official cultural outpost in the Philippines. Under his term, Instituto Cervantes Manila has thrived.

However, the Instituto’s success has also been the cause of some its problems, Dr. Galvan admits. “Over the past nine years, activity in Instituto has grown. There are more students, and we need more facilities. We need a larger multipurpose hall to accommodate more people. For instance, we have a series of movies every Saturday. But the halls are often crowded and people cannot come inside.” Despite its restrictions, the director remains grateful for their current accommodations. “So far, the building is appropriate. It has served us well all this time,” he affirms.
Upon exploring the premises, one passes through arched entryways leading into narrow corridors lined with framed prints and sketches of Philippine and Spanish subjects, old maps, letras y figuras, and an eclectic assortment of paintings. “The paintings are property of the Instituto,” Dr. Galvan explains. Some of them were offered by artists who have held exhibitions in the building. The classrooms, despite being rather oddly-shaped, are all well-equipped and adorned with posters of excerpts from Spanish classics and maps of the Spanish-speaking world. The library is stocked full of books, periodicals, and audiovisual materials in Spanish. Everybody uses the building’s curvy, winding grand staircase, which Dr. Galvan considers to be the interiors’ most memorable feature, to get from one floor to another. One wonders though how most people can resist from sliding down its polished wooden bannister. Tucked behind the offices is a terrace with a view of the grounds and another, less grandiose set of stairs that also functions as a fire escape. And everywhere, huge glass windows bring light into the building. Dr Galvan points out that “because the windows are very large, there is a lack of isolation,” The sun and sounds of Manila are never completely shut out.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p7f1268037dc2f3577d06fe04b2a42ada/f8d9ce57.jpg

Most Filipinos with a passing knowledge of architecture tend to lump all structures built in Manila between the two world wars into “Art Deco”, but Dr. Galvan politely proceeds to corrects this common assumption. “The building has been said to be art deco but I don't really think we can call it that. In art deco you have decorative motifs which you cannot see here. It's more rationalism, that kind of architecture belonging to the modern movement. In the same period you have different styles. But all these architects in those years said you have to forget about decoration. They were more interested in ships, engines and machines, the iconography of the modern movement.”

Dr. Galvan was initially reluctant to classify the Mayflower’s architectural style. “I don't like to label buildings. Probably, it’s very clear if a building is Gothic or Roman. But when you go past the Renaissance, it becomes unclear. You can try to find a way to classify architecture, but in many cases it’s not easy to put a label,” he explains.

He continues to ruminate on the building’s design. “The purity of lines, and the rounded corners, are typical of rationalist architecture. It has the kind of aesthetics derived from ships,” he muses. “It is very clear that these are rationalist, but proto-rationalism would be the most appropriate label,”Dr. Galvan finally concludes.

He agrees that it is fortunate that a structure with such an intriguing history and architecture has survived while many others have not. “It's a pity because these are all part of heritage, but unfortunately the will of Filipino society to preserve old buildings is not strong. Little by little it is improving, but many have no interest,” he says with much concern..

“In Manila they say ‘this is old, let's forget it, it's abandoned, let’s make something new’. People prefer new developments like Makati or Fort Bonifacio, historical districts like Intramuros, Ermita and Malate are abandoned. These districts are still recuperating. It has happened already in many towns in Europe. In Spain you can see how recuperating the historical center of the city is important. The situation in the core of the city has been improved and upgraded.” As logical and well-proven Dr. Galvan’s ideas may be, it seems that local officials are only beginning to take such concepts seriously.

“I hope someday Manila itself can fully recuperate. Of course there are some beautiful spots, but they are hidden by the jungle. If the entire city is improved, general services, lighting, sidewalks, all these things, business will come back here. And the value of the property will be higher,” he contends.

Despite (or because) of his own experience with local restoration projects, Dr. Galvan manages to be optimistic about the situation. “It’s very good what happened to Roxas Boulevard. It’s a space worth rejuvenating. I would prefer that efforts would concentrate more on projects like these.” Dr. Galvan receives news of other redevelopment efforts around the city, like the Avenida Rizal walkway and the Pasig River linear parks, with much pleasure. “The Pasig River also, is part of the heritage. Like other famous big rivers, it should be enjoyed by the people. I would love to live along the Pasig River. If I could, I wouldn't ever go to Makati. If you could live in Intramuros or by the bay I'd gladly live there rather than in a new development.”

Pondering the day when the Instituto might have to relocate, Dr. Galvan reveals his grand plan. “I have proposed to move to Intramuros. It is a project that hasn't pushed through so far. The plan is to reconstruct the Ayuntamiento then to have the Spanish embassy, the different agencies, and the Insituto Cervantes there. It's a huge project. We are in talks, but it takes time to carry out.”

The government might be dragging its feet in helping to realize his dream, but that won’t stop Dr. Galvan’s mind from moving on. “If we were to put up a new building for Instituto, I wouldn’t like to build something like modern architecture in Spain. You can always try to have in mind the principles of the culture. For the design, I'm thinking of some principles of the architectura mestiza, the bahay na bato. Not a literal one like Casa Manila, but just using some principles, like the transparency of the light and how the windows control the entry of light. Maybe the same design as the ventanillas, but instead of capiz we use glass. In the end it will look very modern, not a literal Spanish or Filipino house.”

For now though, the Instituto Cervantes is keeping its address at the Mayflower. And Dr. Galvan always speaks of their home with much fondness. “This is an example of a building that has been used for many years and different purposes. I think that's a good lesson to learn on how to use buildings like these. Good architecture can be used or adapted to different uses. Instead of demolishing old buildings, this should be done more. We need to maintain and preserve good architecture,” he states, ever the conservationist.

