Escolta
My thesis adviser offered to take me around Escolta, a place in Manila that I had never been to. I took him up on the offer. Very very gladly, it was so nice of him.
We walked around very briskly as he pointed to the buildings and landmarks, told me the architects, time periods, owners.. all at a very fast pace. I was sweating like hell and trying to remember everything. Most of the time I was just trying to keep up with him.
This is my advisers back.. I'm taking pictures left and right, trying to walk fast and also trying NOT to fall into the Pasig River. It was rainy and wet that day.. I wasn't planning on getting any wetter.
Escolta was once the financial district in the Philippines, it was then what todays Ayala Avenue is. High profile, lined with shops, banks, and offices. The war destroyed pretty much everything.
One of my favorite buildings. The El Hogar.
I expected a Divisoria or Quiapo-ish super crowded, semi-scary experience, but Escolta is actually quite charming. I definitely have to go back. It is so full of lovely old buildings whose stories are just waiting to be told. Whatever was saved or rebuilt after the war is still there. Old, under decades worth of grime and dust. One just has to take a closer look. Give the buildings a paint job in your mind, replace the broken glass.. it's beautiful.
Cast Iron Fountain in the middle of it all. Who would have thought one could find this stuff in downtown Manila?
if i am only to stress one thing from my experiences, it is this:
LOOK CLOSER!! It's there.. just there.. waiting for you.
and I love it. :)
We walked around very briskly as he pointed to the buildings and landmarks, told me the architects, time periods, owners.. all at a very fast pace. I was sweating like hell and trying to remember everything. Most of the time I was just trying to keep up with him.
This is my advisers back.. I'm taking pictures left and right, trying to walk fast and also trying NOT to fall into the Pasig River. It was rainy and wet that day.. I wasn't planning on getting any wetter.
Escolta was once the financial district in the Philippines, it was then what todays Ayala Avenue is. High profile, lined with shops, banks, and offices. The war destroyed pretty much everything.
One of my favorite buildings. The El Hogar.
I expected a Divisoria or Quiapo-ish super crowded, semi-scary experience, but Escolta is actually quite charming. I definitely have to go back. It is so full of lovely old buildings whose stories are just waiting to be told. Whatever was saved or rebuilt after the war is still there. Old, under decades worth of grime and dust. One just has to take a closer look. Give the buildings a paint job in your mind, replace the broken glass.. it's beautiful.
Cast Iron Fountain in the middle of it all. Who would have thought one could find this stuff in downtown Manila?
if i am only to stress one thing from my experiences, it is this:
LOOK CLOSER!! It's there.. just there.. waiting for you.
and I love it. :)