remebering martial law

Martial Law Memorial Wall - Manila, Philippines

On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial lawall over the Philippines by virtue of Proclamation 1081.  His basis for issuing the order: rising lawlessness and violence by leftist elements made it necessary so he can "save the Republic" and build a new society.  By abolishing Congress and assuming legislative powers, Presiden Marcos was able to rule by decree, in the next 14 years, in a government that he described as a form of "constitutional authoritarianism."

Under martial law President Marcos curtailed press freedom, limited civil liberties and ordered arrest of militants and his political oponents.  Those who were suspected of subversion were arrested and detained; many were tortured; thousands were picked up in the dead of the night and never heard from again, becoming "deseparacidos" (the disappeared)

President Marcos lifted martial law on January 17, 1981, shortly before a visit by Pope John Paul II.  However, he still retained most of his powers as dictator until February 25, 1986, when he was deposed in a bloodless civilian-military uprising known as People Power Revolution.

This marker is erected to remind the nation always of the searing memory of one act, one document, that transformed it in a crucible of fire and pain.  This marker is especially dedicated to young martyrs, among them hundred of Manileños. who resisted martial law.

It honors as well those who lived to see its end, after fighting it.  It is erected in the hope of inspiring people. especially the youth, to lead worthy lives, pursuing always the public good over self-interest, emboldened in their quest by the example of those who championed truth, liberty, and justice in one of the Republic's darkest hours.

boy scouts of the philippines

Scouting was introduced in the Philippines by the Americans as early as 1910. However, the earliest recorded all-Filipino troop was organized in Zamboanga by a young second lieutenant by the name of Sherman L. Kiser through the sponsorship of Mrs. Caroline S. Spencer, an American widow who was in the Philippines to do works of charity with the people of Sulu in 1914. 

In 1923, the Philippine Council BSA was formed through the efforts of the Rotary Club of Manila mainly to launch Scouting as a nationwide movement and provide guidance to the troops which had been independently organized throughout the country. Eventually, through the issuance of Commonwealth Act No. 111 by then President Manuel L. Quezon on October 31, 1936, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was established as a public corporation tasked to, according to Section 3 of the law - "to promote through organization and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scout craft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods which are in common use by Boy Scouts."

The photo shows a statue in memoriam to the Filipino boy scouts who perished in a plane crash on on July 28, 1963. The ill-fated plane carried 52 passengers and eight crewmembers. Among the passengers were 24 Filipino boy scouts and scout officials en route to the 11th World Jamboree in Marathon, Greece.

The boy scouts who died in the plane crash: from the Manila BS Council: Ramon V. Albano, Henry Chuatoco, Jose Antonio Delgado, Pedro Gandia, Wilfredo Santiago and Ascario Tuason, Jr. From the Quezon City BS Council: Roberto Castro, Romeo R. Rallos and Rogelio Ybardolaza. Felix Fuentebella, Jr., represented both the Manila and Goa, Camarines Sur BS Councils. The rest of the scouts: Victor de Guia, Jr. (Baguio City), Antonio Limbaga (Zamboanga City), Roberto Lozano (Dagupan City), Paulo Madriñan (Pasay City), Jose Fermin Magbanua (Negros Oriental), Filamor Reyes and Antonio Torillo (Cavite) and Benecio Tobias (Tarlac).

On April 24, 1964, the City Council of Quezon City renamed streets in the Kamuning and Roxas Districts after the 24 scouts and scouters.

at the park

do you still remeber when as a kid it makes you sad when its time to go home after a great fun at the park? i guess all kids feel that way.  have a good weekend everyone

i love sunset

"I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberles times, in life after life, in age after age forever." ~ Rabindranath Tagore

PS. It has been a while since i last posted a sunset photo, am indulging myself to this beautiful sunset at manila bay. oh how i love sunsets

el hogar filipino

El Hogar Filipino - Escolta, Manila

This beautiful beaux-arts building, designed by architect Irrureta Goyena and set by the Pasig River on Mulle dela Industria in Binondo, was built as a wedding gift for the union of a Zobel daughter and a Preuvian count back in 1914.  It housed the offices of the lending company El Hogar Filipino... Read more here.

The El Hogar Filipino, almost a century-old, stands forlorn on the seedy southern end of Juan Luna Street (Anloague Stree, where Kapitan Tiago's house in Jose Rizal's novel Noli me Tangere, once stood.

jones bridge revisited

I have posted a picture of Jones Bridge last year but that was a night shot and it still has a different lamps installed... so i decided to show it to you in daylight, actually just before the sun sets down which gave this golden light below the bridge

manila post office

Manila Central Post Office - Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines

Last year i took these day and night photos of the facade of the Manila central post office, and has since then acquired numerous shots of this magnificent building... but i think this is the first time i'm sharing this view of the Manila post office.

homeless

pagoda of Quaipo

The Pagoda was built by Jose Mariano Ocampo in 1935 on the northern side of his vast estate, and was to house his realty office. A few years after its completion in 1939, World War II broke out and Pagoda was transformed into an air raid shelter. By the end of the war, while the rest of the city was razed and flattened to the ground, the Pagoda survived the bombings.  Although it retains much of its character the Pagoda is now in a dilapidated condition. Read more about this enchanting structure HERE

The Pagoda is now a boarding house and outsiders are not allowed to visit the inside of the Pagoda.  Too bad if we will let just this structure deteriorate.  I'm sorry if i dont give justice to this magnificent structure, for better photos do visit Sidney Snoeck's My Sari Sari Store.  

old skul

Do you still remember these type of sari sari store? A sari sari store cum carinderia or snack house. 

I was actually trying to find my way looking for the pagoda i saw while walking around and I was drawn to this store seeing that it's like those typical corner store you saw in the old movies, with an old man (on this particular store it is a chinese old man) manning and serving the counter with tons of tambay (standby) who are having some various chitchat or kwentong kutsero :)

i had a close up photo of the old man but he wasn't too keen on me taking pictures of his store hehehe (according to the tambays he is the last authentic chinese living in the area and has been in the area before the war (world war II).  the old man even asked for my ID thinking i was some college student LOL well anyways he asked where am i going to use the pcitures and said that if i want some old structures for my pictures i should go at the end of that street and take pictures of the pagoda instead. 

:) now i kow where that pagoda structure that i saw and i'll share the pictures tomorrow

manila boys

saw these cute young boys idly sitting on a bench in front of a sari sari store, with play guns on their hands (most prolly waiting for their other playmates).  i remember when i was their age, i used to play "baril barilan" too! i also prefered playing tansing, kalog, and other street games with boys than girls before when i was a kid  :)

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