Although the Mayflower has been associated with the Instituto for many years, they are actually just leasing the building. The owner, an intensely private man, does appreciate the fact that his property is being ocuppied by a prestigious institution with a noble purpose. Although he also feels that some of the structure’s features are being underutilized. For example, the covered patios that extend from some of the rooms on the ground floor, where former residents must once have lounged, the Instituto merely uses for storage purposes. The owner also discloses that what we see now of the building’s interiors no longer follows the original floor plan. The contractor that the Instituto hired had to tear down a number of walls in order to convert the apartments into classrooms. In fact, the current rear entrance to the building is only a recent alteration, and used to be a kitchen. The circular plaza behind the building, with the cloverleaf design and Insituto logo set in concrete at its center, was supposed to be a swimming pool.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p556684e555f344c4f476b8915cc1eeb9/f8d9cc75.jpg

He has taken great care to ensure that any additions and improvements to the structure remain true to the original building’s lines. With the advent of airconditioning, the window shades and ledges were re-imagined to prevent the new fittings from detracting from the over-all effect. Modern plumbing, electrical, and communications requirements meant having pipes and tubes running across the building’s exteriors, but they have all been cleverly concealed behind slitted columns that conform to the structure’s aesthetic. Under the owner’s supervision, an entire floor was added to the top of the building, but it is integrated seamlessly enough that it becomes nearly impossible to tell that it was never part of the original structure. The perimeter fence and walls are also recent additions, but they blend perfectly with the general design, and do not prevent passers-by from appreciating the compound’s façade. The parking facilities were designed using sophisticated computer-aided techniques in order to maximize the space alotted.

A less devoted proprietor would have been content not to bother with superfluous details, but the Mayflower’s owner could not abide with such carelessness and indifference. To him, the Mayflower’s architecture is a treasure that must not be tampered with unconscientiously. And he wishes that all other building owners demonstrate just as much thought and concern to the maintenance and renovation of their own properties. He also hopes that other businessmen realize that there is more to owning and developing real estate besides profits. He echoes Dr. Galvan’s disappointment at the general lack of interest and desire among Filipinos to protect their architectural treasures. Because of greed and apathy, we are losing a priceless legacy. It is this sort of narrow-minded and short-sighted attitude that haunts our country and holds it back from greatness, he avows.

History has bequeathed the Mayflower building with a grace and air that one may only perceive in buildings of a certain age and style. And yet because of the dedication and good sense of its owner, it possesses none of the mustiness and decay that usually envelops such structures. It endures as living proof that a privately owned building can preserve its legacy as an architectural landmark and still sustain its purpose as a valuable commercial property. At a time when many heritage buildings lie shuttered and neglected, waiting to be restored and revitalized, the Mayflower stands dynamic and vibrant. It’s heartening to know that a treasure like the Mayflower shall continue to serve a vital role in the urban landscape for generations to come.

Love the Mayflower's Art Deco lines, I've always wanted to pay a visit to the Instituto and maybe study Spanish.

But Sr. Galvan said nga that "it's not Art Deco, it's Rationalist." :-)

Of course, me desculpo (that correct?) :)

Nice pics of Avenida, boybaha...Any pics of it now?
That project has really brought up the spirit of that area. Before it was getting depressed and dangerous, now it is alive and happy. Its nic to see that buildings around it are also getting renovated.

passed by it at night, it looks really nice. and the LRT lines aren't a distraction as i thought it would be

I found these at http://www.netpci.com/~eldorado/gallery-asian/manila/manila-01.htm

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p487de5d8a4975c3509b102081d20c535/f8d6d0a3.jpg
Plaza Moraga, Manila
Calle Rosario Textile
District at the foot of Jones Bridge
(ca. early 1900's)

A "tourist" photo, which were
popular at the time.

"Chaco Building" with clock tower (10:25AM).
"Pacific Commercial Co." to the left.
"Manila Jewelry Store" 1st floor to the right.
"Optica Nacional de C. Lara y Ca" 2nd fl.
Horse drawn taxi's (calestas) are present.
Streetcar sign: "McKinley Intramuros"

Signs atop building to the right advertise:
Bear Brand Swiss Milk
Tansan,The Purest Mineral Water
Kenelworth, Corona Brand Candy

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pd9dff20bb75452fae417ed327fc94ea8/f8d6d09f.jpg
Same place in 1926.
This small square was located at the foot of Jones Bridge, at the end of Rosario Street. Farther down would be the Binondo Church.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p185b78075efc489552cd5dfc27d53cbe/f8d6d0a2.jpg
Street Scene at the Plaza Hotel - Manila
(ca. 1930)
The car on the left has a 1930 license plate.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p92162c575ef41fd3bd838aa0b1a18a8a/f8d6d0a5.jpg
Light House on Manila Bay - Manila
(Ca. 1930)
I believe that this is the western light at the entrance to the Pasig River from Manila Bay

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p0a25b732d35f332222228b2879f61e49/f8d6d09d.jpg
Manila, Philippines
Governor Generals Administrative Building
(ca. early 1900's)
A "tourist" photo, which were popular at the time.
This is Malacanang Palace today.

