IN MEMORIAM...
BYE BYE BAYWALK...
When I first heard that Mayor Lim was going to ban alcohol and close down the performance stages on Roxas Boulevard because they were too loud, I was elated beyond belief. For three years I had to live with the shrilly strains of a karaoke machine until four am on a daily basis and the thought of a more "family-friendly", noise pollution-free Baywalk thrilled me to no end. But now I see that not only did he remove alcohol and bands, but the Cafe Adriatico, the Fruitas Fruit Shake Stand, The Ice Monster, and EVERY concessionare on the boulevard and Plaza Sulayman, I am once again in doubt of the wisdom of our new Mayor's decisions. Just last night, when I passed by the area, Roxas Boulevard was once again dark, deserted, scary, and littered only by the shadows of street children, stray dogs and vagrants. Sigh. Easy come. Easy go. Mayor Lim, I'm still not feeling you. Your first one hundred days are nearly up and you still haven't convinced me that you are a better choice for Manila. Time to get your groove on. So far, I just think you are a stuffy old goat who just killed the party. A cheezy, crowded party - yes. But it was still a party nevertheless...
I wonder how the businessmen who owned the concessions feel as well. I would definitely be p*ssed off if my contract was suddenly cancelled and my shop unceremoniously removed for reasons that were beyond my control and the "fault" of the previous administration.
C'mon Mayor, you could have just regulated the place better, you didn't have to kill it.
I wonder how the businessmen who owned the concessions feel as well. I would definitely be p*ssed off if my contract was suddenly cancelled and my shop unceremoniously removed for reasons that were beyond my control and the "fault" of the previous administration.
C'mon Mayor, you could have just regulated the place better, you didn't have to kill it.
Labels: in memoriam
posted by carlosceldran @ 12:51 PM
20 Comments:
This is very bad and sad news...
but to be honest I didn't expect something better from Mr. Lim.
Roxas Blvd was not an example of well planned entertainment but it was fun to hang out with friends there. It was in any case better than the dark & unsafe place it was before.
Roxas Blvd was a nice attraction for locals and foreigners alike. Sayang.
What can you expect from a politician of Cory's era. They halt or change any project of their predecessor even if it's worth continuing,
i don't know what that has to do with "Cory's era" - discontinuity seems to be a staple in politics. (politics anywhere really.)
again, what riles me is that there is no outcry. no protest. (except for this blog).
why? I guess like Avenida, the Baywalk was so...pedestrian.
so don't expect the elites, like the HCS, to say anything about it. who, by the way, supposedly now have a "seat" on Lim's table. (ok, that was a polemic).
We so sorely need a pedestrian rights movement. And also a coalition of advocates for public spaces.
i cannot grasp the logic of this decision. this is a means to WHAT end, again? i can only surmise that Mayor Lim's primary intent is to undo Lito Atienza's (and therefore, GMA's) contribution to Manila for the purpose of destroying administration support--in the process buttressing support for the opposition--from the capital's voters.
so IRRESPONSIBLE! makes me livid i tell you. next time around, posters everywhere will say: "MayniFL" instead of "MayniLA".
It's a shame that Baywalk is now deserted. It was a place for all to enjoy themselves, although I was never really a fan. I wonder where will regular folks go to just have fun?
Funny how people who are lamenting the removal of the noisy Baywalk beerhouses say they never patronized them.
Folks, it was the stormy weather that kept people away from the Baywalk last week. That's why it was deserted, not because the party's over. The promenaders will be back for their pasyal once the weather improves and the row of streetlights (not the fugly lollipops) by the sea wall are relit. Besides, most promenaders come during the day and sunset.
Mayor Atienza did one great thing for Roxas Boulevard: the wide Ped Xing lanes with well-timed stoplights that allow pedestrians to cross safely to the waterfront. But shouldn't "pedestrian rights" include not having your path and view blocked by ugly, smoky carinderias and plastic monobloc chairs and your ears not assailed by very loud noise levels from musicians competing for beer-drinking customers?
Hey, I was pissed when Mayor Lim closed the girlie bars on M.H. del Pilar more than a decade ago. All the bright party places became dark derelict shells that were not "rehabilitated". But historic Roxas Boulevard is one of the last remaining refuges of beauty in Manila. Like on the Malecon of socialist Havana, "regular folk" do go there to enjoy themselves, they walk along the wave-sprayed seawall, they breathe in the cool habagat breezes, and they glory in the beauty of one of the world's most spectacular seascapes.
I like going to Baywalk for the sea air and the view. I assume the Mayor cannot possibly take that away, Can he? I bring my kids there and we snap photos so we are usually there around late afternoons. We haven't been there lately so I have no idea how "different" it is now. I hope it still is a "fun" place even without the "party."
I never was much of a party person m'self, anyway.
I'm all in favor of the removal of noisy bars in Roxas blvd.When I was back home 2 years ago,the traffic was terrible and the noise irritating.Just glad that those days are over for the moment.But hey, a few cafe's and healthy food restos can be placed on strategic locations.That won't be too bad.It's the over indulgence of us pinoys that ruins it.It's just too many music and too loud for that matter.I really thought they have moved Raon to Roxas blvd.
IndioBravo
Yes, I am also on for removing the joints off Roxas. When that movement started 3 years ago, it was a welcome change, the boulevard after all, was a patchwork of broken pavements. There was NOT that many concessionaires. But look at it now, concessionaires galore with super tacky advertising to boot (thank god theyre finally remvoving that hideous Coffee cup and Softdrink!)The boulevard was planned as place chill, jog, do morning exercises and not as an everyday perya. Lets keep it was it is. And besides,its not really feasible to have that many concessionaires there since it creates a traffic heavy jam. If there be food there, it should be limited(permit needed!) to the hawkers( magtataho, magmamani, magsosorbetes etc).
