Speeding through Manila’s thoroughfares
Waiting in Ped Xing
My vision of Manila has been limited to DVDs, Hidalgo, LRT, crowded streets and dark grievous corners where anything can happen. I studied at U-Belt for more than four years and had only seen only the dilapidating side of Manila at that time. But a quick walk through Manila’s inner thoroughfares recently expanded my vision of this old city.
Handless harmonica player beggar
Maybe being confined on a weekend time frame to do an exploration can be a boon as you’ll try to find some destinations within your reach (and budget as well). Since I had nothing to do last weekend, I accepted an invitation from co-blogger, and one of the co-moderator for Explore Philippines Yahoo Groups, Tito to do some photo shoot. Since I have no idea where to go at that time I just left for him to decide where to go even hinting that Manila is ok. And so we decided, Manila it is.
Binondo’s purple fire truck and a homeless’ home
We arrived in Quiapo before 10am where I first rummaged through some DVDs and bought myself a season 1 and 2 of Dr. House and Grey’s Anatomy. Yeah, so bad of me to buy pirated stuff, but I seldom watch TV lately, so I buy these series and watch them on my own time. Asked around for a generic battery for my cam in Hidalgo then proceeded to Plaza Goiti and sat there so I can have a snack first. Did I mention I’m always hungry? Hehe. If you don’t want some street kid to suddenly pop up beside you, hide your food, or else you must give. Haha. Plaza Goiti is the edge of Manila to me, what’s beyond there is new. And following Tito’s (my personal tour guide. Haha) lead, who has done some walking tours with Ivan Mandy, Carlos Celdran and more historically inclined than I am walked me across the border and let me discover Manila in a new light.
Eng Bee Tin hopia craze in Binondo
Escolta, I have seen in a lot of pictures lately, but I never expected it to be clean. I’m such a tourist. I know there are old historical buildings there, but never expected to see impressive architecture akin to walking at some streets in Singapore. There you’ll find the very first buildings from major banks like, Philtrust, Chinabank and HSBC, where they shot that Bamboo video “Pinoy Ako” and one of Sarah Geronimo’s video as well where she was running frantically at the stairs. Imagine being there during Rizal’s time while he describes the streets of Escolta and Juan Luna in his novels. I can just see myself warping back in time.
Sleeping under the shadows at Paco Park
I’m also surprised at the reception of people here in Escolta. It would seem that a lot of Photographers frequent the area as they actually ask you to take pictures of them! I dunno, do they ask money after? I understand some kids would ask money, but there was this old lady vendor who Tito was taking picture of and she also wanted to have her picture on my camera. Err… I really don’t want to but she was insistent and even posed by along the cars. Ok I’ll take your picture (there might be a mob around to harass us if I don’t) and show it to you and… delete it later. Haha. I’m so evil. Kidding! Ok my bad, but I’d rather take pictures candidly if possible. There were even a couple of college students who was jokingly asking for their pictures taken. What? Is it for their friendster profile? Haha. I guess Filipino just loves photographs (and being photographed) and I’m really grateful that they are very friendly to photographers in this area.
Admiring a hero
We walked towards Binondo, which I really liked. China town is so amusing I like the Chinese signboards which somehow make me feel I’m not in Manila anymore. Enjoyed the church shoot, But what really killed me are those Flaming Purple Fire Trucks! They really amused me somehow, maybe because they look like giant toys. Eng Bee Tin hopia! is also famous here. And they taste good as well! They even have a diet/lite hopia now! We had lunch at Estero where we ordered Beef and Mushroom with Broccoli (by request) and Szechwan Fish Fillet along with Yang Chow rice. Simply delicious and for the price, it’s a winner! To let the high sun pass for a while, we dropped by Panciteria Lindo, where you’ll get a taste of their Siphon Brewed Coffee for only 40 pesos. The place is filled with elders as it seems to be a favorite hangout.
Low sun convex reflection at the Rizal Monument
Now Paco Park, a small circular impressive graveyard with a quaint little church in the middle is just okay for me for a side trip. Really small place you can walk around (literally) for a short while. But it is worth noting that the remains of the three priests GomBurZa are buried here. Jose Rizal was also temporarily buried here before they moved him to Luneta, so lots of History here. And if you want to get married it’s also a neat venue. Or just pass out the afternoon sleeping under the shade like that one guy I saw with briefcase still intact.