Main Palace:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/mala2.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/mala1.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/mala3.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/mala5.jpg

Old Executive Office Building (Kalayaan Hall):
Designed by Ralph Harrington Doane and finished by Tomas Mapua:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaexec.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaexec2.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaexec4.jpg

The East Wing (Family Entrance):
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaeast.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaeast2.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaeast3.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malaeast4.jpg

The West Wing (State Entrance):
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/state1.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22352/state2.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22352/state3.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22352/state4.jpg

Inside the Palace:
Family Dining Room:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malafamilydining.jpg
Music Room:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malamusicroom.jpg
President's Study:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malapresoffice.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malapresoffice3.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malapresoffice2.jpg
Reception Hall:
1937: http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malarecephall1937.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malarecephall.jpg
State Dining Room:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malastatediningroom.jpg http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22080/malastatediningroom2.jpg

i remember visiting some of those rooms. i also remember seeing the chair in which Marcos was sitting on during the declaration of Martial Law..

nice pics.

wow. instituto. it's very near from my place. and i study spanish there every tuesday and thursday. :) the restrooms are clean. :drunk:

oh btw, nick joaquin, the author of manila, my manila, died a few days ago.

nice pics.

wow. instituto. it's very near from my place. and i study spanish there every tuesday and thursday. :) the restrooms are clean. :drunk:

Hi there. What class are you in? I'm in the Nivel 4 5:30-8:30 TTH class.

haha...you guys might have ran in to each other without knowing:D

Here are some pics of another notable 1930s art deco building in Manila. Fortunately, it's tenants are very loyal so it doesn't seem to be in any danger of being demolished any time soon. I got to snoop around and take a few pics when I did a feature on Cita Astals. Here's part of the article. I cut out all the stuff about Cita and the inside of her house, but at the end she unveils a few interesting infrastructure plans.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p20a2da2cf9aac3a983d2c62c68b8b162/f8cc6116.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pc28aa25641c32eb650a366601ad13c7b/f8cc610f.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p38cbe7786b0f92d206db2c1f30117af9/f8cc6114.jpg

Life On The Astals Plane

In a real estate realm saturated with pretentiously packaged condominiums, or squeaky-clean suburban developments, not too many addresses remain that possess both character and cachet. The Sy-Quia apartments in Malate, with its art-deco trappings, vintage elevator, heavy wooden staircases, and pinstriped doors is in a class all its own. Home to artists, art lovers, politicians, pundits, kooks, weirdos, and various combinations of the abovementioned, the Sy-Quias’ walls provide refuge for personalities that are just too large to live behind any gated community, no matter how exclusive. And from the very start, Cita Astals seemed to fit in just fine.

When it comes to her role as a public servant, Cita’s ideas and contributions are very concrete. “I’ve opened a road. We cleared it, partially put in the drainage and cement. But there’s still another 600 meters to pave. I would like to see that completed,” she states. “I also have an ordinance now to regulate the caretelas. So that they don’t cheat the tourists or be cruel to their animals.”

Cita’s big vision for Manila literally lies on the horizon. “I dream of having a beach in Manila, a Boracay-style beach,” she reveals. Backing her aspirations with action, Cita has actually been working to make her dream real. “We’ll have to treat the water for that to work. That’s why for my latest ordinance, I filed the Manila Water Code charter. So for the first time we’re going to have laws for our water.”

As we steer the conversation away from home and on to city hall, Cita sheds her giddy daze and regains the steel and focus that has made her such a lustrous presence on stage and screen. “The mayor and all the councilors are working together towards the same goal of improving the city,” she proclaims with some pride. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done. We’re always hoping to have more new buildings, new developments in the area. Little by little things get done.” And if and when the day comes when it really all gets done, then maybe Cita can finally find the time and inclination to indulge in a bit of domesticity. But politics is impossible to predict, and Cita is just plain unpredictable.

isn't cita astals a former actress?

Yeah, on Home Along Da Riles.

Actually, hindi naman siya "former" kasi I think she still does some acting for the stage. She's a Manila City Councilor now, mukha namang masipag. She's the one who organized and compiled all of Manila's ordinances into a book that she had published.

well it would be good if all actors in government seats become "former" actors, or "part-time", since they came there to serve the country, not just the moviegoers

Hi there. What class are you in? I'm in the Nivel 4 5:30-8:30 TTH class.

hello. nivel 2 pa lang po. nivel 3 na sa pasukan. kay maestra monica ortega. ung first level kay maestro felipe choholan (ung guatemalteco). 1300-1430 TTH po ako sa pasukan.

mukhang matino yang artdecong iyan. nice pics. salamt sa pagshare JudeD

Mucho gusto en conocerlo weirdo! Before Saturday 9am-12noon sked ko pero lumipat ako ng sked kasi mahirap kapag may gimmick ka ng friday night o gusto mong mag-plan ng weekend trip! Nivel 1-2 prof ko si Jorge Cano (Guatemalan din, by the way he's offering private tutorial services and lessons, flexible time and venue, so kung mayroon dito na gustong mag-aral ng Espanol, ibibigay ko number niya). So I guess kilala mo na rin si Charles sa admin? :-) Ahora, mi maestra es Clarisse Lukban. Creo que Nivel 3 es dificilisimo. Pienso que Nivel 4 es mas facil que nivel 3! Hasta proximo!

Speaking of mga artista, do you know pala that the wife of Ronnie Lazaro (regular sa mga soap opera) is an Espanola teaching at Instituto? Lola Lazaro ang name niya. Nagtataka kami palagi nung mga classmate ko kung paano kaya sila nagkakilala. :-)

don't scare me. hehe. i didn't do well on nivel 2. i have to work hardeer for nivel 3. tambay ako lagi sa may vending machine pag walang ibang tao. jeje. ah si lola. yup. familiar siya. and si charles. sa kanya ako bumili ng ele. ang layo pa natin hanggang nivel 18 pa.

hay muchos guatemaltecos en el instituto pala. wahaha. pang level 1 pa lang ang mastered ko. practice practice practice. nakakatamad.

Went on a shooting spree today. So here are my promised pics of the new Avenida. I got a few pics of the redeveloped Plaza Lawton, Escolta, Carriedo and the new Muelle Del Banco park as well. I'm posting the LRT1/LRT2 pic in the LRT thread and the newly-repainted Quiapo Church pic in the church thread. I just took all the pics this afternoon when I went to Hidalgo St. in Quiapo to buy camera supplies. I guess I can use them for a future newspaper feature sometime.

