Plaza Miranda: Named after Miranda who?

Who doesn’t know where Plaza Miranda is? But who is Miranda?

Plaza Miranda is (in) the heart of Quiapo District. It is a square or a public plaza in front of the Basilika Ng Nazareno or St. John the Baptist Church or the Quiapo Church as it is widely known. It is also a popular site of political rallies. In August 21, 1971, while the Liberal Party held their Miting de Avance in the plaza, a bomb exploded, killing 8 and injuring almost 100 civilians (Source) – and that made me aware of Plaza Miranda’s political significance as a young kid, I, being a Martial Law baby!

Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila, is named after Jose Sandino y Miranda. Nothing much is known about Señor Miranda except that he served as secretary of the treasury of the Philippines for 10 years starting in 1853. (Source).

It used to be the vortex of the nation’s sensibilities, the focus of its attention on issues affecting the public interest. National leaders spoke here, as so did local politicians, all of them seeking the people’s approval and acclaim. Here were various ideas expressed either arrogantly or humbly, from the sublime to the absurd, to be accepted or disdained by the judgmental audience. It was here that governmental programs and proposals had to pass President Ramon Magsaysay’s cautious and imperative criterion: “Can we defend this at Plaza Miranda?” (Source.)

MANILights: A Manila Travel by Night

*Here’s another break from my Quiapo Post.

Here is a short travel story of my Manila night drive from Rizal Avenue/Avenida, in Sta Cruz, to Roxas Boulevard.

Last Tuesday, 24 July 2007, I was in Binondo around 11 p.m. While driving home to Malacañang Complex, I decided to turn right at Rizal Avenue to see the newly re-opened part of the Avenue, courtesy of the new Mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim. See Related News Stories: (1) (2). His good predecessor former Manila Mayor Jose L. Atienza, Jr. closed it to give way to a “pedestrian park” under his Buhayin ang Maynila Project in 2003. There was virtually no traffic that time, so I thought it was a good time to set my camera on the streets to have some night shots.

Sampaguita is our National Flower. Are not the Vendors our National Symbol?

Notice: The title of this entry appears to be politically serious. It sounded good to me that’s why, but the content has little to do (or nothing at all!) with the title, hence this notice.

For decades now, Sampaguita vendors in Metro Manila have become an ordinary sight, which made me think that they may be good national symbols of our nation’s (economic) status. Vendors from all ages sell Sampaguita to motorists on main stoplights and to worshipers in different churches. You see them any time of the day and night, running after cars and people to sell, with one common goal – that at the end of the day or night, they have something to bring home to feed themselves and their families. (*Sigh…Sigh!)

Unfortunately though, I am not sharing here with you their personal stories (but that could be a good entry soon) because I did not have ample time to chat with them when I took the pictures. Instead, I am sharing several images of Sampaguita vendors in front of the Basilika Ng Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila in one of my Friday visits.

Pandesal + “Bubog”: Another Unhealthy Food Story

*Here’s a break from my Quiapo Post.

Two nights ago, we bought Twenty Pesos of Pandesal at a nearby 24-hour Bakery for midnight snack, Chiz Whiz for spread, and Nestea Ice Tea for bev. While on our second piece, my friend Carlito noticed something unchewable and inconsistent with the texture of the bread. He took out what he was chewing and found a broken glass in the pandesal he was eating!

Good he was not able to swallow it!

I wanted to “ambulance chase” as a personal normal reaction. On second thought, I decided to just call the attention of the Bakery at the most. Carlito, however, thought it was nothing, afterall he was not hurt. And so we stopped eating and forgot about the “bubog.”

The next morning, he went to buy bread again at the same Bakery and informed them of broken glass he found in the pandesal he bought the night before. Fortunately, a Kagawad was also buying from the same Bakery and Carlito was informed that his complaint is already the second, the first being the Bakery selling spoiled bread.

Basilika Ng Nazareno: A Leap & Lift of Faith

So what is amazing if I go to Basilika Ng Nazareno in Quiapo (more popularly known as Quiapo Church)? It is not an insurmountable task to go anyway! Almost all jeepney routes pass by the Basilika making it effortless to drop by the Quiapo Church for anyone. That is if the need arises!

I have been going to the Basilika Ng Nazareno every Friday for two months now and for someone who have not gone to Church regularly every Sunday for 10 years, and have gone to the Basilika for only three times in my almost 20 years stay in Manila, it’s a huge leap lift of faith. Surprisingly, a self-discovery to find time every Friday to visit and pray to the Black Nazarene!

My gratitude to a good friend Carlito for introducing and accompanying me in going to the Basilika. Now, even without a church-partner, I can say that I can go alone and continue whatever I have started for myself. It is simply a nice feeling every Friday, being the feast day of the Black Nazarene, to renew and strengthen my faith, which, by the way, my family would be most happy to know!

Fire and Water: My (trying to) Comeback Post!

When I witnessed the two of the most powerful forces of nature meet, it was not disaster that I saw but pure talent for Fire-art (is there ever one like it?) and the serenity and tranquility of water that Mother Nature can ever provide!

I was invited by a good friend who incidentally is my transient housemate, to the Barrio Fiesta of San Basilio in Sta. Rita, Pampanga a month ago. I was hessitant to go because I know no one in their place except him. It could have been better if I stayed in a separate board but I have to stay with his in-laws (keeping in mind stories that I know about staying with in-laws, it was a definite no!). And so I negotiated. I was not going if I was alone. Hence, we invited another friend who readily hopped in the car with nothing for a 3-day vacation except what he was wearing!

It was a Fiesta, right, and I anticipated good food, Kapampangan’s being known to be good cooks. More than the food though, I was thinking more of having a “provincial respite,” not having gone to my oh-sooo beloved Ilocos for quite sometime now and I terribly miss it!