Capturing the setting sun
The famous Luneta, the origin point of the country, is made more colorful with a variety of people spending their time there. Here you’ll of course find the Rizal Monument, well guarded as always. And guarding Rizal’s back is our foremost hero, Lapu-Lapu. His monument is just grand on top of that platform. Can’t help but admire his placement there. Right kids? Luneta, after all these years is still an amusing place to take your family.
Watching the lights pass by
And of course we all know Baywalk with the lollipop lights and amazing sunsets. This was our pit stop in this race around Manila (that sounds familiar). There were a lot of photographers there at that time as well which I think are part of a work shop somewhere. But Qtv’s presence there wasn’t an ear pleasing event. Anyways, it was a nice way to end the tour of Manila, which I really enjoyed as I’ve really come to appreciate its historical significance of the place and especially the colorful people inhabiting them. I may post more detailed info in the places in the future. Right now time to blaze ahead at the speed of light!
Tags: Baywalk, Binondo, City Beat, Escolta, Heritage, Luneta, Manila, Parks, People
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Friday, December 8th, 2006 at 12:29 am 
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December 8th, 2006 at 1:22 am
baywalk was not there when i left…but i heard rave reviews so to speak. so when i finally go home sa May (may kalabuan!), i will definitely go there straight from the airport
as usual, thanks for the great photos…
December 8th, 2006 at 3:19 am
Great job on this one! Now, it\’s your turn to superpasyal!
December 8th, 2006 at 3:25 am
And oh, by the way, there is only 1 purple firetruck (I have a photo of that in my blog as well). It is owned by - surprise! - the same owner of Eng Bee Tin. It was colored that way because his business soared when he started making hopiang ube
So you were there during the QTV 1st anniversary? What a small world indeed. I was attending Mass in Malate Church and the priest was about to start his homily when the firecrackers went off. Bemused, he just said, I cannot possibly compete with all that noise so lets just go on with the Mass.
Cheers!
December 8th, 2006 at 8:29 am
It is great fun walking the streets of manila with no particular goal. Just look around, get lost and enjoy the sights and the people. This is something I truly enjoy.
Glad you discovered the same pleasures!
Nice pictures !
December 8th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Ferdz, the accidental Manila tourist! at least I was able to show you what i’ve been doing in some of my spare time. Will text you again possibly next year for another one
thanks for accepting my invitation for another unplanned trip. I’ve also posted last night some of my stories and pictures. Regarding Carlos and Ivan, I only joined Ivan’s Intramuros tour and Carlos’ binondo/san nicolas tours– both are must join for locals and tourists alike!
Dylan, you’re right the firetruck’s violet because it’s the color of Eng Bee Tin’s famous hopia flavor.
This impromtu tour was something Ferdz and I thought of while we’re in Sagada last year.
will post more pics and stories later in my blog.
ciao!
December 8th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
laki na improvement ng manila, kung meron pa pangilan ngilan na natutulog or palaboy sa kalye konti nalang sila, suprisingly yung masasamang elemento ay bumama na, pwede na mag picture picture na di matatakot na maagawan ng kamera. unit-unti nagbabago na ang imahen ng maynila na sana balang araw ay matamo ang tunay na kasagaaan
December 8th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
ei inggit ako
December 8th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
kulet ng mga pics manila manila… uy pre pengeng hopia!
December 8th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Can’t hang out much at Manila (we go there only on special/rare occasions) but I want to see those purple firetrucks. Haha!
December 8th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
great post and pictures…
ang mga pinoy talaga mahilig sa litrato…dito, whenever you see the flashes, tiyak Pinoy may hawak ng camera (isa na ako dun)…miski lang sa mall, piktyuran pa rin.
i love the baywalk and sunset photos
December 8th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Wow. Amazing photos!
And definitely nice places to visit. I’ve read about Lapu-Lapu and I am amazed by his story!
(:
December 8th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Fantastic photos, really enjoyed my visit,
December 8th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
grabe! maganda yung concept ng mga photos.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Ang iba sa mga litrato ay nagdulot ng kirot sa puso ko.
————-
If only I was Bill Gates…
December 8th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
I basically grew up in Manila, but I haven’t been back in such a long time. I think I’d get lost now.
December 9th, 2006 at 2:32 am
WOW! buti kapa FERDZsuper pasyal kana dyan sa Manila.great shots and great galaan blues!
take care!
December 9th, 2006 at 7:00 am
nice pictures kuya..
kakahomesick tuloy.. hay.. kahit na medyo magulo dyan ngayon, i really want to go back, kasi naman iba talaga ang pilipinas…
December 9th, 2006 at 7:27 am
i know for sure that the manila i remembered is not the same manila now. i too have a very limited concept of manila mostly relating to my college years around the university belt. posts like these are very timely. thanks.