Plaza Lawton

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pc50da13240ba74492b147c63551bbe9e/f8c69f80.jpg


Muelle Del Banco

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pca99dff6ed1e5d4364d5e733971cfe7f/f8c69f7b.jpg


Post Office, view from Muelle Del Banco

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pb0e8ef07b8eef3036f681924f0dbc70d/f8c69f79.jpg


Calle Escolta. A lot of repainting going on, a great sign!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p8d80c09e4ab7733b9e9ea4986edaf8ee/f8c6a518.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pdcec6fb38710eae6d408ee7e7bb29ee4/f8c69ca8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p9184018c97f661a6b3693ed23e7ae89d/f8c69ca5.jpg

Yay! Thanks a lot Jude! I love seeing Manila being rehabbed like that. When I was there just last September, things were still looking pretty run down around Escolta. But that Union Bank building looks beautiful!

Too bad we have overhead powerlines. :mad2:

Is Plaza Lawton Liwasang Bonifacio?

Plaza Lacson. The starting point for the new Avenida.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/paacf03645c571f5280dd3a38c00371aa/f8c69caa.jpg


Avenida at last!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p311a0eaf673b600b9d516dbf15452fb1/f8c6a51a.jpg


The Arguelles building. Very pretty all repainted.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/ped635a89f8e9eff425100c608696f2d0/f8c6a530.jpg


Lots of shops selling cheap stuff. Really cheap shoes at Weston. But don't be fooled by the "masa" location, all their merchandise is bar-coded and they accept all major credit cards!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p2f2827db8f4e2b3ff24535d286486a83/f8c6a538.jpg


Topiary animals. Miraculously still "alive" after all these months.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p676d69ee842fd341a87c2bfae049cf99/f8c6a529.jpg

Halfway down the avenida

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p0faa117096f07c67ae69dfd196c6cc88/f8c6a521.jpg


Manila kids at play

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p4bc31d6ac3f2f34dab3c9988af31f7ce/f8c6a52b.jpg


Just strolling along the avenue...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p74473ea0a0da4511de7b014c36760a8f/f8c6a533.jpg


Turning back

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pf8ad8b53e53919d95cd7816548932648/f8c6a531.jpg


The Arguelles building (love its facade) and Goldilocks viewed through a topiary archway (topiarch?).

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p26b2a92c0ddc00e214ca0633658a4bf8/f8c6a515.jpg

OMG the old Prudential Bank is now a South Supermarket?!

The Arguelles building is beautiful. I love the new Avenida changes. I must say that Filipinos must like those bright pastels. Some of the buildings and even the LRT on Avenida use the Eastwood Citywalk color-schemes. I would actually go for classier whites and cremes, with highlights of bold primary colors.

We'll see how many buildings keep up the colors after a couple of rainy seasons.

Beautiful, but I hate the pastels, I would have preferred them going old school, really really old school. But then, it's better than no development at all.

What do you mean by "old school"? Black and white? Cream and brown? But pastel colors have been used since the Renaissance. Vienna is a riot of pastels, or look at Macau. In fact San Agustin church's facade was originally painted a bright orange terracotta color which was restored only a few years ago after years of being in a light creamy yellow tone. And most of the buildings along Avenida are 20s-30's art deco. And the favorite paint colors then were cyan, magenta, yellow, and lime green. Look at Miami. Much of Manila outside Intramuros would have resembled Miami if not for World War 2 and neglect.

thanks for those photos. that's the new avenida i wanted to show them. really great shots.

There was this old picture 1900s picture of Avenida I saw which had the buildings decked with almost earth-like-tones. Sure the signs were in very bright pastel but the bulidings were soft to the eye. Personally, that's what I like. I found South Beach too visually noisy.

Beautiful, but I hate the pastels, I would have preferred them going old school, really really old school. But then, it's better than no development at all.
i think it's singapore who started all those pastel colors. they repainted most of their shophouses using pastel. i don't mind pastel. white can be a bit boring. classy but boring.

:applause: Awesome pics, JudeD!! Finally we get some good shots of Avenida! I also like the other Manila shots such as Lawton, etc...:okay:

I love what they did to Avenida. It really revived the place. The LRT looks great painted (although it is a bit too colorful). That place looks really clean, a must for tourists. The LRT pylons are awesome. They made it looks so nice. It used to be that the LRT made the place very ugly, but not anymore!:cool: I'm glad the storekeepers co-operated, and renovated their shops. Superb project:)

wow nice pics!....

I haven't been to that area for around 4years now... and wow... I didn't know that that area has become very pleasing to the eyes.... :D

Nice job for Atienza... I hope he wins his next term.... I think he can make Manila more beautiful again... :D I hope he cleans the 'steros' next...

I also like this:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p8d80c09e4ab7733b9e9ea4986edaf8ee/f8c6a518.jpg

Now thats how they should rehab Escolta!!:okay:

matagal nang green yan. way before avenida restoration.

holy crap. that's not manila:D wow... Avenida looks marvellous with all the coloring. and Calle Escolta. whoah! i'd say those buildings look better than some of Intramuros'. :guns1:

of course. intramuros is overrated

I wonder if in addition to the surface improvements, there are also social improvements. It's one thing if the Muelles and Avenida are pretty. But are people's lives really improving? That's the important question. Because if they have not, then this window dressing is just like sweeping the dust under the carpet.