Oh, I have it in good authority that the lights from the previous admin will be maintained because it allready 'cost that much'.
Tom Cruz
I agree on Mayor Lim's decision to remove those concessionaires along the baywalk.
It should be a baywalk as the name implies, for the people to stroll, watch the sunset/sunrise, cool off in the early evening or kill time.
During the weekends, business on wheels (refreshment, fruit vendors, etc) should be encouraged so the public could partake on social events such as a gathering place for free concerts and the like.
I concur with everything's that's been said here. Why fix something that's not broken, that's beautiful and unique enough as it is?
We need to save this bay.
Fortunately, the boundary of Pasay City is just a stone's throw away from the Baywalk. Just like when Mayor Lim closed the girlie bars down a decade ago, the bars just moved themselves a few meters south to Cuneta-ville.
I am almost certain that the party that was once happening across Malate, will just reappear in front of the Mall of Asia once the Esplanade construction is completed.
Don't you just love competition among local governments? Hate Binay? Move your business to Taguig! Hate Lim, decamp to Pasay!
Lucky for us in Marikina, we still have three more years to enjoy what Bayani Fernando and now Marides Fernando has done. I fear once ther Fernandos are gone, Marikina will return to its filthy pre-Bayani Fernando days similar to what is happening now in Manila. I hope not.
I was glad when I heard about the banning of alcoholic beverages in Baywalk. It's a family place. And I also expected the removal of most of the bars, but I didn't know Mayor Lim would clean it up totally.
In a interview, Mayor Lim stated that the reasons for demolishing the bars are because of the noise wherein the hotels & condo units across are complaining, traffic and the fact that the view of Manila Bay was being blocked by these establishments.
I'm all for that, but last week when I passed by at night, the squatters were slowly taking over. It was dark and quiet. They should have left some of the establihments in tact.
BTW sir, I saw you in TV Patrol.
Old fart did it again...
hmmm yeah that may be true, but i was thinking, why close it down instead of just enchancing and beautifying baywalk?
If the problem is about peeing, then put portalets. I believe there were some already. If it’s not enough then add more.
For those establishments that are operating without license, then remove them. Look for other establishments that are willing to pay for a license - I know many would bid for a space in baywalk.
You know you cannot avoid prostitution. Even Makati has it. Malate has it. Even Paranaque has it. Quezon city has it. Even if you close down all establishments, prostitution will still be there .. secretly and unknowingly. However, if you think prostitution is becoming a heavy problem in baywalk, then put a police (yun matinong police) to guard baywalk. If Lim cannot trust his policemen, then police the area himself.
Hindi naman kasi yun baywalk per se ang problema, yun mga opisyal ang problema. You see, kung matitino ang mga police dito, magagawa nilang magbantay diyan sa lugar na yan ng maayos. If they will instill real discipline to people, kahit papaano, maayos sana at magkakaroon ng disiplina.
Baywalk is one means of generating income for our poor country. Nagtataka lang ako, bakit hindi sila mag isip ng mas magandang at epektibong paraan na ayusin ang baywalk instead of closing it down. Choosing to close it is a lazy alibi for me.
i think it's only right to close down baywalk's night life. baywalk looked dirty, and stinky with all the crap after a night's business. There's flies around, the bay looked even dirtier.
beerhouses don't belong in baywalk. it only ables prostitutes, drugdealers, druggies and such.
closing baywalk is one less place for young ppl to hang out at night, which is good!
Close baywalk and let it become but a jogging, biking route for everyone.
During Lim's previous term, I was scared to walk in Manila, especially at night. But on Atienza's term, all those fears vanished. And ever since Lim's been re-elected, I've becoming more and more scared. I understand that he's got good intentions of banning alcohol in this area but why include the "family-friendly" establishments?
My partner and I used to drive to Baywalk to have a cup coffee and I don't think there's harm in doing so. Plus the establishments serving alcoholic drinks isn't really busy on a working day. It's just a matter of regulating the scene. And just think of all the people who lost their job. I don't think this has something to do with trying to bring back the good ol' Manila, it wasn't really good then. I even remember that he and Atienza had a discussion in a late night talk show about what Atienza has been doing to Manila, this during Atienza's term then. I think he's trying to remove everything Atienza has put on.
To put it short, Mayor Lim, what's been done is done. You shouldn't waste taxpayers' money removing something that was also built in the first place with our money. It's just a waste. Put our taxes in a place where it is most needed.
For those people who wanted Baywalk remove are thinking of only themselves and are selfish bastards.Do those people reliaze how many people are out of job because of this?How many millions the city will lose from tourist who want to see the Baywalk scene who contribute much needed money to the city coffer?Do they reliaze that Baywalk now is more dangerous than before cause no more security or police patrolling the area?Removal of Baywalk is merely a political statement and not a solution to anything.For those people who said Baywalk is better now because all those places have been remove,i dare you to walk in Baywalk at night and have u read the news lately?2 bodies were already found on Baywalk.And whats the use of destroying all those establishment went they can just move a couple of metres away to Pasay city?
manila was on the world map because of the bay walk sene at last something posative was being said about manila all over the net baywalk was being advertised by people who had been there and seen it this was bringing more dollers to the Philippines your problem is your goverment are to stupid to see a good thing they should have premoted baywalk sene your goverment is so stupid they will keep your country poor and thats a shame for filipinos you deserve better but I notice the goverment members are not Poor they look after themselves
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