Travelogue: Roxas Blvd.

M araming makikita sa Roxas Blvd. It used to be the only attraction in this part of town is Manila Bay (which is just fine by me). There are a lot of condominiums and governoffices that have relocated here. The Central Bank bldg together with the Ramon Magsaysay Center used to be some of the taller buildings here. Hindi na - marami pang mga iba.

The edifices of Imelda Marcos remained. Andiyan ang Cultural Center of The Philippines together with the Folk Arts Theatre. I've seen a lot of concerts ( Deodato, Kenny Rankin, Angela Bofill, Cecil Licad) in these venues. Remember all the talks about the multos or ghosts that inhabited the Folk Arts Theatre? These were supposedly the people that died while the Folk Arts Theatre was being built. Bumagsak ang isang wall nito at kasamang nabaon ang ilang mga trabahante doon. Pinilit na matapos agad ang building in time for a beauty pageant, I think.


Further down the road is a big mall. Sabi ng ilan this is the biggest mall in Asia kaya tinaguriang Mall Of Asia. Malaki nga talaga - magarang tingnan. Ang daming tindahan sa loob. I really do not know how their sales figures are dahil kung ako ang tatanungin, mahal pa rin ang kanilang bilihin (the rent of space I bet is exorbitant). These malls probably cater to the upper strata of society. Hindi ko maisip kung paano makakabili si Juan o Maria ng mga damit sa Zara o Mango gayong ang mga presyo ay nagkakahalaga ng libo-libo.



Talagang namangha ako sa aking nakita. Parang papasok ako sa Saks o Neiman Marcus sa may Union Square ng San Francisco. It just felt so foreign - parang Stateside. I guess that is what the whole theme should be. No, I am not being critical. If this is the sign of progress as it is made to be, then so be it. Napag-iwanan lamang masyado yong lugar sa likuran ng Remedios o sa Quiapo kaya lalo na sa underpass.

My sister, Cecil, will snap back at me for being so critical with the "signs of progress". Ika niya - to each his own. Gastusin mo ang pera mo kung meron ka - sa ibig mong gastusan. I agree - no quarrel with that. My only sentimiento with that argument is debauchery (ang lakas ng impluwensiya ni Dona Victorina). As defined by Merriam Webster, debauchery is the act of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. Ang pakiramdam ko lang, sa hirap ng buhay sa ating bansa, we still categorically prioritize the sensual material pleasures. And we flaunt these.



Above are the Christmas decorations inside the mall. Talagang santa claus na santa claus ang atmosphere. Pati kanta nila - I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas.

Parting shot - this is the front view of the Mall. Maganda diba?