"Manila, Manila, I keep
coming back to Manila...no place in the world like Manila...Manila...I'm
coming home."
Yup, those lyrics from the Hotdog's
popular song always come to mind every time I fly home. Yes, Manila, I am
coming home to stay. To stay for a few days, that is!
I remember when I was a kid on a
summer vacation in Manila, we stayed at Inday
Miniang’s apartment building at Arquiza Street in Ermita, right in the
middle of Manila’s tourist belt. Then, it was so convenient for moving around the
area. Traffic wasn’t that bad and the
area was safer. I would go out late at night and crossed the street even in my pajamas with Manang Virgie to buy some snacks at a
store along A. Mabini Street. Inday Miniang’s heirs have sold her
building since, and I haven’t visited that place again.
But when
I toured Binondo that day, I looked at it through the eyes (and palate!) of a tourist, and surprisingly, this unique place looked (and
tasted!) more interesting and enjoyable. I had a different kind of fun that
day, and I owe it to the people of Binondo
to blog about their town. Our
Chinese restaurant hopping, hopia and ma-chang shopping, Manila-from-top-of-a-building
viewing (see photos for this blog), and
spa pampering, all in less than a day should also be experienced by any local
or international Binondo visitor.
For now, I will be able to write about Binondo. Perhaps, on my next visit home, I would be able to roam around the tourist belt, the Rizal Park and a few other interesting places nearby, and be able to write about them, too.
But in the meantime, Mayor Isko and the people of Manila need all our help in bringing back Manila to its former self and role as the country’s capital.
(P.S. Thanks to Diana for letting me stand on top of her building. Seeing Manila from up there was a special experience!)
Great photos! Manila doesn't look polluted from your photos, contrary to what that always-controversial-magnet author have written. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! This was taken on a Saturday, which may be a reason why there wasn't much pollution in the photos. I hope they clean up Manila this time.
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