December 9th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
wow! a reminiscent of my few days in manila wayback 2000. kaya lang, di ko napuntahan yung Binondo.. sayang.. hehe
December 9th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
This post is making me homesick. I just love your pictures Ferdz.
December 9th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Haha! Ang mga Pinoy talaga mahilig sa pictures. Buti hindi ka pinilit na patingin ng pictures nila pagkatapos mong kunan hehe!
At ang Eng Bee Tin, lagi na lang maraming tao kahit meron naman Salazar at Polland at Holland dyan sa Binondo. Fave ko yung Lotus Cream with Salted Egg yummy!
Ganda ng Rizal monument shot, mukhang bagong-bago pa yung post ah, makintab pa at malinis
December 9th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Grabe, these pics are extra extra beautiful! And you’ve shown such a versatility in your photography to capture the multi-layered metropolis that is Manila.
How do you call na that type of photography? The first and last ones where the car headlights look like straight lines?
Excellent pictures!!!!!!!
December 9th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
i agree! filipinos love to be photograph
kahit anong ginagawa basta may sumigaw ng picture… asaham mo pose agad hehehe..
nice pics ferdz!
December 10th, 2006 at 1:54 am
dre… sana makasama ako sa inyong kodakan pag-uwi ko next year hehehehe…
email mo lang # mo kung ok lang sau.. para matawagan kita kung nasa pinas ka..
gusto ko trin kasi bihisan ang alaga ko… mas maraming mabibili sa hidalgo… ask ko lang kung me kontak #s ka ng henrys? thanks po
December 10th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Very nice pictures, and most espcially, interesting perspectives; most I’ve never even thought of before, Ferdz.
Isn’t Manila fun? I’m glad you and Tito had a god time with your unplanned walking tour!
Maybe next time Sidney and I can join you guys!
My first time to eat at estero last Wednesday. Good food and prices. Where is Panciteria Lido?
December 10th, 2006 at 11:43 am
i was a resident of manila before i moved to makati 5 years ago but i come back almost every week to my mom’s house. so you can say i’m pretty familiar with manila. nakows, ferdz, sanay na ang mga tao sa mga photographers lalo na sa escolta-ongpin-binondo areas. just be extra cautious about your gear (dami pa ring mga loko dun. baka makita mo na lang camera mo sa 2nd hand shops sa hidalgo :-D).
as for candid shots, i almost always use a long lens. nawawala ang candidness pag nasipat ka ng subject mo.
i don’t think you need to pay people, not unless you’re going to sell the captures for commercial use. pag
nagtugma skeds natin, sama ako mag-shoot!
December 10th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
salamat sa pagdapo sa site ko.
nice shots sir, lalo tuloy akong nainggit!
December 10th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
purple fire truck? ngayon lang ako nakakita…
December 11th, 2006 at 6:13 am
first time ko dito sa blog mo… galing ng layout!!!
December 11th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
idoL… galing… anong cam ang gamit mo?
December 11th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
sa mga kuha mo, parang ang ganda ng manila hehe–at ang linis pa.
Siguro jaded lang ako kasi palagi kong napupuntahan. You really need new eyes to see things differently
December 11th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
I like the one that reflects the sun at the rizal monument.
soo nice… as in.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
nice…so nice! may nakakalungkot na subject like those beggar and sleeping girl…on the other hand, pictures above show (at a glimpse) the history behind Maynilad aka Manila… maraming kwento sa likod ng mga istatwa!
December 11th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
interesting trip…..read along wt yr photos feel like i was there also:-P…very enjoyable:-)) btw i like the shot of rizal…awesome dof and nice reflection:-)
December 12th, 2006 at 8:33 am
great shots! how i wish i can learn to take the same good pictures. And thanks for walking us through the streets of Manila. I studied there for four years but never really did take the chance to ‘tour’ it, like you did.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
dude, you travelled that far?! great shots as ever. sidney, eric and i just ventured forth only to quiapo-binondo. hope i can jam with you during my stay here. drop me a note if you have time.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:24 am
great photos! I hope we’ll have enough time to follow your footsteps. I haven’t been to Manila in ages and I look forward to rediscovering it with my daughters.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:10 am
wow nice pix! pare if u get to pass by binondo! THeres Polland Hopia, ung kalaban ng EBT. Look at their shop now! you have to take a look at it! i think its along Escolta beside Savory..
i want the pictures coz i miss going to that place!