I've seen these pictures before from another website. I received these same pictures last night from my brother. Iisa ang sentiment ng mga nakakita - kasama na ako. Firstly, anybody who would be able to identify these places were born noong unang panahon. Secondly - we all felt sad for the loss of what we had before.



Sittayo nga immuna who are lucky enough to be able to compare the "Then" to the "Now" can explain to the younger set why Manila was a sight to behold then.
I remember most of these landmarks in Manila. What is so amazing is how I took everything for granted then. Sabagay, batang bata pa ako na sunod-sunuran kay Mama kung pupunta siya sa Quiapo o sa Carriedo kaya.

Malinis pa ang Quiapo noong araw. One can pass through the underpass and even the sideroads of Quiapo without bumping into so many people and holding on to one's purse for dear life. Pwede pa rin naman huminto at bumili ng hopia (mainit pa) at uminom ng coke na naka-supot sa plastik. Nakaka-turn off nga lang ang masangsang na amoy ng canal sa tabi.


Parang napaka-aliwalas at pwedeng huminga na hindi uubuhin. Parang pag-uwi galing sa pasyalan, ang ating mga ilong ay hindi nangingitim dulot ng usok galing sa mga tambutso ng mga sasakyan. Parang it was okay to walk around Luneta or along Manila Bay without fear of receiving any proposition or of being proposed to ( pick-up kung baga). Luneta and Manila Bay were indeed destinations for the young and the old.


The Quiapo Church was and is still the landmark. Pero malaki ang kaibahan nito from way back to what it is now. The edifice still stands as a symbol of our deeply rooted religious beliefs and practises. Ngunit nagmistula itong palengke sa labasan. There was nary a space that was not utilized by hawkers to entice the pedestrians of the merchandise they are selling.

I was able to watch a couple of movies sa ilang sinehan sa Avenida. Ang lamig ng aircon, malinis ang banyo at hindi malagkit ang mga upuan at sahig. My college friends and I enjoyed the first 3D movie at one of these sinehans.

This was Makati then. Remember the streets Ayala Ave., Makati Ave, Paseo De Roxas and Buendia Ave? There used to be another moviehouse close to Rustan's - Rizal Theatre. Pag malapit na ang pasko, ang bango ng kastanyas sa may Rustan's. There is also the Hotel Intercon with the Jeepney Bar and the disco place called Where Else.

Reminisce...reminisce....