Nov
30
2011
Downtown Marawi City from Mindanao State University
“Even most MSU students don’t dare to go to ‘town,’” a Maranao friend of mine once said.
Marawi City has been hampered with so much negative publicity in the Philippine mainstream that for the people of the lowlands, the only thing that makes them go there would be enrolling or visiting at Mindanao State University—never mind the rest of the city! People are too scared to venture out to the streets of the Maranao city.
Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2011/11/30/the-heart-of-urban-marawi-city/
Jul
24
2009
The International House (S.Villanueva Bldg) of Calle Real
Originally published at Cebu Daily News on May 29, 2007
Time stood still amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown traffic of modernity. Decades old establishments still stand against the test of time, reflecting the glorious days of commerce and trade of what was then, the Queen City of the South.
From its humble beginnings as a fishing community along the swampy riverside, Iloilo grew up to be one of Philippine’s premier cities when in 1855, the Spanish colonial government opened the sea port of Iloilo to international trade, and with the introduction of modern sugar farming by the British Vice-Consul Nicolas Loney. Calle Real is the manifestation of Iloilo’s glorious past. The street itself is a museum of old edifices that survived the onslaught of war, elements and time.
Old establishments still stand up to this very moment, still vibrant with commercial and vehicular traffic. JM Basa Street (and also Iznart St.), or known popularly as Calle Real is referred as the “Escolta” of Iloilo City. Named “Calle Real” or “Royal Street”, it spans from Plaza Alfonso XII (now known as Plaza Libertad) all the way to Plazoleta Gay and the location of commercial establishments, the Casa Real (Iloilo Provincial Capitol) as well as the residences of the Ilonggo elite.
Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/07/24/calle-real-de-iloilo/
Aug
24
2008
Di ko alam pero meron akong pagkahumaling sa mga downtown areas nitong nakaraang araw. Paano ba naman kasi kasama ito sa trabaho ko, bilang isang field researcher ng isang unibersidad na nag-iimbentaryo ng mga lumang bahay na bato sa Maynila. Parang ganito din ang ginagawa ko noon sa Cebu at Iloilo, prinofessionalize na lang, hehe!!
Kung tatanungin ang nakararami, anong pumapasok sa isip nila kung pupunta ka sa sentro ng isang syudad, yung mga lumang downtown areas? Iba iisipin yan, daming mumurahin dyan, iba naman natatakot dahil baka ma-dekwat ang mga bling blings, iba naman sabi madumi at mabaho…Mukha ngang ganun ang konsepto ng downtown sa Pilipinas, pero sa hindi masabing kadahilanan, naiinlab ako sa mga lugar na ito!
Nauna to sa Iloilo, dahil sa pagkahumaling sa mga makaluma nitong arkitektura at tila buhay na buhay na negosyo kaya ko ito nagugustuhan. May marami ka pang matutuklasan maliban na lang sa luma o mga bargain sales at ukay-ukay.
Sa Cebu, napapadalas ako sa downtown dahil na rin sa Basilica de Santo Niño. Dito ako pumupunta, tapos maglalakad sa Colon para wala lang, namamasyal.
At ngayon na andito na ako sa Maynila, kakaibang environment…mas brutal, mas maingay, mas madumi. Pero sa likod nito ay ang puso at kaluluwa ng kulturang Manileño na malayo sa isteryotypikal na urbanite.
Sa mga downtown na ito, dito ko nararanasan at nakikita kung ano ang kaluluwa, puso at isipan ng mismong ciudad. Maaaring marumi o rundown ang komunidad pero mismong cityscape nito at ang mga tao dito ang bumubuhay sa totoong drama ng buhay-syudad sa Pilipinas.
Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2008/08/24/in-love-sa-downtown/
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