Whatabout social services?
Welfare?
Garbage collection?
Health?
Jobs availability and training?
Infra don't do crap unless these are addressed.

good point. the local government should address these other problems. but i also do hope that these window dressings help tourism, which create jobs for the citizens. i'm convinced this helps the manileños in one way or the other.

the newer projects suck. all rushed and done solely for garnering votes on the coming elections.

the newer projects suck. all rushed and done solely for garnering votes on the coming elections.


what are the newer projects and what are the older projects?

halimbawa ung plaza rajah sulayman, ung baywalk and ung liwasang bonifacio mga nauna. mas matino pa. ung sa plaza lacson, avenida, mukhang minadali. looks cheap and very temporary. the buildings along avenida look fine. but the tiles on the floor, the ornaments, lrt paint look cheap and seems like they will only be around/in good condition for about a year.

atienza does not know how to set up some things to make sure that revived areas will remain in good condition. he should have at least dispatch a maintainance team that checks and fix burn out/smashed light in macarthur bridge, a cracked marble in baywalk or a bench in a park with loose screw. or he should provide locals something (example:a text number) where they can report such damages. he should also educate these people well. that quiapo underpass, for example, will remain clean all day long. without proper education some people will think that it's ok to make the place untidy because their 'good' mayor will be fixing it again. if proper education is impossible (new folks come to the city every time) then he should be very strict in enforcing rules. violators should be severely punished and fined-if that's the only way we can force them to follow.

:bow:

lagi na akong napapadaan sa Avenida, not knowing na Avenida pala yun. I went to Ongpin last weekend...me binili. my first time to see Avenida under LRT! looks great indeed.

bumili hopia? champoy? kikiam?

ah, ongpin... :okay:

bumili sa botika ng Chinese ng pang hi-blood. para dun sa me ari ng boarding haus namin. bait ko naman. napadaan nga ako sa bilihan ng mga alahas at relo. genuine kaya yung mga yun? auto matic mechanism naman pero peke daw yung iba.

halimbawa ung plaza rajah sulayman, ung baywalk and ung liwasang bonifacio mga nauna. mas matino pa. ung sa plaza lacson, avenida, mukhang minadali. looks cheap and very temporary. the buildings along avenida look fine. but the tiles on the floor, the ornaments, lrt paint look cheap and seems like they will only be around/in good condition for about a year.

atienza does not know how to set up some things to make sure that revived areas will remain in good condition. he should have at least dispatch a maintainance team that checks and fix burn out/smashed light in macarthur bridge, a cracked marble in baywalk or a bench in a park with loose screw. or he should provide locals something (example:a text number) where they can report such damages. he should also educate these people well. that quiapo underpass, for example, will remain clean all day long. without proper education some people will think that it's ok to make the place untidy because their 'good' mayor will be fixing it again. if proper education is impossible (new folks come to the city every time) then he should be very strict in enforcing rules. violators should be severely punished and fined-if that's the only way we can force them to follow.

he must know how to maintain these things, not just to last in his term. maintenance crews should be hired or set-up. so tourism will not just benefit, employment should also benefit

exactly. well, on the second thought maybe he does havea maintainance team. maybe not just as efficient.

napadaan nga ako sa bilihan ng mga alahas at relo. genuine kaya yung mga yun? auto matic mechanism naman pero peke daw yung iba.

hindi kaya nakaw ang iba dun? arrghhh! :nono: hindi naman siguro.

exactly. well, on the second thought maybe he does havea maintainance team. maybe not just as efficient.

another problem is that if another mayor takes over, there's a chance that he/she won't look at these places.

anyways, i think atienza should finish what's being revived, then hire some efficient maintenance crews to keep the sights clean and orderly, and concentrate on the problems of the citizens. then they can have good homes and neighborhoods, and good places to hang out.

Good point, renell. That usually happens. When a new mayor, governor, etc.. are elected previous projects are forgotten or left alone. I think if Atienza wins, he should be able to keep maintaining his projects and create new ones, too.

Overall, Manila hasnt been this good in the last few decades. Good on you, Atienza and MMDA:okay:

it should be also be able to stand even when Atienza leaves office. a mayors legacy should be for as long as it can be, not just during in his term. then maybe he deserves a statue along Baywalk..:D

They'll have a hard time making floral prints out of bronze for a statue.

another problem is that if another mayor takes over, there's a chance that he/she won't look at these places.


the slogan of atienza's opponent,lopez, is 'tao muna' meaning that he would be more concerned generally on the welfare of individuals. he would probably deal with stuff like crime, health, education, etc. not bad. however if he wins (i doubt this cos atienza is very popular) he must at least be concerned about this 'revitalizing manila' thing. because it will be very fine to have discipllined and cultured folks in a well maintained city...i have to go now. :runaway:

I think there should be a balance of welfare projects as well as city development projects. People say that Atienza is more of a city development mayor rather than a welfare one. What he is doing right now is great, but he should also introduce more crime, health, education, etc projects.

Well, it's also simple economics (or Simcity :-). For a city to fund its welfare projects it need income from taxes. The more businesses and commerical activity a city attracts, the more income it gets. Infrastructure projects and tourist attractions attract business and consumer spending, thus bringing in more income for welfare projects and other municipal spending. Ever since the Buhayin Ang Maynila project has been implemented, don't you think it's more encouraging to set up shop in Manila now, as compared to say, Pasay?

And as far as I know, the Ospital ng Maynila, Pamantasan ng Maynila, and Manila Science High School are running just fine. The only problem though is that the city's population far outstrips their capacity, but that's a problem everywhere in the country.

Aitenza has done a good job in revitalizing most of Manila, but it is for tourism mostly, he should revitalize the whole of Manila, fixing roads, creating more parks, etc. The Manila stretch of Sergio Osmena Highway is a shame. and like ryan said, crime, health and education is also vital, for it keeps the tourism projects he started safe and well maintained.

I think it is DPWH and MMDA's job to repair Osmena Highway...not his. He could push for it though...

maybe he means to say the things around the road-the infrastructure, greenery and all that stuff that adds appeal to the area. osmeña highway looks dull and boring, too old, too generic, depressing...

ospital ng maynila and other public manila hospitals are ok i guess. plm and masci are good institutions that produce some of the best highsch and college grads. yea. the city needs more of these institutions.

btw, lito atienza's leading in manila. it's not yet final but he'll probably just widen the gap later.

on the presidentiables- chinatown voted for lacson. really solid vote. good for them. i dunno who's leading here though. fpj is really strong in manila. gma too for atienza's on the same party. no idea. i can only see some more manila candidates in the namfrel station here.

