Since the late Marcos period at least, Mendiola Street has been known as a hotbed of protest activity as people marching there aimed to have their grievances and protests heard a bit closer by whoever is at Malacañang at the end of the said street. The epicenter of sorts of these activities is the bridge along Mendiola that crosses the Estero de San Miguel, named today in memory of one of those who took part in those protests along that storied street. His name is Joaquin Roces, better known to family and friends as “Chino.” And he was no mere protester. He belonged to one of Manila’s most illustrious families,…
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The Urban Roamer Loves Google Street View! (for the most part)
The technology used in maps has evolved a lot in recent years. From the flat graphic imagery, we are now seeing rich 3D satellite imagery to give us a better idea of what a place looks like, especially places we have not been to before. Then came the next phase in mapping technology when Google introduced Street View in 2008, providing users with an interactive and panoramic view of different neighborhoods around the world. After making it available in different countries around the world over the years, finally Google has managed to make Street View officially available in the country which a launch held recently. Now Filipinos like the Urban Roamer can…
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Grand Buffet Dining at Manila’s Grand Dame: Cafe Ilang-Ilang at Manila Hotel
It’s been a long while since the Urban Roamer has last stepped in Manila Hotel. And during that time, a lot of things have changed: a new logo, new uniforms of the staff. But the ambiance of old Manila remains alive in the hotel. My return that day though was for a somewhat different matter, which was to fully immerse myself in a filling buffet dining experience at the hotel’s main restaurant: Cafe Ilang-Ilang.
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A Taste of Comic Con Madness: AsiaPop Comicon Manila 2015
As a self-confessed “moderate” geek, I often found myself being amazed by the spectacle of comic conventions or comic cons, especially the famous San Diego Comic Con in the US. Seeing so much of today’s pop culture phenomena under one roof was a sight I’ve been at least intrigued to see. Thankfully, we in this part of the world got at least a bit of a taste of what a full blown comic con is like with the first ever AsiaPop Comicon Manila that was held over the weekend at the World Trade Center Metro Manila convention center. For this historic event, the Urban Roamer could not afford to miss…