Konted's Make My Day: January 2012

Walking The Streets Of Old Manila Again

It was a Saturday and there was a long line at the ticket booth of the LRT station in Santolan. I was bound for Recto and the security guard was waving, apparently pointing where the counter for senior citizens was. How did he know I was a senior citizen? By sheer look? Did my physical appearance betray my real age? Anyway, I ignored the guard and opted to stick to the line as it was moving fast.

For 15 pesos and after a 20-minute- travel time, I was at the Recto terminal which connects to a shopping arcade that used to be the old Odeon theater. There were stalls selling cheap DVDs. I bought three, all old Clint Eastwood films - Dirty Harry, Sudden Impact & The Dead Pool. All three for P150. I was looking for Magnum Force but I didn't find one.

Standing at the corner of Claro M.Recto and Avenida Rizal, I could see the old Roman Cinerama which is now Isetann Shopping Mall. The Asia Chicharon Factory, original makers of chicharon bulaklak, had closed shop many years back. Same with Avenue and Ideal theaters. Madison Department Store is surprisingly still there but now on the other side of Avenida Rizal. As I was turning left at Raon street, a middle aged woman approached me and said: "Sir, ano pagagawa nyo? Diploma, ID, passport, certificate, kahit ano kaya namin gayahin." I replied in jest : " Gawa mo nga ako marriage contract na kasal ako kay Demi Moore. Pwede ba yon? "

With hawkers offering tools and gadgets and literally occupying the sidewalk, I continued walking casually, passing through the busy streets of Evangelista, Soler and Hidalgo. As I reached Quezon Blvd, the inviting smell of hot noodles took me to the old R. Ma Mon Luk resto which is an older establishment than the one near Banawe. The resto has not been upgraded and still uses old bowls and spoons. I had mami and siopao, what else?

Several meters away from Ma Mon Luk is the Quiapo Church which prides itself of owning the 17th century image of the Black Nazarene and where thousands of devotees flock to on special occassions. While it is true that in our college days we used to pass by Quiapo Church almost everyday on board Manny King's car, we never bothered to stop and say a little prayer. Now was the first time and I took a seat at the last row. Vendors of rosaries, stampitas, potions or gayumas and other herbal concoctions were relocated to the Evangelista side of the church. As I stepped out, I inquired: " Alin ba dyan ang para sa nade delay? Yung di pa na...." Without waiting for me to finish, the lady vendor butted in: " Eto sir, sigurado ito. Wala yang pino problema nyo." I countered: " Wala ako pino problema. Nagtatanong lang ako."

I continued walking towards Carriedo street. It has been closed permanently to traffic to give way to ambulants. I glanced at my cell's watch. It was 4pm. I walked hurriedly this time. I reckoned that I needed to have a fast pace to be able to cover the Escolta and Binondo areas. I looked at the sky. Dark clouds were forming. The more I hurried my pace. More pressure. I was now beginning to feel pain in my right big toe.

Looking again at my return-trip ticket, I realized this time that there was no need to move in haste. I took a calesa and in a few minutes, I was in another world. Never mind the time. Never mind the appointments for the night. I instructed the cuchero to proceed to Divisoria as the overworked horse pulling the carriage took a pee as we crossed the Dasmarinas bridge. The horse wouldn't move. I was laughing. The cuchero was laughing too. I was now more relaxed. No longer conscious of the time.

- Konted