Well, the northbound side of Osmena borders the railroad tracks, which is the PNR's domain. The center island is also still the jurisdiction of DPWH since it's a highway. I don't think they plan to improve that na since if the Skyway project moves forward then they're going to dig up the center island anyway. Well, there is that huge squatters colony (Looban) near where Osmena hits Quirino. I guess politicians rely on a lot of votes from the people there so they try not to shake thigns up. As for attractions, on osmena corner Quirino there's the popular and big Designer Depot complex, and if only San Jose Builders (who also built the housing developments along the railroad side, a Ramos project) didn't go bankrupt, the Paco Station Mall would have been a welcome addition to the area, ala-Tutuban CenterMall.

By the way if you can go to Harrison Plaza (malapit ka na dun weirdo diba?), they're holding an exhibit of all the development projects within the city. Inspiring naman. Medyo ironic lang their display on heritage preservation, considering what happened to the Jai Alai, Meisic Cuartel, and what they plan to do to Mehan Gardens. They do show the Arguelles building and Escolta though.

you gain some, you lose some. unfortunately we had to lose the imp't buildings...but then again, all classical buildings are important, a reminder to the future generation of the past

Some pictures of Manila:
De La Salle University:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p401fb71b8b97e41ef05b2c539e0435f1/f8b8ff09.jpg

The colonnade of the Philam Life Center (this building is beautiful, a blast from the past):
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p60b05ad70105cbbc006050a9e148fe01/f8b9001d.jpg

1322 Roxas Boulevard:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p36b35c64c0c69cada543b26d60a73673/f8b90080.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p175c85fc86b2988adb933ccf6130a130/f8b900b7.jpg

The Ramon Magsaysay Center:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/pcfa3d70e88c510dc33f38fbd4fc8c8de/f8b90100.jpg

Grand Boulevard Hotel:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p4d709827e179fe52037f77b04cce0c82/f8b90160.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p9d1fb63fbba6ee94db2779428f5f0383/f8b9012a.jpg

Hyatt Regency Manila:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/pb81f6e2b8d435fa1229f577f3e60e946/f8b90226.jpg

Not in Manila but...
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (the lawn has been cordoned off, no more people doing aerobics :) ):
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p76d88774c98b5169d545806baac02586/f8b901af.jpg
Asean Sparke:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22352/asean_sparkle.jpg
Not by me but this is just beautiful:
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/22352/ccp.jpg

You were at Ramon Magsaysay? That's just in front of where I live! I quite like that building, it's modern but it follows classical lines (does that make it postmodern?). I also like PhilAmLife, it kinda reminds me of the InsularLife building along Ayala (same architect ba? their porticos are very similar). It's where UP Manila welcomes incoming freshmen and where the UP College of Medicine holds its variety show every year.

As for the CCP, my feelings about it are mixed. From afar and certain angles, it's quite grand and imposing. But up close it doesn't hold up as well. For one thing, the surface of the building is a really ugly pebblewash. It's so 70s (the decade of pebblewash buildings). If I had my way with it, I'd cover up the surface of the building with metal sheets. Like the way the Guggenheim Bilbao is covered in Titanium. Kahit galvanized aluminum lang, I think it'll really improve how the CCP looks like and make it look less dated and more timeless. I'm really not a big fan of Locsin. I thought the old Ayala Museum's exterior (another pebblewash building) was really ugly.

And by the way, Hyatt is in Pasay. Along Roxas, shortly after you pass the Traders Hotel you're out of Manila and already in Pasay.

A few more Manila updates:

While on my way to the LRT2 Legarda station from Malate I passed by Mehan Garden and saw that they had totally demolished the fence surrounding it. If this is to replace it with a new fence then I'm all for it because the old fence was really decrepit na. I hope it's not because they plan to destroy the garden! Wala pa silang clearance from the National Historical Institute!

On the side of the Metropolitan Theatre naman they've now put up a big billboard with a big picture of Atienza saying: "Buhayin Ang Metropolitan Theatre: Teatro Ng Masa, Coming Soon." Now this is REALLY GREAT news. And they've also set-up the "Buhayin Ang Maynila" exhibit at Robinsons Place Ermita now so you can also see it there and not just at Harrison.

Ramon Magsaysay building is quite an interesting piece of architecture. Roxas blvd is a good place to see postmodern and modern buildings in the same kilometer.. not alot of those in this region..

Great pics, Sunking.

Hey does anyone have pics of PhilamLife? I'd like to see it from afar... also it would be nice to also see the WHO building. If memory serves me right, it's a well-maintained 60s modernist building.

Really colorful in Manila. As sparkly as everything is in Makati, Manila- and particularly Ermita/Malate -I find so colorful.

Here's a picture I took in the light and sound display at Rizal Park.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pa5708cc6b65b83ef5b353a5a107f0a1e/fb301d59.jpg

I was able to watch a show at the Metropolitan when our class went there for a field trip many years ago, unfortunately, I was too young too remember many details of the building. It's really in a very sad state now, I even saw cars parked in between the arches just in front of the shops. As for the RM Center, was it always white? I remember it having a pebble washout exterior, although, I could be wrong.

heres a pic 2 dis thread.. its not mine tho, rather from a user on webshots community (http://community.webshots.com) saved this pic on my PC bout 2 months ago.. just now i tried to reenter, but now u can only access the site with a paid membership account :crazy: (lucky me eh!).. so enjoy this rare pic ;) haha)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/pc76d3240ee867f211f79318e1ef022d6/f8b09294.jpg

Ha... This will show my age. I remember watching a rock show at the Metropolitan.

