AHEM! AHEM! AHEM!

"Why does the government insist on changing the names of our city's streets?" asks Ivan Man Dy. He is hopping mad and he deserves an answer. Attention Mayor Atienza and Councilor Miles Roces! But more importantly. Can someone find a way to get this message to the Yuchengco family?

Dear Sir,

A few days ago; this streetwalker and once-upon-time Binondo resident had a major jolt in his acute sense of direction: he couldnt find his street of childhood.

In the movie 'Face-Off' , good guy actor John Travolta wakes up to find himself - and his whole identity- turned upside down when bad guy Nicolas Cage goes on a rampage and forcefully acquires Travolta's face (literally through surgery). Suddenly, everything wasn't as what's supposed to be.

I can only imagine this is what the residents and businesses of Nueva Street in Binondo must have felt when they woke up about month ago and suddenly found themselves staring at 'nueva' street sign that read ET Yuchengco - a name so strange and unrelated to what generations, including this humble streetwalker, have known as Calle Nueva.

Log onto OldManilaWalks for the rest of the text...

WELCOME BACK!

DANCING IN THE STREETS
Up until the early 1980's, traffic lights were a rarity in Manila. Traffic in the city flowed thanks to a series of graceful rotundas (pre WWII leftovers from Daniel Burnham's original plan) or managed by the famous "dancing cops" of Manila. Like an orchestra conductor's baton, these highly entertaining policemen-slash-performers would control vehicular flow by using motions which were inspired from the latest dance craze (I even remember seeing one use John Travolta's iconic Saturday Night Fever up and down finger pointing disco move to direct traffic). They became so ubiquitous to the city's landscape that visiting foreigners would photograph them. They were actually considered to be somewhat of a tourist attraction. But sadly, sometime after the departure of the Marcoses in 1986, the police forces of the Philippines were reconfigured, traffic lights were erected everywhere, and the dancing policeman unfortunately disappeared into oblivion.

Well, at least that's what I thought.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce Traffic Enforcer Noel Quilatan, perhaps Manila's last dancing cop. If you ever find yourself in Fort Bonifacio near Pacific Place, make sure to look out for him. He isn't hard to miss. His five foot seven inch frame is tall for Philippine standards and his beaming smile can be seen at least one block away. But it's his hand signals - influenced by such moves as the monkey, the funky chicken, and breakdancing - which are sure to catch your attention - as well as put a smile on your face. Manila's traffic has never been this much fun.

Noel Quilatan can be seen strutting his stuff most weekdays at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and McKinley Road in Bonifacio Global City.

KVETCH! KVETCH! KVETCH!

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES IN A TERMINAL STATE...
A few months ago I wrote an entry about Philippine Airlines (BRAVO! BRAVO! April 2005) because I was glad to see that their cuisine was gaining rave reviews on the website www.airlinemeals.net. It really did seem like things were looking up over at our national carrier. Unfortunately, I flew PAL a few days ago (Manila - Saigon) and I am unhappy to report that things are not all that well on the ground at Asia's most mediocre airline. Just arriving at the PAL Centennial terminal was already an indication on how unprofessionally things were being run. Not only did the terminal stink like an unwashed dishrag, but ground crew service was way below par. My check in girl was surly and the staff behind her seemed to enjoy talking to each other more than they did the passengers. I was also rather horrified to see porters - still in their uniforms - smoking cigarettes and making "tambay" (hanging out) inside the airport's concession, "The Tinder Box". All seven of them were boisterously chatting away, unmindful of the obviously irritated foreign passengers beside them. Oh and that was only half the staff, the rest were SLEEPING ON BENCHES right beside the boarding gates. Ridiculous. And the BAD service didn't stop there, the security personnel also just sat around - literally - (listening to loud radio music and once again chatting away) while the passengers disembarked from the aircraft. Moreover, the plants in the airport were dead, the paint was peeling off the walls, and the public areas were littered with beat up furniture that nobody seemed to be using. But worst of all (and this was what really got my goat), the signage at the airport was slap-dash. In public areas, the signs that say, "Staff only", "Do not enter","Keep door closed", or "These are the customs regulations.." were ALL WRITTEN BY HAND OR BY PC AND POSTED ON THE WALL WITH SCOTCH TAPE! Jeez, it looked both dirty AND amateurish. Why doesnt anyone buy a proper printer and a lamination machine? Believe me, this would do wonders in giving the Centennial Airport a more professional (and SAFER) image. C'mon Lucio Tan, it's already bad enough you usurped the terminal for PAL - it was supposed to be the domestic terminal for ALL airlines before PAL monopolized it - do you have to add insult to injury by running the place like a jeepney terminal? Apparently there's just no giving you nice things. A little public art, and an upgrade of service and CLEANLINESS can't be THAT hard to achieve, can it?

