Recently, the Urban Roamer came across an interesting news item through one of Facebook groups dealing with Philippine heritage news and issues. The news item was actually part of a series of reports broadcasted on CNN Philippines last February that talked about the “restoration” of the old Ayuntamiento de Manila building to become the new home of the Bureau of the Treasury. It would have been an interesting read, had not it been for the maliciously anti-heritage slant put forth by the report of Fiona Nicolas, which put the restoration as “costly” and that the Php 1.188B spent on this project would have been better spent elsewhere like poverty alleviations,…
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It’s Intramuros Pasyal Sunday Again
It’s been a while since the Urban Roamer checked out the last Intramuros Pasyal Sunday event, the one I last attended was last year. So I’m glad to be back at such an event. Throughout the afternoon until the evening, a portion of Gen. Luna Street was closed off to vehicles as that part of the road became a lively outdoor fair of sorts as various stalls were set up to offer their different wares and goods. There is also al fresco dining, or some street food choices as well if you’re into it. Intramuros Pasyal Sunday is also an opportunity to promote biking as a healthy and green form…
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Intramuros and Its Lost Rich Catholic Heritage
Intramuros during the Spanish colonial period was not only the center of political power in the Philippines, it was also the center of faith, the Catholic faith, in the country. At a time when there was no separation of powers between church and state, Intramuros was where everything that would influence the way of life of the people emanated from. While Intramuros would lose its status as a political center during the American colonial period, it still pretty much retained its status as a spiritual center for a still Catholic-dominated population in the midst of the rise of new religions and denominations that came about during that time. That was…
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Memorare Manila 1945
As we continue to remember #Manila1945, the Urban Roamer recently paid a visit to one of the few spots in the city that have served today to remember everything that was lost in the Battle of Manila in 1945: the Memorare Manila 1945 at the Plazuela de Santa Isabel in Intramuros, Manila.