Makati CBD skyline
from Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Definitely not the most flattering view as the boxy concrete residentials dominate the foreground, but this one captures some of the favorites from left to right: 1) KPF designed GT tower, which is the sharp one 2) the diagonally cut LKG tower, with its iconic helipad 3) PBCom tower, the country’s tallest since its completion early 2000s (hopefully not for so long), 4) The Enterprise Tower 1 aka, HSBC. Along with LKG, The Enterprise is a contender for the most dramatically lit scraper at night.

Makati CBD skyline from Libingan ng mga Bayani
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Just another photograph of the cemetery and the skyline.

Makati CBD skyline from Libingan ng mga Bayani
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Libingan ng mga Bayani, which is Tagalog for Cemetery of the Heroes, was originally the Republic Memorial Cemetery when established on May 1947. It was renamed to Libingan ng mga Bayani by the late President Magsaysay on 27 October 1954. It houses primarily those who had been slain during and immediately afterwards the many battles of the local military. There are sections alloted to specific campaigns. Nowadays, most of the new ‘residents’ of the cemetery are military people who have passed away for reasons other than combat, like aged veterans.

The first Philippine chief executive buried in this cemetery is President Carlos P. Garcia. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s father, President Diosdado Macapagal, and his wife are also in LNMB. For other information regarding notable Filipinos in LNMB, and the Marcos issue, click here.

I come to this place at most 3x a year. Since our clan is a relatively young one, we only have one deceased member, which is my grandfather, who happens to be a veteran of a Korean war. We visit him on his birthdays, his death anniversary and every All Saints Day. All Saints is the toughest as it is a big cemetery gathering event in the Philippines, even in cosmopolitan Metro Manila. Luckily, LNMB isn’t as crowded and chaotic as other cemeteries. On any other day, a visit to this cemetery can be very relaxing. It has a tranquil feel to it, and it’s not the morbid type.

At the background we have Makati’s CBD skyline. Metro Manila has a lot of business districts and its skylines have this tendency to be divisible into clusters, unless viewed from the hills of Rizal Province.  Makati City alone has 2, the other one being the Rockwell area (but it’s slowly being incorporated). But of all the business centers, Makati CBD is Metro Manila’s primary CBD. It has the most prestige, the better designed buildings, the tallest scrapers, the most expensive spaces and the biggest names.

a predator
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

I have taken this photograph around 4 months ago when the dinosaurs were still on display in an open area within a block of kinda upscale dining establishments, a bargain store, a gym (where i took this photo) and HSBC. Interestingly another HSBC branch occupies the ground floor of the right building. The left building, which is one of my “box” favorities in Bonifacio Global City, has a Deutsche Bank [/] sign on top. Real names of these highrises? I have no clue.

Paths and passages- paths, i didn’t mind much. Passage(s) is my game for this theme. And by passage I mean ” a portion of a written work”. I have been thinking about this certain quotation from some book since theme day: books. I can’t give a link because I screwed it up small time that month. And I didn’t think it was that appropriate anyway- I had another thing in mind, but nevermind. bottom line: I missed that theme day.

This photograph I have chosen because of what was in the portion of the book I will quote, Between Two Empires by Theodore Friend. I liked that book not only because of the wealth of information but also because of his writing style, which can get a little mushy and all, but really likeable. I wanted something more crazy and all. Unfortunately, nothing in the hard drive currently is crazier than this one. And I really haven’t held the camera specifically for the sake of shooting Metro Manila in a long while. I actually have intended to shoot the National Museum originally for this theme but missed the chance, too literal anyways. That’s why I’ve failed to sign up because I change my mind all the time till the last minute.

I’m not trying to prolong the waiting by saying blah blah before showing the “passage” I have chosen. I just want it to be the last thing written for this entry, you know.

Later, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants. Trust me, all I’ve seen so far, really good.

