While so much was going for the past few weeks or so, the Urban Roamer feels so ashamed to miss this news item that came out on April 3. My apologies for the oversight. That piece of news concerned about a new development in the continuing saga of the Pandacan Oil Depots as former president turned Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada issued an ultimatum to the 3 oil companies (namely Shell, Chevron, and Petron) who have operations in the district that they only have until January 31, 2016 to move out their operations there or else the city government will do the shutting down for them.
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After a Long Holiday Break…
The long Holy Week holiday is now over. It is now back to regular programming, so to speak, for many folks here. This means back to seeing those crowded scenes, the heavy traffic along the roads, especially aggravated by delayed road work projects. I hope the past Holy Week break made you appreciate how orderly and nice the city can be and we can only hope we do not see it just once a year. Until then, as they say: just keep calm and carry on.
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Roamer’s Roundup: Holy Week 2014 Edition
It is that time of the year once again as the Holy Week is being commemorated by Christians around the world, especially among the Christian faithful in the Philippines, to remember the events in the life of Jesus Christ from his triumphant entry to Jerusalem, celebrating the Last Supper, leading to his passion, death, and resurrection. While the celebration of Holy Week came from the influence of Spanish Catholicism that was introduced in the country in the 16th century, it has certainly evolved over time as Filipinos, especially the Catholicized ones, not only embraced this celebration but also added their own flavor into it, so to speak. These traditions still…
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A Requiem for Emilio Yap
Many were saddened to hear the news of the death of Manila taipan Emilio Yap. His name may not ring a familiar bell as that of other taipans or businessmen, but he is influential nevertheless being the chair of historic Manila-based institutions such as the Manila Bulletin, (which also includes the historic Liwayway group of publications) Manila Hotel, and Centro Escolar University. Forbes Magazine as the 13th richest in the Philippines. Like many Filipino-Chinese taipans, Emilio Yap was born in Fujian Province, China. Born on September 24, 1925, young Emilio first came to Manila actually to study, living with his grandfather who was already based in the city as a…