The Manila in my mind

I spent most of my adolescent years in Manila – though we did not live in the city proper.

A few days ago, I felt sad when  two explosions happened in Quiapo. I spent most of my adolescent years in Manila – though we did not live in the city proper. Manila was peaceful and was in the course of being in the big leagues. My secondary education and my university diploma were obtained from the oldest university, the University of Santo Tomas on España street.

How is Manila now? It is crowded and the traffic situation is not anything to be happy about. It is the seat of highter education like the UST,  which still commands an imposing presence in the life of young men and women seeking to realize their dreams. Together with the University of the Philippines, the  Far Eastern University, Ateneo, De la Salle and San Beda, they have produced the best (and maybe worst?) of business and public officals.

I bought my first high-heeled gamusa three-inch shoes from Shoe Mart, which started small in Carriedo selling footwear. I marvel at how the store grew into a large chain of malls throughout the country. Perhaps Mr. Sy can share his success story with us. The late Glecy Tantoco began her enterprise in Ermita. Look at how the Rustan’s group has expanded!

Gourmet eating was at the New Europe in Malate and the paella was perfect at the Casino Español. I remember curb-side meals of chicken honey and halo-halo at the Aristocrat. I am  happy that they continue to survive, against strong competition.

Shopping was always at Escolta, where Golden Berg was the store where we always got our holiday wear, until the emergence of talented designers – Pitoy Moreno, Christian Espiritu, Rusty Lopez and Larrie Silva.

Ah! Chinatown – still the place for authentic Chinese food, the Eng Bee Tin hopia outlet. The fruits and vegetable vendors remains to be the favorite of many homemakers. Bargain shopping never ends at Lucky Mall and and 168.

The Luneta – the pasyalan ng bayan. A lot of families still spend their Sundays in the park. But we regret that the Metropolitan Theater, once a center of cultural activities, has been neglected and never restored. The late Conching Sunico tried to revive it. Now can the art community do something about  this? There is, of course, the Cultural Center, which straddles Manila and Pasay.

The churches –  the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin, the Santa Cruz church and the Quiapo church. The big groups of daily devotees prove that the Filipinos fervently keep their faith. 

That is partly the Manila in my mind. It has its glorious past, let’s hope its future will be as colorful and eventful.

Go on, make pasyal at the Luneta!

E-mail me at [email protected]