Intramuros!
Manila Cathedral. Our meeting place. |
I don’t know but it seems like this is my first time to go
inside the Intramuros though I have been there before. I just cannot remember
when.
So this escapade happened because of our subject requirement
for online writing. It was really fun doing this because you get to discover
things while doing your requirement. Studying should be fun right?
It was 3:00 in the afternoon when we’ve gone there. There
are many ways on how to get to Intramuros; it depends on where you are coming
from. I think the easiest way to get there is through LRT line 1, you can stop
at Carriedo station and ride a jeepney going to Lawton. You’ll know that you’re
there when you saw the Manila Cathedral Church. As for us, our meeting place
was the Manila Cathedral Church. While waiting we saw a news team from TV 5
conducting a documentary. And being as enthusiastic as we are, we pry on what
the team was doing and later on we were asked if they can interview three of
our classmates. Natalie, Jonel and Alen
were asked about their opinion on Condom advertisements.
Jonel being asked by TV5 news reporter about his opinion on Contraceptive Advertisements |
After that, we’ve decided to part ways and explore the place
on our own. We can go wherever we want. I’ve gone with Rizza and Kim and I
should say it was a long walk.
I wonder if their uniform was the same uniform that the Guardia Sibil wore before. |
But the walk was fun because you won’t realize
that you’ve been walking for such a long time because of the beautiful sight.
The ambiance of the Intramuros reminds me of the movie Letters to Juliet. Even
though I know that there are a lot of bad things happened there, I can’t help
not to think about romantic things because as I’ve said, it reminds me of the
movie. And it was days before Valentine’s Day so please forgive me. J
This reminds us of the play we did, Viva El teatro Porvenir. |
As we were walking, we passed by this monument built
somewhere inside the Intramuros. It was built in memory of the people who died
during the war, I am not sure what war it was and who we (The Filipino People)
are fighting against but I think it was the fight against the Spaniards. The
monument was built on February 1995. The Statement in the monument goes like
this
“The monument
is dedicated to all those innocent victims of war. Many whom went nameless and
unknown to a common grave. Or never even knew a grave at all, their bodies
having been consumed by fire or crushed to dust beneath the rubble of ruins.
Let this monument be the gravestone for each and every one of the over 100,000
men, women, children and infants killed in Manila during its battle of
Liberation February 3-March 3, 1945. We have not forgotten them, nor shall we
ever forget. May they rest in peace as part now of the sacred ground of this
city, The Manila of our affections”
The Papier Tole Shop |
After that we’ve passed through this vintage-looking shop.
And it was vintage-looking because it was an antique shop J Inside you can buy
souvenir items but I think the price was a little bit up there because I’ve
seen the same items in Cubao expo with different designs though but they are
not as expensive as there in Intramuros. Maybe it was expensive because of the
place and it was a tourist’s spot.
During our walk I realized one thing, I am guilty of feeling
that I am a tourist because in fact I should not be. Being a “turista sa sariling bayan” (being a
tourist in your own country) is something you should not be proud of. I felt
that way when I saw a lot of tourists around. I should be happy about it
because they get to discover our country but there was this feeling that
something bad happened there that we should be reminded of what our ancestors
did in that place, somewhere in Intramuros way back before maybe there was Katipunera or a Filipina girl who got
raped or something like that. I don’t know but I just felt that way while we
were walking.
We were looking for a place to eat when we bumped into
Francis and company. We decided then to go with them and contribute for our
food.
The restaurant we chose seems to be pricey so some of us chose a partner
for our chosen food. We‘ve chosen the restaurant near the Silahis Antique shop:
The Illustrados. As for me, my partner was Kim and we bought Carrot cake. A
slice costs PHP90.00 but it was worth it because aside from the fact that it
was one of my favorites, it taste nice. Seeing a carrot cake make me happy so I
think I am being biased to this one but it was really tasty! J
This photo is from Ryca Jean Canlas' DSLR camera. Did it made you happy? Just looking at it makes me happy. Haha!! |
The ambiance was cozy and the paintings were nice because it'll remind you about what happened before. I like restaurants like this who chose to have designs such as paintings and statements. |
My favorite part was when we saw a NCCA art gallery inside
the Intramuros. I didn’t know that they have an art gallery there so it was
exciting to go inside. There’s a place inside intended for the awards given to
Filipino artists by Local and International Festivals. It was really inspiring
to look at them because I’ve always wanted to create or be a part a protest
theater. Looking at those awards given to Filipino people especially to those
who created their craft to educate people makes me wonder, on what genre of art
am I going to excel at or where do I belong.
I am really happy that I’ve visited Intramuros and I hope to
get back there with my little brother some other time. J
We saw this couple while we were talking about Valentine's day hahaha!! What a "coincident"! |