Does anybody know the Dawn? (of course people do... I think they may be together in some form right now unless Jet Pangan still has the Jet Pangan Experience). Anyway, I watched the Dawn play Metropolitan Theater in 1987 I believe. Right around the time of their song, "Enveloped Ideas." If anyone is to thank for the current wave of Philippine alt-rock, it's the Dawn. They started it in the late 80s back when the state of Philippine banda music was stuff like Side A.

Anyway, I remember it was very hot and the seats were wood fold-down theater seats. It was a great place to see a show. :)


BTW, Lumpia... you need to take the "orig.jpg" part out of the image text so it displays on here. :)

is Metropolitan Theater the same place where Vilma Santos used to do her tv show?

Yup, at the time it was being run by her ex-biyenan, Mrs. Manzano. In fact, it was their biggest cash cow.

I think the Ramon Magsaysay building does have a pebble washout surface, but they used light beige pebbles so it's more aesthetically appealing than gray or multicolored pebbles. And it matches the marble of the columns.

They also have the Buhayin Ang Maynila exhibit set up at Roxas pala. And they also published a coffee table book all about the project. I haven't seen it myself, but it's supposed to be really glossy. Most of the establishments in Malate are displaying copies daw.

The Dawn have recently regrouped for a tour. Diba mas nauna sila sa Side-A by many years?

from now on i will be posting more manila pics i took. maybe some have already been seen. but not yet on this thread (or in ssc)

here's the postman from the post office building
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid117/pc756012917cd5e73f6d823efcd77d0a2/f8a49e56.jpg

edit: changed the image url. transferd to another imgstation.

I was able to watch a show at the Metropolitan when our class went there for a field trip many years ago, unfortunately, I was too young too remember many details of the building. It's really in a very sad state now, I even saw cars parked in between the arches just in front of the shops. As for the RM Center, was it always white? I remember it having a pebble washout exterior, although, I could be wrong.
this skyline would soon become five after they built one, two, and three adriatico place

I never see the postman in Manila. Do they really wear uniforms like that? Anyway, medyo cute yung statue ng postman. May nagsasabi na medyo stupid pero sa tingin ko cute. Parang cartoon na ginawang statue.

The Ninoy statue in Makati is stupid. He looks like an old man being escorted by a couple of boyscouts as he tries to cross Ayala Ave.

The Ninoy statue in Makati is stupid. He looks like an old man being escorted by a couple of boyscouts as he tries to cross Ayala Ave.
I loved the one with him descending down the airstairs better.

they moved that one to Tarlac, and replaced it unfortunately with a crap one.

i actually haven't seen postmen in the country. or maybe they just dont wear uniforms anymore...

The big companies actually subcontract their mail so some of it don't have to go through the Philippine Postal Service. But I've seen a mailman, I saw one dropping off mail at the Ramos Museum in AAV and his uniform is not unlike the one in the picture, complete with the bag, although he was wearing shorts, sort of like the UPS uniform.

guess the Philippine postal service isn't so reliant then?:D

I believe PhilPost is semi-private the way the US Postal Service is?

I think half of it is privatized, but it's still considered a government owned and controlled corporation.

Here are some pictures of modern Manila that I took from the top of our building in Malate, it's not as skyscraper-y as Makati or Ortigas, but more new ones are going up. Too bad that in Binondo they tore down some heritage structures to put up the new buildings.

Looking North over Ermita, 1322 at left, Robinsons Place Residences at right

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/p3330f5586e6306a170439cf3720f57bd/f8c5510a.jpg


Looking South over Malate, Pan Pacific at left, Grand Boulevard mid-right, the edge of the Landbank building at right.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pd71033911584fd7b0c57d6e5f2341e0c/f8c5510e.jpg


The Antel Grandview, with parts of the Baywalk visible below.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pf298fb2ca98c88ffb223c842c6fff2ca/f8c5510f.jpg

Nice pics, JudeD. Some of those buildings look really tall, even though i know they arent:D Roxas 1322 is pretty tall and massive, though.

well it's 203m, what do you expect? :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pf298fb2ca98c88ffb223c842c6fff2ca/f8c5510f.jpg

this is the building you posted once that you thought was u/c. it was colorful in the renderings, but extreme crap in reality

i like that gray building

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid117/p59e616ab5975c7617e52567e346e73ba/f8a4b0dc.jpg

one of my binondo images.

Nice. :) You got the eye!

well it's 203m, what do you expect? :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pf298fb2ca98c88ffb223c842c6fff2ca/f8c5510f.jpg

this is the building you posted once that you thought was u/c. it was colorful in the renderings, but extreme crap in reality

oh it is? it does look dull compared to the rendering...at least its tall.

well being ugly and tall is bad for me:D looks like a dilapidated Chinese commie block to me

it's gray, shiny and deceptive. it's by the bay too. better have it that way than have it painted in some shocking set of colours. that's only my opinion though.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p40ce6707832b5aa40f0fa01b550c1cbd/f90ae441.jpg

a malate catholic school student in roxas boulevard. no need for that. it's all in the post title. :bash:

taken 2003

she looks like she's wearing the Bene school uniform... lol.. maybe only Eriq will know about this one...:D

maybe they have the same style for uniforms but i can assure you she isnt from bene. malate catholic school is just behind malate church which happens to be somewhere near baywalk. and lots of other girls with similar uniforms were all over the place.

maybe they have the same style for uniforms but i can assure you she isnt from bene. malate catholic school is just behind malate church which happens to be somewhere near baywalk. and lots of other girls with similar uniforms were all over the place.

ah ok:D same thing with Makati employess, most people have the same uniforms, sometimes with public school teachers

yea. i think all public school teachers wear the same uniform (i mean same style of course). first i thought each city has its own set of uniforms for teachers until i saw public school teachers in other cities. they're all wearing the same uniforms. i dunno with the public school students though. maybe they don't wear the same thing all over the metro.

