Wednesday, August 01, 2007
THE MAYOR MAY BE RIGHT AFTER ALL
This picture of Plaza Lacson was taken at the peak of rush hour yesterday evening, showing only a few vehicles. The same was true along the entire stretch of the avenue, including the intersecting side streets. There were no congestions whatsoever, except at the very corner of Claro M. Recto and Avenida due to jeepneys converging in the corner to drop off and pick up passengers, which our traffic officials need to address immediately.
The rest of these photographs showcase the immediate area of Avenida and Carriedo; the vendors occupying the latter were ordered by Mayor Lim to vacate. MMDA officers assisted in the expeditious demolition and removal of their stalls the other day.
The newly-elected mayor also announced his administration's intention to control the number of all street and sidewalk vendors in the city. Good news, indeed, because as these photos indicate, Manilenyos do enjoy having a wide and comfortable walking space.
Mayor Lim's good intentions for the city may prove auspicious after all.
More than two hundred years ago, General Francisco Carriedo y Peredo — the Spaniard in which the popular street, Carriedo, was named after (where the original SM - ShoeMart Store - once stood) — bequeathed P10,000 in 1743 as an initial endowment for the creation of the first water system in Manila to provide free water for the poor in perpetuity. Entrusted to the Obras Pias, this sum of money was to accumulate in the Galleon Trade until it should grow by way of profits and interest into a sufficient fund to build a water system.
Click here to read complete article.
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Labels: Local culture, Manila history
posted by Señor Enrique at 8:55 AM
20 Comments:
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Watergirl said... Thanks for the backlink to the older article Senor E. I enjoyed reading that tidbit of history. I just learned that a street I live near is named after a Lebanese/Spanish family. Always nice to know something about a street one passes everyday.
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said... Medyo maayos na nga ang Quiapo ngaun. I was there yesterday and though it still is the same stinking place as before, mas maluwag na nga lang ang daan.
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said...
RE: first picture - For a rush hour, that's not bad. The streets look so clean. I believe I've been to this area quite a few times during my college years.
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carlotta1924 said...
i do hope the mayor makes manila into a real walkable city. my mum actually rejoiced at mayor lim's demolition of the avenida promenade hehehe.
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Señor Enrique said...
Noticed many stores along Avenida had opened or reopened, Carla :)
Now, if only Mayor Lim can truly contain the sidewalk vendors, the reopening of Avenida to vehicular traffic may not be such a bad idea after all.-
Señor Enrique said...
The city has sweepers that constantly work the streets, Irene.
I was pretty much amazed myself to find Avenida during rush hours yesterday to be snarl-free.
You might have been to Carriedo a few times, Irene; near it is where you can take the buses to Pandacan, I think.-
Señor Enrique said...
Even driving around the area isn't so bad anymore, Sasha, except for the major corners where the jeepneys converge.
Oo nga, kahit may amoy ang Quiapo, I still enjoy gallivanting in this neighborhood -- so full of life :)-
Señor Enrique said...
And this is the reason, M. Tan, that our government should stop from renaming our streets, because in some way, they take away the sense of history attached to the streets they were named after.
My pleasure :)-
Kyels said...
The street's really clear even though it was the rush hour. I guess the mayor did a good job!
;)
I just love streets filled with people. It's fun to see so many people walking around.-
said...
The area looks so neat this time that I can't believe my eyes. At some moments there, it looked like a nifty street in HongKong---busy but clean.
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said...
Hmmm... yan na pala ang kinalabasan. Well seems functional this time around now. I guess his decision was right to drive some traffic here. Mas nabuhay na yung street ngayon as it seems
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Señor Enrique said...
Eventualy, Kyels, motor vehicles will be passing on this street, after they've determined which direction it would head to. This wasn't cleared of vendors to be used by pedestrians only, though :(
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Señor Enrique said...
They have street sweepers manning Rizal Avenue, Major Tom, whose job is to constantly keep the streets in the area swept clean :
Clean streets do make a huge difference, don't they?-
Señor Enrique said...
Yes, Ferdz, especially with the businesses in the area. I just hope the numbers of sidewalk vendors are curtailed as intended by the mayor.
Is your friend at FotoFest, Chito?-
Amadeo said...
Eric, past beyond the C.Recto intersection what can we see differently along Avenida?
Has development moved further that way or do we still see the old houses all the way to San Lazaro or even, Blumentritt?
Anyway, looking at the pics, it would be nice to again stroll along Avenida and maybe recognize the still remaining old structures.
My first air-con movie experience was in Avenida. Was it Ideal or State? A Robert Taylor detective movie in B/W.-
Señor Enrique said...
North of Avenida past Recto: The old Odeon Theater was transformed into a mini mall; the decaying Galaxy Theater's facade might be retained/conserved, while a high-rise condo is built on the its lot; and the old Scala theather is now used by a Christian ministry organization. The rest of the strip are cement buildings replacing the old "bahay na bato" structures that used to line up the avenue.
San Lazaro Hospital has been renamed Nicanor Reyes Medical Center.
Both the Ideal and State theaters were on Avenida, Amadeo. As a kid, these were two of the many movie wherein I saw lots of Hollywood films.
Another actor who played roles of a sleuth was Richard Widmark - remember him? The snub-nosed revolver was their handgun of choice then as well.-
Amadeo said...
Scala, that was the name I was trying to remember, located away from the cluster of moviehouses in Avenida. Since it was a second-run theatre showing double programs, used to walk all the way out there to go see movies. Funny, I can still remember one of the last movies I saw there, Hurry Sundown.
BTW, off-topic. Bought a 7 megapixel Canon powershot the other day for under 200 dollars. But I was attracted to a Rebel EOS that looked like the other SLRs but still selling under 200 dollars. Does this sound right? SLRs typically sell for over 500 dollars.-
Señor Enrique said...
I was never much into double run movies, Amadeo, because for a kid, that would be too much time also taken away from my usual play. One film a weekend was all I could bear then; therefore, don't remember ever seeing a movie in the Scala :)
To borrow from the American Express ad, I never leave home without my Canon point & shoot, it's handy and slim enough ... plus, whenever I walk around the city, I have it ready in the palm of my hand. However, nightime shooting with it can be disappointing. During daylight hours outdoors, though, its picture qualty is impressive.
Less than $200 for a Canon Rebel EOS is rather cheap!
A dSLR of this Canon's EOS model would have allowed you to change lenses, plus you'll have more control with its settings - ISO, white balance, and etc.
Nonetheless, congratulations! We'll be looking forward to seeing some of your shots with it soon :)
BTW, for a free email course, "Digital Photo Secfrets," you may want to check this out:
http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/-
said...
What a coincidence. While eagerly reading comments & perusing the pictures of your blog, a PBS channel was showing the Pop Parade from the 50's & 60's for their fund raising drive. Avenida Rizal just brought back fond memories while listening to elderly Andy William's rendition of his Moon River then later followed by his other famous contemporaries. What a sentimental journey. Thanks for the
great pictures.-
Señor Enrique said...
I would have loved to have seen that PBS program, Clett. God knows how much I miss PBS.
By the way, I suggest checking out this URL:
http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/digilib/cities/index.html
And then select the city of Manila. I bet ou those music you heard are more appropriate to the vintage photos you'll see.
Thanks!
