I'm Officially In... My Manila Era!
I thought that I had done the most in Manila during my first visit in February 2024 but I was mistaken! I had planned my one and only full day back in Manila with precision and with her chaotic nature! A rare chance had been secured to see Manila's 'Malacañang Palace', the official residence and workplace of the current Philippine president! Yes, 'Divisoria Mall' kept it real!
I remember in February 2024, I did my best to keep 'Rollin' On The River' with Manila's 'Pasig River' as my main attraction. I was unable to make it to that Philippine presidential complex due to red tape, with a return visit I made sure I booked my 'free ticket' reservation. Those drinks from the previous night saw me popping several pills, I had things to achieve and wanted to be in a fit state! What did the name of the complex mean? In the Filipino sense, 'May lakan diyan' stood for 'nobility lives here', whereas the Spanish derived the meaning 'Malacañ' for 'fishermen gather here'. Located in San Miguel District, it felt correct to be discovering a new part of that hectic yet welcoming city. Sticking to the timetable, I arrived before time at 'Bahay Ugnayan' to embark on the first stage of my 'Malacañang Palace' tour. That former Spanish colonial house had been fashioned into an office and exhibition for the current president, being the son of a very known 'Marcos!' I was able to learn about 'Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romuáldez Marcos Jr.'
Making the short journey over to the formidable looking 'Tues Mansion' put the cat amongst the pigeons, that ostentatious style had been fashioned by the one and only former 'First Lady Imelda Marcos'. The designer shoe loving former 'First Lady' acquired this now 'Presidential Museum' in 1975 with a grand plan indeed! I was able to learn about the previous sixteen Philippine presidents from 'President Emilio F. Aguinaldo' to former 'President Rodrigo R. Duterte'. It was a pristine looking building with a gleaming interior to match, each former leader had their own decorated and informative corner with facts galore about their time in office. The group that I was in had been accompanied by a series of 'official looking' members of the firm, we couldn't move far from their presence. Of course, the political legacy within the Philippines had been influenced by Spanish, American and post-Independence moments in time. I really enjoyed my morning at the museum spaces at 'Malacañang Palace' on that December morning.
The sun was shining and I was done with my presidential tour, I wanted to embrace one of Manila's many 'Sunday Sermons!' 'Pasko/Christmas' was on the way and I wanted to be part of the action, well from the back row with a curious eye on those religious proceedings. It's all culture! Located across the road from 'Bahay Ugnayan' was the 'National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels'. This 1603 built church was my landmark for my Grab car to reach my presidential tour, there was so much history that I never knew about this church, that union was heaven sent! Standing on the former ground of San Miguel's former 'La Fábrica de Cerveza de San Miguel', in Spanish that means a 'brewery of San Miguel. Even Jesus knew that I wanted to drink a cold Red Horse! The whitewashed frontage of that church worked like a dream with those slate grey tones, its like I was supposed to see this 'Sunday Service!' Of course, I walked in to see how the locals were sending their wishes to 'Diyos Ama!' I needed Diyos? Ay, talaga mo?
Minding my business, I sat on one of the last rows in that 'San Miguel Church'. I didn't want to be an imposter, I respected those parishioners because that was their religious flex and not mine! I really loved the 'Baroque' design within that 'House of God', it was giving 'Seventh Day Realness!' Now, there were hymns being belted out but Mariah's medley wasn't on the hymn list and that was a shock to me! After some reading, I found out that on May 1st, 1954, Ilocos representative and later President Ferdinand E. Marcos married beauty queen Imelda Romuáldez. I spent a fair time sitting inside that church because the warmth of that Philippine sunshine was getting to be a lot and Jesus knew that I had thrown enough shade already! I tried my luck to call a taxi outside of that church but that wasn't meant to be, nevertheless it was an experience to see people go about their business as I sat curb-side with a Manila neighbourhood compound in-front of me! I heard the early afternoon 'Videoke!' I love a 'Drag Race' reference!
Getting a taxi back to my hotel was an experience but Grab came through for me once again, I praised Manila for those convenient cars! I had set my sights on visiting 'Divisoria Mall' because I wanted to take a walk into a live action Manila moment! It was upon a recommendation that I headed for Binondo, more specifically the 'First United Building' because a new 'hipster hangout' had been opened in one of the art deco buildings in Binondo. Respectfully, I didn't want to entertain any details of gentrification because that wasn't the vibe I wanted. Sure that building location had me on the right track, I used my bearings from that February 2024 visit to Binondo to make the perfect wrong turn. No, I was on the right track once I saw 'Santo Cristo Street', that 'Mercury Drug' security guard confirmed my question. The Realness was off the chain, I knew valuables needed to be hidden, I wasn't going to be playing tricks like those YouTube lot, I went in to that area in stealth mode. I had been told not to visit 'Divisoria' but I went ahead! Tara na!
I remembered seeing this 'public wholesale market' on many YouTube videos before my comeback trip, I knew what I was looking for! The buzz on the street was insane, it was like no other moment of mayhem that I had experienced nor witnessed ever! Street vendors were doing their routine, people were hauling goods across the street and food was being served up on the pavements! I headed straight for the 'Divisoria Mall' entrance because it was quite overwhelming in those streets, I was fine because I secretly loved it! I weaved in and out of the many shopping aisles, I didn't want to buy anything, I just wanted to browse and be nosy! I dined on some 'longsilog' with a deep fried 'leche flan' but the drink was like no other! I downed that delicious 'calamansi juice', it was divine! The 'divided line?' Now, I knew 'Divisoria' sounded Spanish! Derived from the term 'línea divisoria' meaning 'divided line' because ethnic Chinese Filipino were banned from trading outside the area during the Spanish Colonial Period. Baliw diba? Ay!
Divisoria delivered but I wanted to make my way back to hotel, resting before I made my Cebu connection seemed like a plan? Yes, it was! I took refuge in a familiar Catholic place of worship, 'Binondo Church' showed me a rather elaborate 'Nativity' display! Being a Pinoy Nativity, Mary had the best locks and those costumes were bedazzled to the hilt, yes they were! Heading back down a familiar road, I knew that I needed to head to 'Carriedo LRT Station' because it was only two stops away from 'United Nations'. Those 'Chinatown' scenes took me right back to February 2024 with the quickness, I already knew that I didn't want any Chinese food! I kept it moving, it was powerful because I knew where I needed to head for. The crowds didn't faze me, I surveyed the crowd and even those street kids because I just wanted to get from point to point. Wanting to check my phone, I made my map observations in the doorway of a 7 Eleven. With a better knowledge of that road, I believe I made just and sound choices. What was wrong? I felt unwell!
Carriedo was in view, I had once stepped onto the street sharing the same name, I was back for more! Now, I stood strong with my intended LRT entry point nearby, I wasn't playing games! It was mad that I had done the same route but in a reverse formation, I was all for seeing places through a difference perspective. The footpaths were swarming with Sunday shoppers, I able to get myself across the road with my heart in my mouth! Traffic was aplenty with vehicles of all kinds coming from every direction, I am not telling falsehoods, it was getting real! Yes! Those streets were pumping, from every glance it was pure life in motion without any apologies to make! I managed to get to my platform at the elevated station, I then looked over the ledge with the same street I had clocked in February 2024 as I had first stepped off that LRT from United Nations! So, 'My Manila Era' had been activated with a stronger sense of the streets than ever before, I had ticked all boxes with not a stutter! Back at the hotel, I ordered a KFC on Grab, po!!!
Tapos Na Ako!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
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