Thursday, February 25

Saturday in Manila

It was just a short visit for some errands and while I am done in a day, another day was spent tracing back childhood memories. 

From Quiapo Church where I asked for guidance 
                                  to Carriedo where I passed everyday to go back home. 

From Luneta, where we sat down and ate taho (Chinese mung bean jelly) 
                                   and to my first ever picnic with relatives at Rizal Park

And some photographs to the recently concluded Art Fair Philippines where I "elbowed" the rich and famous, ha,ha,ha!



18 comments:

  1. Amazing post Sir! never been to Manila so never been to Quiapo. Hopefully, soon maka pag travel din to the North ehheheh

    love lots,
    Tin

    mypoeticisolation.blogspot.com

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  2. Hi Cristine,

    Quiapo was a daily route when I was in high school, oh and even when I took mu university because I passed by the church.

    I had been to Cebu once and stayed at Plantation Bay with my colleagues in school. It was very discriminating to Pinoys so my experience in there was very bad. Anyway, heard that the staff are not Cebuanos.

    I still like to visit your city, one day, if I have a longer vacation.

    Have a great day!

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  3. grabe s'ya oh, di man lang tayo nagkagulatan sa LRT... nung sabado, ang tagal tagal naming naghintay sa Central, pero di ka dumating hahaha... grabe, more than 1 hour ang tinagal namin bago makasakay, kaya naman pala kasi bumisita ka dito lols.

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  4. @ Jep,

    Nasira ba ang LRT dahil sa pagdating ko? Oh sobrang choosy lang at lahat na dumaan pero pinalagpas muna? Ano nga kaya at nagkita tayo, shock to death reaction ba or galak look?

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  5. Sorry sir Jonathan but i never liked Manila that much. I've been to some interesting places of the old city but still, its legendary beauty (wherever and whatever that is) failed to persuade me. I've been to the area of Intramuros, Rizal Park and the National Museum. Or maybe it's just my being a promdi. Or maybe i haven't truly seen the wonderful and amazing in Manila (wherever and whatever those are).

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  6. There were mixed emotions when I was walking around Quiapo and its vicinity. For one, I was scared that something might happen to me or to my phone or wallet. Second, there were flood of memories as I walked those paths hundreds of times when I used to live in Manila. The last being a hope that some buildings need to be preserved, renovated, and marked as historical edifices. The structures promote the good old Manila but being abandoned, gives nothing but a poor image of the country.

    But Luneta is impressive, and the safe haven of the three different gardens lure teens and health enthusiasts to converge within. I was looking for the globe with a circular skating rink but it was gone. :(

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  7. I hardly know Manila even though my trip was a week's stay inside Makati. I thought it was strange that Jose Rizal was made to march so faraway from his prison cell to be executed at the Rizal Park. As for other countries, they would just shoot as where is.

    I do hope to visit Manila again someday to visit other places of history besides enjoying the real delicious Pinoy good.

    Long ago, my parents adopted a Pinoy teenager during his student exchange trip with Japan's SE Asian Youths Exchange. This guy turned out to be the most handsome and gorgeous model from the Divine City of Tagbilaran. I guess it is in Cebu and sounds so holy place!

    This model is an old uncle now and moved to US when Imelda fled Malacanang!! Lol.

    Thanks for your video post. You should start making short movies now in Thailand.

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  8. It was very interesting photo collection for me. Beautiful parks, city details and Water World :)
    Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend

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  9. Hello TM,

    Isn't it more dramatic if one is asked to march and then shot by firing squad in a place filled with people and then eventually build one a revered ground for a national hero? Sounds good to me, ha,ha,ha! (The dramatic side of me is kicking in.) The most contested structure at present is the high rise building that serves as a backdrop for the statue of Rizal. When once only the skies and the clouds dramatically capture the structure with its waving flag, there is now an eyesore.

    Makati is a haven for businesses and walking along the streets has a different vibe compared to when you walk along the streets of Manila. For one, you need to cling on your personal properties and have this 'touch me and I'll kill you' look. I had a very bad experience when I took a cab last week in Manila but may Karma bites him in the a&$!

    Tagbilaran is in Bohol, a great place to visit and I have a blogpost to prove it, just do a search. The people of Bohol are naturally nice and sweet, not that I tasted them, I mean, in their manners. Cebu is an equally beautiful city and I would like to pay a visit again. I wonder what Uncle is doing now in the US.

    I have a few slide presentations of Thailand in my blog and I am thinking of making short clips in the future. :) Have a lovely day.

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  10. Oh, You were traveling Manila! I hope you have a relaxing weekend.

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  11. Hello Miklos,

    Thank you for the kind words. It is wonderful to be able to capture something pretty on a short trip. Would like to stroll more for added photos but the weather was quite warm. Have a great weekend too!

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  12. Thanks Tomoko,

    Thank you. I was in Manila last week for two days and found a day to stroll around the city, a part of.

    Have a great weekend!

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  13. I was at the Art Fair on Friday :) Hindi yata talaga tayo meant to be magkita this time of the year. Huhuhubels.

    I was in Manila last Saturday and Sunday but both were busy days.

    We were in Manila at Uno Seafood Wharf in Escolta last Feb 13.... Oh Manila! Pero goal kong mabisita ang bookshop ni F. Sionil Jose.

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  14. Hi Yccos,

    So you were with the rich and artsy at the Philippine Art Fair. Were you walking around looking at the artworks with a glass of wine as well? It was so posh that I felt like a fish out of water what with my walking shorts and shabby appearance. I didn't connect with any artists or person as it was so busy and cold, got it? I have attended some art exhibits before but this is by far the most snobbish.

    I was only there for two days so meeting anyone of you would be an impossibility as I was busy with work. I wanted to attend the Escolta Art Market next time and I know this is where I belong, the streets! Have a great weekend!

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  15. Depending on the day I think. Most of the people I saw last Friday were socio-entreps. I stayed longer in Ayala Museum, to visit the photo exhibit of Anne Leibovitz, Sebastiao Salgado, et al and just had to pass by the Art Fair to say Hi a friend as well, sobrang dali ko lang, didnt stay long as it was also the day I was waiting for the phone call which never happened but then I got to land a spot for the seminar the following day courtesy of the kuya.

    Escolta Art MArket I think happens every weekend? My curator friend in Ayala Museum had set up a booth for the artworks of our kids before. Manila streets resemble that of Calle Crisologo, had it been all preserved, it would always feel like a walk back in time.

    Well, you are always an email away to me anyway but I do look forward to another getaway with you someday :)

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  16. If I visited the Art Fair in the morning or afternoon, I will probably be around students and art anthusiasts. It just happened that I was there in the evening of a Saturday. I hope the artists were able to sell their works. I will syncronize my schedule so I could attend an art market along Escolta one day. Yes, it would be fun to go again with you. Looking forward to our 2017 trip.

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  17. I haven't got that chance to explore Manila especially those places near Quiapo.. I've been there a lot of times pero dun lang sa Quiapo Church. Of of course, I recently had my Binondo trip and I am planning to explore Intramuros soon...
    You've been here po pala.. sayang I didn't get a chance to meet you hehe.. Maybe next time ^_^

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  18. Yes, next time blue and let's explore one place together and do separate blog entries for that. It 's going to be good.

    I didn't see anyone as I only went for two full days. I needed some things sorted out and did them in a day so the Saturday was spent in Quiapo, Escolta, Rotonda then Makati.

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