Oh and by the way. The food on my flight sucked too. The fish was dry.

Photo: Just a few of the signs posted up with scotch tape. Note lounging security on the left and crappy mismatched furniture. Shameful.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

Hundred Years Hence

Just bumped into this great blog by a Washington DC-based Filipino who goes by the name of Urbano dela Cruz. He too is a fellow fetishist of the City of Manila and has dedicated his blog to issues surrounding our fair city's development. Since obtaining his Masters Degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, he has been working with the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, a non-profit organization that focuses on urban sustainable development, for the last two years. His hope is to eventually put together a coalition of voices to shape a vision for the future of Metro Manila. Mr. Dela Cruz is currently finishing a concept paper which he wishes to send to the Ayala Foundation regarding the formation of a citizen's group committed to urban issues. If these issues interest you too, get in touch with him and let's see what happens. You'll also love his blog because of the great pictures (one lovely one of Luneta Park in the 1970's) and really interesting (read: technical) articles.
http://hundredyearshence.blogspot.com

ADVENTURES IN FILIPINO ENGLISH!

Hmmm. I don't know. I think I would have used the word "construction" instead. But that's just me.

WHEE! WHEE! WHEE!

Got three features this week:
Planet Philippines - An online magazine for the overseas Filipino.
Philippine Business Magazine - The online magazine of the Makati Business Club.
and an interview on
ExpectoRANTS - Harrumphing essays blog; an interview with it's host, freelance writer Resty Odon.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

LADY LAGUNA

Tina Decal

0927 5630989

02 7793595

email: fantasia_travel@yahoo.com

I'm telling you now: Round up a group of friends as fast as you can and call Tina. This charming lady from Sariaya can arrange a day-long Philippine culinary adventure through Quezon and Laguna provinces like you've never done before. When I joined her tour, I watched locals make Lucban Longganiza (pork and oregano sausage) and Kiping (traditional rice buntings); feasted on Filipino food while floating on a fishpond; enjoyed a show of traditional dancing and singing and sipped coconut rice wine inside the gorgeous Juan Nakpil designed Rodriguez-Arguelles mansion in Sariaya (a site worthy of the journey itself). Make sure to try the pastillas (custard candies) at the Rodriguez Mansion, the pandan scented coffee at Kusina Salud, and stop by some of the churches and a house or two along the way. This woman knows every place, everyone and anything thats going on inbetween. Ask her for a list of places and things that can be done and pick and choose the activities and food which most interests you (some choose to forego the sausage making and instead do things like shop for pottery or plants). It's definitely a great activity for family reunions, office team-building and company outings. You could even stay at the Casa San Pablo (and relax amidst their fabulous collection of contemporary Philippine art) or at famed pottery designer Ugu Bigyan's Kay Inay Resort if you want to go slow. Bring an appetite and a sense of adventure and you'll discover why Quezon is the Philippines' best kept tourism secret.

Inset: Photo of pandanggo awit ritual singers who greet you at the door of the Rodriguez Mansion. More photos of my Quezon adventure here.

BRAVO! BRAVO!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ARCHITECTURE!