This was an observation of postwar/post independence Manila

“Manila was a quagmire in the rainy season; and in the hot season the red dust above the city, thrown up by heavy army traffic, made it look from a distance, afire, The city was full of jerry-built shelters, and its hasty bazaars were full of gimcrack goods. Soldiers, sailors, and peddlers jammed its sidewalks; whores and pimps and pickpockets, confidence men and influenced mongers; ex-guerillas still in jungle uniform, and throngs of common men and women, tired and unemployed. To one observer who had loved the old city, the New Manila looked like a carnival in hell.”

Okay, not a single person in the photograph when the quotation contained very interesting characters. Let’s just say that there’s a path there in the photo, yeah that tree lined pavement along the road. And yeah, I’ve noticed I’ve been using black and white in theme days. A color theme would break the non streak.

Intramuros, Manila

This is how the old walled district identifies its streets. Lovely eh? I especially love the fonts used. And the tiles are very crossword puzzle-ish.

Nuestra Senora de los Remedios
Mabini Street, Malate, Manila

There are tons of Manila’s Catholic church images here but I don’t remember posting posting anything that shows an interior yet. This is definately one of the nicer looking ones. It’s always either boring or I can’t adjust to the light. Indoors isn’t one of my strengths.

Oh, I remember posting photos of items inside a church- an angel and a stained glass lecture. But still, none yet that gives the view like this.

Casa Manila Museum
General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila

They call it Casa Manila, which translates “Manila House”. Okay, everybody can figure that out. One might not know yet, however, that this “house” is actually a museum- one that is set-up in a way that the spirit of a colonial aristocratic Manila house would be captured. Complete with guest rooms, a dirty kitchen and a modest courtyard, the museum comes to life with valuable antiques from private collections.

Houses do tell a lot about the people who reside them. This house, albeit artificial, tells us more than individual personalities. Its entrance is essentially a warp zone that transports us to a certain era in a certain city’s history. If the restored walls of Intramuros and its old feel previewed colonial Manila’s facade. Casa Manila will show something more intimate, more personal.

This is the side that faces San Agustin’s patio.  Casa Manila entrance is on another side. I do not remember the fees anymore but it’s pretty cheap for such a showcase. I do not remember student discounts. The last time I’ve been in was around 2005 or 06. Photography is allowed in the courtyard only, where there is an adjacent snack bar of sorts.

San Agustin Catholic Church
General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila

Around Metro Manila is back. I have been thinking about writing a January 1 post containing nice meeting you all’s, thank you’s and farewells. Keeping a photoblog is not hard. But making sure something interesting enough goes up daily is a pain. And that’s why I have a tremendous respect for CDP bloggers and other non-CDP affiliated bloggers who do similar stuff. I have decided to give it another shot.

I’m coming back to this location, San Agustin Catholic Church, because this is where Around Metro Manila started.

Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Postigo corner General Luna, Intramuros, Manila

December 8 is the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. IC the patroness of the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila, and also of the entire Philippine Archipelago. It’s a big day usually for Catholic schools but I’m not sure if there are entire towns that celebrate this day. Unlike other major Catholic or religious holidays, this celebration isn’t considered a national holiday.

We have very few religious national holidays- Christmas- season starts, as they say, as early as September, decoration starts after halloween, Holy Friday to Easter Sunday- the commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and Eid ul-Fitr, festivity at the end of Ramadan. The Christian holidays have been observed for ages, as the Philippines contains a Christian majority. Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday. Its celebration had only been enacted into law as a national holiday in 2002, in recognizing the other major religion of the nation which is Islam, and for better understanding among Filipinos.

a garden within Santa Ana Catholic Church
New Panaderos Street, Santa Ana, Manila

I should have shifted the focus from the frames to the framed, but I was on the other side which made adjustments difficult with a limited camera. And I kind of liked the result anyway.

This parish needs to reassess its priorities. The garden is lovely; guess who enjoys it. The church is massive and impressive but it needs some major repairs and cleaning.