old house 2

Found this old house and i feel in love with it. it's worn down look adds beauty to its structure and i love the "MLI-JAI'S STORE" signage in front, though the sari sari store is close and i think has been closed for quite some time now it reminds me on those days when almost all the houses have these mini store in front of their house for the housewives to run as an additional income for their family.  But now most family either have tone of their parent working abroad, sometimes both parents are abroad to support the family leaving their young ones at home.

Did you also noticed how low the original fence is? It goes with other houses in our neighborhood as well, when the owner have to put yero (metal sheet) to hide the inside from passerby and also made higher for security reasons. 

How times had changed, when people used to live simply...

sari sari store

A typical sari sari store in manila. The sari-sari store is an important economic and social location in a Filipino community. It is present in almost all neighborhoods, sometimes even in every street. The word sari-sari is Tagalog for "various kinds". Most sari-sari stores are privately owned shops and are operated inside the shopkeeper's house. Commodities are displayed in a large screen-covered or metal barred window in front of the shop. Candies, canned goods and cigarettes are often displayed while cooking oil, salt and sugar are often stored in sacks or cans. A small window is also present where the customer's requested commodity is given. A cigarette lighter tied to the window can also be found. Benches and sometimes tables are also provided in front of the sari-sari store. A shade is placed above it which is also used to cover the large window when the store closes.

PS. did you noticed the parol? hehehe typical with pinoys to keep the christmas ornaments all year round and just put the lights on when its christmas time.  i guess it's not too early if i greet y'all a merry christmas!!! :D (afterall we're already in the 'ber' months)

barber shop in manila

i wanted to show you how barber shops in manila looks like inside but i was hesitant to ask the barbers to let me in because they were having a nice siesta when i dropped by, but was kind enough to let me take pictures.   

anyways i am glad that barbershops and parlors still exists in manila, even though there has been an influx of high end salons that caters to both women and men.  even though men has become more metrsosexual and likes to be pampered like women, i still believe that manila men still prefer these kind of barber shops instead of those laced up shops in the malls :)

the amount for a haircut in manila these days is 40 pesos (less than 1USD) for all the regular barbershop (meaning those little barber shop within your street) and its around 60 pesos for women in your suking parlor (salon).  but the price is higher in high end salon 

graffiti

yellow

saw this nicely yellow painted house and the yellow signage slow down school zone, and i thought it would be perfect if someone come along who is wearing a yellow shirt, and i just got my wish, right after my first shot this man wearing yellow sando passed by riding his yellow bike!!! :D

manuel l. quezon university

Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila, Philippines

The Manuel L. Quezon University is founded on the principle of Know Thyself. On its logo is emblazoned the words Pro Patria et Jure: For Country and Law. It owes its existence to the idealism of the seven men, who envisioned an institution that would provide ambitious but financially disadvantaged young people with the education and professional training needed to get ahead in life.

It was founded in 1947 by several prominent justices and lawyers who saw the need for a quality educational institution catering to the less privileged. Among these visionaries were: Leoncio B. Monzon, Lorenzo M. Tañada, Arsenio P. Dizon, Carmelino G. Alvendia, J. B. L. Reyes, Manuel O. Chan, and Anselmo S. Claudio.

They were inspired by the following words of the great Manuel Luis Quezon, former President of the Philippine Commonwealth:

"I believe that education is the right of all citizens. An educated people is needed to insure the upliftment of the masses and the creation of wealth for all."

public phone

an public phone mounted in one of the old houses along f. r. hildago street, reminds me of the old song tatlong beinte singko. hmm kinda miss those days when all you need is three 25cents to make a phone call :), now it is 1 peso per text and 8 pesos per minute using a cellphone.

old house

some old houses at f. r. hidalgo street, sadly these heritage houses are left to decay and has been a nest for vagrants, while some are used as boarding house

paterno house

the paterno house at F.R Hidalgo street.

last july 2008 a petition was raised to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to stop the high rise construction beside the paterno house. if you care and want to help preserve heritage and old houses at hidalgo street, please sign the petition here.

brick game

I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn't photograph them. - Diane Arbus