manilenya

“Why are you there (Canada) then?” My cousin retorts when I told her that I don’t dream big.

I don’t really dream big. When my mother asked me what I want to be when I grow up, I was in grade school that time, and I told her I want to be a teacher.

But honestly, I don’t know what I really want to be. I have never thought about that, it’s just that I felt that my mother was waiting for my answer so I replied with no hesitation.

And wanting to be a teacher is not big either, at least in the Philippines.

When I was still in Tondo, I always see this house every time I buy vegetables for our meal. If you know the common ‘tao’, they buy common needs when they need it, so I get to see this small house two to three times a day. Their house is probably smaller than ours, or I just thought that it is smaller because it seems that they have these appliances tucked in their living room. Since it is small, the living room might also be their dining room, just like us.

What I like in that house was the organ in one corner and the phone (we have no phone yet at that time) and the organ seem to grant my wish to learn to play any musical instrument. Guitar would be fine but, it won’t give me the glory of having a small but appealing house.

Still, not a big dream. I could wish a big house and lot in one of the richest subdivision or condominium in Makati but I didn’t.

I never thought of leaving Tondo.

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This was the message I saw taped in Mike’s front door when I climbed the stairs to his cottage. I was surprised when I read this, I didn’t realize that he is this cordial person. I saw him twice, well this was the third time I saw him, the last time was in my birthday party that my uncle threw for me last year.

He called A First Nation in this country. The Indian people who were the very first souls that reached Canada. I only watched them in the movies, and now I even hibernated at his place together with my group for two days.

He loves to utter the words “This is my country” whenever we talk about what he can do (,and what he cannot), and then we will all be bursting into laugh.

(more…)

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Welcome to the June edition of the Philippine Blog Carnival and since our theme is about the famous and historical city of Manila, capital of the Philippines, let’s kick things off with some lyrics from a little-known, yet profound song about the city by Pinoy folk rock artist Noel Cabangon:

Sirasirang lansangan,
Hikaing mga sasakyan
Sa gabi’t araw na digmaan
Makapal na usok ang iniiwan
Mga tulay na marupok, gusaling nabubulok
Ilog na di na umaagos, puno ng basura’t alikabok
Ikaw lamang wala nang iba
Sa dibdib mo ipipikit ang mata
Tahanan ng aking kamusmusan
Maynila

Just like the song paints a mixed, contrasting picture of Manila, five Pinoy bloggers have also did the same in their own unique way. Using their blogs as a canvass, they too painted a picture of a city that is more than just a city. It’s a place where almost everything about the Philippines and Filipinos, their history, past and present collide, their stories and memories intertwined, and their future continuing to be built as each time the sun rises in the East and sets at Manila Bay in the West.

We step back into the ‘golden years’ of Manila thanks to Panaderos of A Man of My Town whom in a two-part blog series dissects two classic film documentaries about Manila back when she was crowned “Queen City of the Pacific”. In A Beautiful City Gone Forever - Manila of the 1930s (Part 1) Panaderos takes us on a virtual tour of the Manila from its famous harbors and some historic landmarks like the original site of the Bilibid Prison before it moved to its present location at Muntinlupa and Hospicio de San Jose Orphanage which “has occupied its current location at the Isla de Convalescencia right off of the Ayala Bridge in Quiapo, Manila since 1810.”

In A Beautiful City Gone Forever - Manila of the 1930s (Part 2) he again dissects another classic film documentary by a travel film producer named Andre de la Varre (1902-1989) as part of his “The Screen Traveler” series made back in 1938. It focuses on the colorful histories of more famous buildings that have made Manila’s architectural heritage splendid. He reminds us that what connects the Jones Bridge, the former Legislative and Post Office Buildings is that they were designed by legendary Filipino architect Juan Marcos de Guzman Arellano (or simply “Juan Arellano”).

Following a similar tone, this time from the experiences that built the memories of his beloved grandfather, a full-blooded Filipino, Pinay MegaMom shares stories of old Manila as a place for learning and romance and of pursuing that American dream. What’s more engaging and another historical gem, are the striking similarities of Manila and the American city of Chicago’s city plan and layout. Coincidence? It’s again rooted in our historical ties with the United States for it was a famous American city planner and architect that was responsible how Chicago and Manila is today; Daniel Burnham. All of these and more could found at Grandpa’s Manila.

Still continuing with our trip down Manila’s history, we thank Filipina Soul for giving a closer look at one of the most iconic landmarks of Manila, the “city within a city” the Fortress of Intramuros. Long before the Americans arrived and brought the industrial era of the West, the Spanish colonizers have landed three centuries earlier and shared classical Western civilization to our ancestors the walled city of Intramuros could be considered the epitome of that legacy.

All these historical treasures and legacies may have inspired the traveler in you to plan a trip to Manila in the very near future. Fret not for Chris has come up with a brilliant and comprehensive guide on what it costs to live in modern-day Manila, even including some tips on bargain-hunting and getting the most out of your buck. All of these in a neat Cost of Living Chart - Philippines (in Peso, Dollar and Euro) posted at nomad4ever.

Now that we know about the sites and landmarks of Manila and even the costs of staying in the city, knowing how to survive in this concrete jungle in the Southeast would be a must. I just don’t know if we should be thankful or not, but to wrap up this edition of the Philippine Blog Carnival; here’s Noisy noisy Man Ade Magnaye and his time-tested, ninja-proof and Chuck Norris-approved
>Metro Manila: A Survival Guide.

There you have it, “Manila, My Manila” from five Pinoy bloggers gracing this edition of the Philippine Blog Carnival. A million thanks to Filipina Soul for helping out in re-opening this project, to WordPress Philippines for the support, to Panaderos, Chris, Pinay MegaMom, again Filipina Soul and Ade Magnaye for participating and for me (of course) for hosting this round of the Philippine Blog Carnival.

See you all soon, and more, again in July for the next edition of the Philippine Blog Carnival.

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Trackbacks:
http://blogcarnival.com/bc/tb_21309.html
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
http://blog.ademagnaye.com/2008/05/16/metro-manila-a-survival-guide/trackback/

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I was in my fifth grade when I first appreciate the comeliness of my school library. I started spending my afternoon there instead of my usual play on the raucous narrow street in my community. I don’t care if I miss the grouchy voice of the old lady who lives beside our home and loves to yell on us, due to the loud voices of my playmates (okay, including mine). I don’t mind them at all because I found a serene place where SILENCE becomes music to my ears.

I became familiar with the three school librarian; the arts teacher who I found out later, also a resident of my neighborhood, his office was located upstairs. inside the library and some male students (including my cousin) who actively participate in arts club.

Going over the mass of canvas, posters and streamers hanging around the arts club, and of course pictures of the previous leaders of my beloved country and historical places, I must say that our library was the very first museum I’ve been too.

But silly me, I don’t recall myself reading inside my then favorite hang-out. However, I do remember me browsing books from Filipiniana Section, I leaf through the pages of history and social studies books and wasn’t aware that eight years from that time, I am going to be socially aware and be active in the real sociology sense of the word.

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