breakwater madonna

ships, a mother, her child, the bay
Breakwater, Malate, Manila

I love Manila Bay.

santa ana

sidewalk vendors and Santa Ana Catholic Church
New Panaderos Street, Santa Ana, Manila

Santa Ana was reported to be the seat of the Namayan kingdom, a precolonial period kingdom that occupies the area we now know as Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan and this part of Manila. I do not know how true this story is.

mendiola

Mendiola Street and Avelino Hall, Centro Escolar University
San Miguel, Manila

The last entry was about the abbey church of San Beda College. Last month I have also posted something about Centro Escolar University. SBC and CEU are neighbors across Mendiola Street, a famous venue for street protests.

2 other colleges along Mendiola Street- College of the Holy Spirit and La Consolacion College Manila complete the list of the 4-member academic group named The Mendiola Consortium, a group that advocates academic cooperation by combining their manpower and resources for better education and public service. The consortium has been around since 1974.

These 4 form the Mendiola block of the core University Belt in Manila. Manila’s traditional University Belt is the subdistrict where the districts of San Miguel, Quiapo, Santa Cruz and Sampaloc meet. If combined with the Intramuros cluster and the Taft Avenue stretch within Manila, the wider University Belt will have University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Sampaloc on the northernmost end, Arellano University (AU) on the easternmost end, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (CSB) in Malate on the southernmost end and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in Intramuros on the westernmost end. That area is huge, stretches to almost 2/3s of Manila’s length, and that’s a lot of students, angry and energetic youth.

Malacanan Palace, the official residence of the Philippine President, sitting on the other end of Mendiola Street may be the sorry recepient of the student’s awareness in national issues. But the apathetic youth today may be harassed more when the angry mob take Mendiola to let the President hear their issues.

Out of the last 5 presidents that stayed in Malacanan, Mendiola was only protest-free during Fidel Ramos’ term. When I think of student protests, I always remember the image of that student in Tiananmen Square courageously facing the battle tank. I was surprised, in a really good emo way, that Mendiola had similar heroes.  Four student demonstrators died in the so-called Battle of Mendiola Bridge in January 1970, under Ferdinand Marcos.

Corazon Aquino’s slate isn’t exactly clean. In 1987, 10000 peasant farmers stormed Mendiola demanding an efficient land reform program. The injury of around a hundred and the death of 13 earned this encounter the title Mendiola Massacre. To know more on this tragic event, click on this Wikipedia article.

Because of this tragic event, demonstrations in Mendiola have been banned (so they have Ayala Avenue,  Mabuhay Rotonda, etc now?). But the power struggle at the sudden end of Estrada’s reign and the immediate rule of Arroyo in 2001 caused a rampage in Mendiola of supporters, fans, and like the EDSA 2 concert, normally apathetic people who feel the need to be part of history. Casualties are high among the mob, the police and the military. Aside from this the street itself and properties within the vicinity have been severely damaged.

In 2007, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Movement of Philippine Peasants) installed a granite marker in Quezon City’s Bantayog ng mga Bayani. The southern half of Mendiola is still with gates and heavily guarded. Protests have been allowed by Manila mayor Alfredo Lim as of January 2008 but they should be limited to the area surrounding Mendiola landmark and on weekends and holidays only. So student’s won’t miss their classes?

This entry is draining. Ice cream, neone?

inside the lion’s den

inside the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat, San Beda College
Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila

Constructed in 1926, this abbey church is considered the center of a Bedan’s spiritual life. As El Colegio de San Beda upon its establishment in 1901, the institution’s mission was ‘to defend the Catholic battlements in the field of education’, according to the college’s website. San Beda College is one of the grand old tertiary institutions in Metro Manila that value tradition. But it is always open for new ideas and can adjust to the changes of today’s world, no matter how late.

By 2003, 101 years after its founding, San Beda opens up for female college students. Consequentially, this increase in student population forced the Elementary and High School students out to the suburbs that is Taytay, Rizal. San Beda has high academic standards and has consistently maintained its Level III PAASCU accreditation. Because of this SBC has produced a long list of reputable alumni across various fields. Probably the most prominent would be Benigno Aquino, the hero and figure of the history People Power Revolution of 1986, against the regime of then dictator Ferdinand Marcos. His memorial day was celebrated days ago.

