asociacion feminista filipina

a piece of history in an obscure place, this history tablet is placed in front of the merriam & webster bookstore along avenida, sta. cruz, manila. the tablet says - in a building on this site was organized the asociacion feminista filipina on 30 june 1905.

On June 30, 1905, Concepcion Felix and other Filipino women founded the Asociacion Feminista Filipina (Philippine Feminist Association) in Manila. It was the first women’s club in the country that promoted social welfare and women’s involvement in public affairs.

so it seems that the filipina has learned early to fight for their rights having formed a feminist movement in the philippines as early as 1905. And the asociacion feminista filipina has paved way for Filipino women to the right of suffrage.

the last frontier

These posts are the only thing left standing before avenida is open to traffic again.

The photos below shows the difference after asphalting avenida and removing the benches and other plants that adorn the pedestrian walkway.

avenida

The busy street of avenida, under the LRT Carriedo station.

During the olden days, this street was once the bustling shopping center along with Escolta, however the construction of the LRT1 leave the stretch of Avenida dark and polluted...as what modernization sometimes brings. In this advent many establishments were forced to close their shops due to lack of patrons.

A few years back, Mayor Atienza had this project of "Buhayin ang Maynila" and the Avenida/Carriedo was rehabilitated into a pedestrian shopping center. This decision was received with mixed feelings, anger from hte transport group and a welcome relief for the pedestrian and vendors. I personally liked this project and i hope that Mayor Lim will not open this section to traffic again.