Monday, July 16, 2007

BACK TO THE FUTURE OF AVENIDA

posted by Señor Enrique at 8:15 AM

24 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Nice set of photos in avenida. Capturing the everyday scenery.; July 16, 2007 8:47 AM
Anonymous said...: Is this it? The 'after look' of Avenida?

Well, I guess Mayor Fred Lim's reason for re-opening this strip to jeepneys is to decongest traffic in other parts of the city, especially in this area.

One of the ways to lessen traffic, when there can be no other alternatives, is to 'create' or 'recreate' roads, and in this case, the Avenida, for Mayor Lim.

The mayor probably believes comfort/practicality has more sense than aesthetics. Which, to me, in a way - do make more sense too! Haha!

Let's just put it this way: leave the market to the marketplace. Besides, if Manilans and visitors do want to enjoy a stroll - there are many pleasant/beautiful sites in the city - where they are rightfully located.; July 16, 2007 9:32 AM
Urbano dela Cruz said...: “A city can be friendly to people or it can be friendly to cars, but it can't be both." -Enrique Penalosa; July 16, 2007 10:05 AM
Watergirl said...: What all this tells me is that if there is enough desire to get a street fixed, it gets done within a week. So why the heck (and believe me, I'd prefer to use stronger language) does it take months for them to dig a hole, leave it for weeks to fester, then do something or other with it for another couple of months, then cover it with dirt, only for them to have another hole dug up soon after in the same place? Mayor Lim, why don't you use the same influence and push to get the other roads in Manila fixed?; July 16, 2007 11:22 AM
carlotta1924 said...: very nice photos. =) do you think it's harder to take a walk there now than when the promenade was still there?; July 16, 2007 12:14 PM
reyd said...: Eric,
Your photos say it all. It's back to the old ways again. People walking on the street to avoid the sidewalk-vendors, yosi-vendors on the street avoiding the vehicles to sell their items, the smokes, the noise and hopefully the return of Neon lights again along that span to rejuvenate that place. That's what Avenida is all about.
(can you imagine the wide grin of the people who live along those affected roads when that span of Avenida was closed? ~ hangang teynga most likely.); July 16, 2007 12:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Nice photos of Avenida!

;)

I like the one with the jeepney ... Hehe.; July 16, 2007 12:55 PM
Anonymous said...: hmmm... i'm pretty ambivalent about this since rhodora made a good point about decongesting roads. oh well, oh well. changes up ahead for manila then.; July 16, 2007 1:19 PM
Señor Enrique said...: Thank you, Ferdz!; July 16, 2007 1:37 PM
Señor Enrique said...: I agree, Rhoda. There is Greenbelt and The Fort and Libis.

However, there are those who also happen to be attached to a particular city of their birth who would like to see revitalization and maintenance programs to continue so as to breathe life into an old city instead of allowing it to decay and lose its remaining charms.

One only has to take a look at the old cities in Europe and America (which is much younger than the Philippines) to appreciate the restoration and revitalization efforts of some of these die-hard residents.; July 16, 2007 1:46 PM
Señor Enrique said...: We should include the glut of sidewalk vendors to the equation, Urbano.; July 16, 2007 1:47 PM
Señor Enrique said...: The City of Manila, undoubtedly, has enough revenues and cash reserves to afford expedient maintenance of its roadways, M. Tan.

Lito Atienza left behind a very solvent city.; July 16, 2007 1:49 PM
Señor Enrique said...: With or without the sidealk vendors, Carla?; July 16, 2007 1:50 PM
Señor Enrique said...: Very sharp observations, Reyd.

How I wish they could brighten this avenue with a grand display of neon lights as they used to in the past :); July 16, 2007 1:51 PM
Señor Enrique said...: Thanks, Kyels :); July 16, 2007 1:52 PM
Señor Enrique said...: We could only at this point remain optimistic for many good things to come out of this, Ced :); July 16, 2007 1:53 PM
Urbano dela Cruz said...: three words: La Rambla, Barcelona. Or take a look at these.

time to get out of your cars and get to know your city.; July 16, 2007 7:36 PM
Anonymous said...: We have become a city of jeepneys and vendors.Why not change the city name to JEEPNILA?

IndioBravo; July 16, 2007 10:42 PM
Señor Enrique said...: La Rambla does look inviting. My nephew was first, Ivan Mandy second, to tell me how beautiful Barcelona is; and it was Sidney who recommended that I walk instead of drive around Manila to truly get to know it.; July 17, 2007 6:04 AM
carlotta1924 said...: well, from your pics it still looks like the sidewalk vendors are there. =); July 17, 2007 6:06 AM
Señor Enrique said...: That's something to think about, IndioBravo. Another option is Tianggenila.; July 17, 2007 6:06 AM
Señor Enrique said...: With the growing numbers of vendors on both sides of Avenida, Carla, it is definitely no longer a nice walk as it used to be along this avenue.; July 17, 2007 7:09 AM
Anonymous said...: You are correct, Señor. I pass by that area all the time until when the jeeps came, it used to be such a relaxing walk.

Now, it's so confusing! There's a feeling of being threatened from all sides by cars, motors, jeeps!

So, so sad.; July 17, 2007 5:31 PM
Señor Enrique said...: I bet the neighborhood kids who live near the avenue feel sad the most; no longer do they have a safe place for playing, Superpasyal :(; July 18, 2007 6:38 AM

Wish you were here

Monday, July 16, 2007

BACK TO THE FUTURE OF AVENIDA

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