I'm delighted to see that the majestic El Hogar Filipino building (on the left) has pulled it's image out of the dumps and is finding a new life in the world of showbiz. This beautiful beaux-arts building, designed by architect Irrureta Goyena and set by the Pasig River on Muelle dela Industria in Binondo, was built as a wedding gift for the union of a Zobel daughter and a Peruvian count back in 1914. It housed the offices of the lending company El Hogar Filipino (hence its name) and the original headquarters of Ayala Life Insurance Company. After World War II, the building found itself in the hands of the Fernandez clan who still run the building till this day. Sadly, this strikingly elegant structure fell into disrepair in the 1980s when downtown Manila's street life was sucked out of Binondo and Ermita and spat out into the gated developments of Makati suburbia. And although somewhat faded from it's original glory, it was precisely the building's urban gothic aura which helped it start it's newfound career. In 2000, the family started renting it out as the backdrop of Richard Gomez's ill-fated TV series, "Your Honor" and let it be used for a car and credit card TV spot. But from these random stints, El Hogar has now become the darling of Manila's TV and film production design world. Aside from being used as the backdrop for Globe and McDonald's commercials, it's also used as the setting for the music videos of indie groups Bamboo ("Hallelujah"), Cueshe ("Stay"), and uber cheesy pop princess Sarah Geronimo's remake of Foreigner's "I Wanna Know What Love Is". It was even used in the opening scenes of Peque Gallaga's recently premiered "Pinoy Blonde". According to Chris Esguerra, of Video and Light Production house, "Directors love using El Hogar Filipino. At different angles, it can become Paris, Rome, New York...". Producers at their company apparently use the building so much, they even gave it the nickname, "Studio Three". Good Job, Fernandez family, I hope you finally made enough money from these gigs to gift the building with a well-deserved paint job.

PS. All you Philippine architecture buffs out there, if I spelled the architect's name wrong, please send me the right way to do it.

EAT! EAT! EAT!

LIVING LA VIDA LAGUNA
Bgy. Santa Cruz, Putol, Laguna, Tel. 049 2466878/2466879 Cel. 0920 9101665
If you find your stomach rumbling in the jungles of lush Laguna, aim your compass towards Kusina Salud (right). Set in the country home of Filipiniana fashion icon Patis Tesoro, Kusina is probably the classiest act this side of the South Super Highway. Operated by Nina Tesoro-Poblador (of Salud Bistro, Baguio) and husband Chef Paul Poblador, they serve fabulous Filipino food with a cosmopolitan twist. Some dishes I recommend are the Lechon Kawali with three kinds of sauces, the Karabaw beef Tapa, and their ultra-rich homemade avocado ice cream (which in itself is worth the hour and a half journey from Manila). Aside from the fantastic food, Kusina Salud pulls out all stops in the ambience department with it's eclectic architecture and accoutrements (The house was featured in Marie Claire Maison). Spa services are also available upon request (Try the foot massage while lounging on a chaise right beside their remarkably clean creek - it's decadent). Parking is plentiful. Call if you need directions.
From South Super Highway, turn right at the final exit. Head down Maharlika Highway towards Lucena City. Once past San Pablo, keep an eye out to the left for Sta. Cruz turnoff. Large Kusina Salud signs will guide you.

BRAVO! BRAVO!

MEHAN ON MY MIND

I just took the LRT to Intramuros yesterday and as I got off at the Central Station, I was delighted to finally see work happening next door at the Mehan Gardens (see left). Only a month ago the place was still an overgrown mess that was lined with vagrants and smelled of urine, but today, the place is abuzz with landscapers planting plants and workers laying out paving brick. After calling the Flagship Projects Office of the City of Manila, I learned that the park has been redesigned by J. Antonio Mendoza once again (the same guy who designed the proposed Teachers Center in Arroceros Park). His plan was inspired by the original 19th century layout of Mehan Gardens to be in keeping with it's historical relevance. I also heard that the National Historical Institute finally approved the updated design of the City College of Manila to be constructed at the edge of the site (now with a floor plan that is open so as to make it possible to conduct archeological digs). I wonder if this means that the controversy is over? Or does this mean that it's begun once again? I certainly hope not. Whatever the end may be, I'm just glad that city hall is moving it one step closer to having the park used as a public space once again.