Here's a pic of architect and heritage proponent Augusto Villalon's award-winning pet project, the restored Gota De Leche building along Loyola St. in the University Belt area (near LRT2 Legarda station). It's really an amazing restoration and renovation! I hope the same kind of thing happens to the Metropolitan Theater and the Luneta Hotel.

Gota De Leche

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/pa108d9c3842bf6bb4887657bce6fc007/f8b1a400.jpg

OMG that's beautiful! I used to pass by it in its ramshackle days. What a terrific job!

what is Gota de Leche? history? importance?

Something I found from inq7.net, written by Augusto Villalon, keep in mind this was writen in November 2003, there are also some before and after pics on http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/heritageawards/2003/winners/Gota%20de%20Leche.htm:

Drop of hope
for heritage battle
Posted: 11:24 PM (Manila Time) | Nov. 23, 2003
Inquirer News Service

Success story

THE HISTORIC Gota de Leche building in Manila is now on the international heritage roster. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the excellence of its restoration by awarding it an honorable mention in the 2003 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.

Dr. Richard Engelhardt, regional adviser for culture in Asia-Pacific, traveled to Manila last week to present the honorary plaque and certificates to all those involved in the project: Lourdes Almeda-Lopez Sarabia (executive director of Gota de Leche), Jainab Tajil-Atillero (conservation engineer), Ani Katrina de Leon (landscape architect), Liliane Rejante Manahan (historic finishing and coloring expert), and Felicisimo M. Consuelo (contractor).

As lead conservation architect and coordinator of the project, I was brought back full circle to my roots: my grandfather, Dr Jose Fabella, was once a Gota de Leche president.

The Gota de Leche building, situated in a congested area of Manila, was restored to its original appearance of 1917. The rental building attached to it in the recent past was removed to offer clear sight lines from the street and vehicular access.

The charitable program of providing free pediatric care and milk to indigent children through Gota de Leche (drop of milk) has been maintained since the building opened.

The UNESCO citation reads: "The careful restoration of the 1917 Gota de Leche building provides a welcome model for preserving Manila's rich architectural and social history. The removal of unsympathetic additions, the restoration of the original landscaping, and the use of traditional crafts and skills in repairing the dilapidated building have been undertaken within a clear and low-intervention conservation framework.

"Returning the building to its original appearance and prominence in the University Belt neighborhood provides a worthy and appropriate setting for the sustained operation of Gota de Leche's charitable programs, while demonstrating a commendable commitment to advancing the local conservation agenda."

Advancing the local conservation agenda is the operative phrase. Clearly Gota de Leche is a success story in the roller-coaster record that conserving Manila heritage has become.

All we have to do is remember the Jai Alai, Mehan Garden, and the Arroceros Forest Park to realize how destructive insensitive city agendas are to preserving Manila.

Is there a conservation agenda in Manila? For that matter, is conservation on the national agenda?

Destructive Manila government

What Gota de Leche proves is that private initiative, not Mayor Lito Atienza's or the national government's initiatives, will eventually preserve our heritage.

Since most of our culture's heritage is in private hands, it is through the determination and commitment of private owners that our country's heritage can be preserved.

Private heritage preservation initiatives in Manila include, among others, the Orchid Garden Hotel, the Instituto Cervantes building, the Bahay Nakpil in Quiapo and the Far Eastern University.

Public heritage preservation initiatives have not prospered in Manila. They are hampered by politics and market-driven development schemes, which have led, for example, to the destruction of the Jai Alai building.

Also because of politicking and greed, the fate of Mehan Garden and the Arroceros Forest Park hangs in the balance.

Binondo in danger

The latest heritage issue is the ambiguous fate of the historic Cuarteles de Meisic in Binondo, which is said to be giving way for another commercial development.

After its restoration, Gota de Leche stands out in the visually polluted and singularly ugly University Belt. It has the only green front lawn on impossible S. H. Loyola Street (formerly Lepanto). The nurturing of fully matured trees and replanting of grass and plants renews oxygen and life to that choked part of the city.

The other achievement of Gota de Leche is an intangible one. It is to spark a renaissance. Since it has been restored, the heirs of its original board of directors have renewed their active participation. They have once again become involved in the Gota de Leche programs. Gota de Leche has regained its place as one of the worthy charities in Manila.

Restoring the building has brought back its pride of place, which in turn has brought new life to Gota de Leche. That is what reconnecting to heritage is all about.

It is an uphill battle, protecting our heritage. We have to stand on constant guard because we know that once heritage goes it can never be replaced. Gota de Leche shows us the benefits of maintaining our heritage.

The Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) has published a handsome desk calendar for 2004 that features archival photos and short historical data on 12 well-known Philippine churches. Proceeds will fund HCS projects for 2004. Call 5222497 and 5212239.

E-mail the author at afvillalon@hotmail.com

interesting. cool. :cheers:

I have a friend who joined the HCS but he said that he thought that most of its members are kinda elitist. And so he was turned off after a while and he left when a few other members whom he liked also left. I paid their P500 membership fee a while back when they had a booth at the PICC, but aside from picketing in front of the Jai-Alai for a few minutes, I haven't gone to most of their meetings or events so I can't confirm if this is true. I like what they stand for though, too bad if they're being elitist about it.

Another funny thing is that when I was in front of the building taking the picture I noticed that a lot of the passersby would stop to check out what I was taking a picture of. A few of them even said the same exact thing while walking past, "Gota De Leche. Ang ganda!". I guess for some people you can only catch their attention by bringing out a camera! :)

Another funny thing is that when I was in front of the building taking the picture I noticed that a lot of the passersby would stop to check out what I was taking a picture of. A few of them even said the same exact thing while walking past, "Gota De Leche. Ang ganda!". I guess for some people you can only catch their attention by bringing out a camera! :)

So the fate of Manila's heritage is in the hands of usyoso Filipinos? :colgate: