This Is Manila

I Wonder what went wrong for Her to be covered with Cheese

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Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo

5/11/13

The El Hogar building.

A premier office building during the 50’s and 60’s, neglect has left it to rot over the past couple of decades. However, through efforts by the Heritage Conservation Society, there are now plans to turn it into a boutique hotel.

March 9,2013|Binondo, Manila

Aside from the usual red trucks, volunteer firefighters based in Binondo use their own colors, from green to violet. Here is one of Binondo’s ube-colored fire trucks. Coincidentally, they’re all parked across a shop that is known for ube hopia.

February 4,2013|Binondo, Manila

Dragon dancers performing in front of a restaurant during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

For more on this year’s celebrations, visit Kamusta? Magazine

February 10, 2013|Binondo, Manila

There were no crowds, but he still wanted a better view of the dragon dance on the other end of the street.

February 10,2013|Binondo, Mania

Siesta along Carvajal Street.

February 10,2013|Binondo, Manila

Sino ngayon ang epal?

February 10,2013|Binondo,Manila

Chinese New Year celebrations along Ongpin Street.

February 10,2013|Binondo, Manila

indiohistorian:

Manila Bay had seen many of our nation’s turning points in its history. The breathtaking sunsets, one of the finest natural harbors… There were times when I would walk along Roxas Boulevard and imagine how it felt like during that famous Mock Battle of Manila between Spain and the American warships, or the air raids at the Port Area when Quezon and his family escorted to Corregidor. So much have happened in Manila Bay. It’s not just the sunset. It’s the history—centuries of it.

Would the Filipino People let their heritage and patrimony be taken from them? 

Every Indio Bravo wouldn’t.

Reposting this here (from Cris Millado).  

Calling on all concerned Artists, Citizens, Manila residents and businesses to join the “Synchronized Sunset Viewing” to oppose the reclamation of Manila Bay to build a casino city. Tuesday February 12. Assembly time starts at 4pm at the Raha Sulayman Plaza in front of Malate Church. The gathering will then proceed to the baywalk area to form a human chain facing the sunset. 2,000 bodies needed to line the whole baywalk area from the Army Navy Club to the US Embassy wall. No to Reclamation. Join the Human Chain to SAVE THE MANILA BAY! (Please share)

Binondo Baby.

May 19,2012|Binondo,Manila

theurbanhistorian:

Manila possesses the greatest resources for recreation and refreshment in its river and its ocean bay. Whatever portions of either have been given up to private use should be reclaimed where possible, and such portions as are still under public control should be developed and forever maintained for the use and enjoyment of the people.

-D. H. Burnham, Report on the General Plan on the Improvement of Manila

The harbor of Manila Bay is justly famous worldwide for having one of the best sunset views. With just one swerve from the City Hall, Manila might lose one of its greatest assets forever with reclamation of the bayside from the coastline of the US Embassy to the Manila Yacht Club. The Baywalk is almost a kilometer long, so that’s quite a big area already. The reclaimed bayside will be home to another High Density District complete with skyscrapers and other ultramodern city delights. For a congested city like the City of Manila, another High Density District is the last thing you’ll be building on it, as it badly needs parks and other public recreational facilities as its breathing space. Undoubtedly, the harbor view of the sunset is one of these rare city delights.

As I believe that a city’s progress, identity and beauty is not alone measured by concrete and skyscrapers, saving the bay for the enjoyment not just for the Manilenos from all walks of life, but also for the whole nation is better than to have a few businessman benefitting from that place.

On February 12, 2013, the Heritage Conservation Society and the Heritage Conservation Society - Youth will hold a synchronized sunset viewing and and Human Chain at the Manila Baywalk at 4PM. Our group, the JaywalkersPH, supports this advocacy and we are actually encouraging you to attend the said event and learn more about the impending reclamation project. Register here: http://bit.ly/U7oYhs. Also, show your support here in Tumblr (and twitter too!) through the tag: #SaveManilaBay

Further Reading:

Realty exec defends Manila Bay reclamation

Standoff looms over Manila Bay reclamation project

Goodbye beautiful sunset? Groups protest Manila Bay reclamation project

PS: I think it would be nice to attach some nice photographs of the Manila Bay sunset to highlight what’s at stake in this issue. Photos courtesy of (from upper left clockwise) some JaywalkersPH members. Click on the photos to know who owns the photograph and as well as their sites.

This Is Manila (Luneta)

Promotional Video

The This Is Manila team marooned on a deserted island in Dasol Bay.

January 6,2013|Burong Buwaya Island, Pangasinan

Children at Plaza Miranda on the night before the Feast of the Black Nazarene procession.

January 8,2013|Quiapo, Manila

Calm before the storm

A man lies down Plaza Miranda the night before the procession of the Quiapo’s Black Nazarene.

January 8,2013|Quiapo,Manila