Aside from that San Beda has also maintained a good record in the NCAA, one of the two premier intercollegiate leagues in Metro Manila. San Beda adopted the Red Lion school monicker by 1940, reflecting the English influence of Benedictine Father Sergio Martinez. Red was chosen obviously for its common interpretation- courage, both as a warrior and a martyr (the Catholic part). Reasons for the Lion are no less subtle. It’s the king of the jungle. It’s been said ever since and every National Geographic documentary on African wildlife confirms that statement.

for 27, 2 days ago

Father Blanco’s Garden and ECJ Building
Real Street, Intramuros, Manila

I have posted an image of a statue standing in Father Blanco’s Garden days ago. It’s in the lower left part of this photograph. The wonderful and ornate building (it’s pink, I’m sorry it’s b&w) behind the ruins according to an Intramuros map website is ECJ Building. A boring name for a really interesting building. It might have a story too but yes, I can’t do some more researching now.

plaza lorenzo ruiz

Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz
Binondo, Manila

Binondo is Manila’s Chinatown. Its Minor Basilica and the plaza is named after Lorenzo Ruiz, the famous Binondo native of Filipino and Chinese descent known for being the first Filipino saint. As an altar boy in his youth to the church that will be renamed after him, he went under the scholarship of the Dominicans. He lived a very normal life as a family man until he was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. This incident led Lorenzo Ruiz to leave the place by coming with Dominican priests on a mission to Japan (1636).

But the 17th century Japan under Tokugawa Shogunate they encountered upon arriving in Okinawa is hostile to Christians. In fact, persecutions are around to force converts to renounce their faith. Ruiz and company were immediately captured and brought to Nagasaki where they went through several forms of torture that forced some of Ruiz’ companions to renounce their faith. Ruiz never did and died for it.

Ruiz was beatified in 1981 by the late John Paul II during a Papal visit to Manila, the first beatification held outside the Vatican. Six years later he was elevated to sainthood.

Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz today is not only a square that honors the martyrdom of the Binondo native, it also carries a monument that celebrates the friendship of the Filipinos, the Filipino-Chinese and the Chinese.

Ex Manila mayor Joselito Atienza had renovated the plaza in the mid-2000s like a bunch of other plazas, parks and places of interest within his jurisdiction as part of his program to reinvigorate the the city (Buhayin ang MayniLA). The most prominent changes he did to Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz was to restore the function of the plaza’s fountains (which are very similar to the Carriedo fountain in Plaza Santa Cruz), and provided dramatic lighting to it so that by nighttime locals and visitors can safely hangout around the area. But even at daytime the homeless pester the pedestrians stopping by and possibly smalltime pickpocket people man the crowd. Police cars often patrol the area.

Going to this place in groups is a good idea. Another nice spot in Manila is wasted.

after san francisco

South of Market
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

South of Market condominiums, like its inspiration in San Francisco is often abbreviated to SoMa. The market being referred to in this case is no other than Market! Market!, a mall in the area that’s been around prior to SoMa’s promotions and construction.

SoMa presented something that is new to the local condo-buying community- a fully furnished luxury unit upon date of delivery. The marketing, renders, websites, flyers and everything convinced me and if I had the money then I would’ve purchased a unit. It is still another fine set of twin condos in Bonifacio Globacl City- like Pacific Plaza, Essensa and Bonifacio Ridge- but the rendering and models were five to ten times better.

I’m glad I didn’t have the money then, and not so glad I still do not have it by now. A unit is a unit, a fully furnished one is always good. But Bonifacio Global City is too posh and therefore not very cheap for those who opt to dare public transportation. BGC is just east of EDSA (EaEd) and West of C5 (WeC5), two of the main roads that go around the metropolis. But as a relatively new development there are STILL few options to enter, go around and leave it. Then again this global city has been planned before the prominence of global warming issues in the international scene.

another orange afternoon

Manila Bay sunset and people
(Manila Bay and) Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila

Who doesn’t love sunsets aside form people not so happy about what’s coming up the next day? Watch that quick golden moment by Manila Bay and you may love it even more. This place has one of the best views, guaranteed on a clear day. It’s so good it’s considered an attraction of sorts in itself already.

I was trying to fit the guy’s head into the sun to create a halo of sorts. It can’t happen without getting the background line and the people silhouettes screwed up. Since it’s street and all, I’ve to capture before the Jesus Christ moves. I was thinking it can be the last supper but there are 15 people in the group. JC, the 12, and the 2 Marys. Nevermind.

I have been pretty busy lately and only had spare time to do the daily post-upload, write entry, schedule post. I will be back to attend to everything else.

in the navy

the navy, boats, ship(s)
Manila Bay

I used to frequent this area but this was the only time I’ve seen something like this. The boats of the rowing group have always been there. But the sight of tens of men dressed up like Popeye was new that day.

there there

Miguel de Benavides, University of Santo Tomas
España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila

The Spaniard Reverend Miguel Benavides is from a noble clan in Carrion de los Condes. He became a Dominican and joined in the first Dominican mission to the Philippines (1587). He went on to become the bishop of Nueva Segovia (then centered in Cagayan but now in Vigan) and eventually the 3rd archbishop of Manila. He founded University of Santo Tomas in 1611. UST is the oldest and largest university in Manila.