Ever since it first opened its doors in July 1959, (making it 52 years old this year) Manila Zoo has become a well-loved landmark in this side of the city. If you were born or raised in this metropolis of Manila, chances are you’ve been to this place at least once in your life. Speaking from my personal recollections, I remember my visits there as I got to see various animals, as well as close encounters like me feeding the giraffe once. For its time, Manila Zoo was considered the best zoo experience in this part of the city, with the amenities and the variety of animals found there. I…
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born in blood: the birthplace of the Katipunan
It was July 7, 1892. The news of the day that time was the exile of Dr. Jose Rizal to Dapitan for all the headaches he has caused the Spanish colonial government and the Catholic Church in the country with his writings. It was said that Rizal was expecting that he would be executed that time, only that he would be getting an additional 4 years to his life. Three days earlier, he founded a civic organization called La Liga Filipina which aimed at what can be called as “people empowerment.” Now with its founder and leader gone, it would be expected that the flame he started would be extinguished.…
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the Manila Financial Center…at the reclaimed Manila Bay?
A few months ago, I wrote about the plan of the Manila City Government to convert the Manila South Port area into a business district and aired my opinion about it. Then recently, I came across this news item in the Manila Bulletin, which talked about some changes in the plan for the “Manila Financial Center” Quoted from the news item: “The Manila City Council has given Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim the green-light to seek permission from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to reclaim a portion of Manila Bay and transform the body of water into a sprawling financial district of the city…The newly passed ordinance was signed by (Manila…
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Manila’s Pontifical and Royal campus (Part 8: inside the Main Building)
These days, the University of Santo Tomas’s Main Building stands tall and proud in front of the wide Plaza Mayor which sits in between the building and the Benavides Monument. A former street and parking place, it was converted into an open space that is being used from time to time during campus events. With the Main Building as the background, any event there undoubtedly gives one a true Thomasian vibe to it. But apart from serving as backdrop as the administrative seat of the University, the Main Building also serves as the academic home of the university’s Faculty of Civil Law, College of Science, and the Faculty of Pharmacy.