Sueños de Manila

Manila City Hall Clock Tower

When former president and now mayor Joseph Estrada appointed Carlos Celdran as Manila's tourism consultant, his sound judgement was welcomed with open arms and collective jubilation.

Celdran may have been known as the guy who went to the Manila Cathedral to protest while the clergy performed the blessed sacrament. But before his fall from grace, he walked the cobbled streets of Intramuros offering educational tours to Balikbayans and curious onlookers. He was the guy who wore colonial dresses, and his knowledge of Spanish Manila breathed life into the walled city. Celdran is also a well-known social change advocate, and his liberal thinking might bring change to a city falling into obsolescence.   

Being the hand-picked guy of an outsider whom many of us didn't put into office, we know that Celdran appreciates the city some prominent and old-time residents still fail to see. It is, and has always been the parts greater than the sum of its whole. Manila is an agglomeration of histories and events, that one needs to weave a single narrative - like tapestry - in order to tell its story.

It is true that the city doesn't need more skyscrapers and malls to make it attractive. Contrary to claims by the old mayor that we need an urban enclave like Eastwood and Fort Bonifacio to catch up with modern times, it is the city's cultural treasures that will return Manila to prominence.

I don't know what's on Celdran's mind, and how he will make recommendations that is faithful to his vision. But with the support of the mayor, and social media as his way of collaboration, I have no doubts he will deliver. In a way, the news of his appointment begins my own re-discovery of the place I call home. This I will put in words as I journey around the city and see what can be done to bring back Manila's old glory.

tobecontinued

Foothold

This is the first time I'll be posting in my blog. Phew, it was a very long time since I did this journal thing. Maybe its time to move on... everybody's doing it so why can't I?

I can't remember who said it but when a friend posted at the Yahoo Groups that my friends would get bored posting their thoughts at the online message board, a sudden bite of reality caught me. Everybody's migrating already and I guess it's also time for me to go. No matter what assurance I get from them, I think that the exodus bound to happen. I dunno but the migration thing really got me.

I was quite shocked with what happened to Henry lately. I never thought his buddy would play tricks behind his back. Sabagay, in this kind of life, those things are most likely to happen. The thing is, no matter how I deny it, there's something in me that's kinda worried with what his bud has done to him. Parang naiisip ko what if my bud did those things to me. Shempre, I would become helpless. Kahit ilang beses ko sabihin na I will move on and return to being a fucker mode, it would definitely destroy everything that I've built for the past 10 months. Sana totoo ngang seryoso ang bud ko sa akin. I'm already looking forward in sharing a future with him and I hope he'll never fuck the chance to enjoy a life with me.

Anyway that's all for now. I have to prepare for the contingent this evening. Maybe I'll post back again proximus. It's nice to see you back.

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I've just learned how to manipulate my blogger. hehehe. The guys wouldn't notice it but I've just linked their blogs into my journal. Maybe blogging isn't so bad after all. Now I understand why James became so addicted to it after he discovered this wonderful site.

Makaligo na nga, I've been stuck in this chair all day.

Colony Ship Landing
February 24, 2004

The End Is The Beginning

Dear Galen

Tawagin mo na lang ako sa pangalang El Sueno. Ako ay 27 anyos gulang na binata at kasalukuyang napapariwara ng landas. Paano kasi ay kaka-break lang namin ng aking kabiyak at ngayon ay unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman ang epekto ng aming paghihiwalay.

Matagal rin kaming nagsama ng aking partner. Siguro ay humigit kumulang limang taon rin kaming naging magkadugtong ang bituka sa hirap at ligaya. Isipin mo na lang parekoy, sa kanya ako humihinga tuwing nabibigyan ako ng uppercut ng buhay. Kami ring dalawa ang nagdiriwang sa maraming beses na ako'y nagtatagumpay sa aking mga digmaan. Ngayong wala na kami, hindi ko alam kung paano magsisimula muli. Dalawang beses lang kasi akong nagtangkang bumitaw sa kanya at sa mga panahong yun, ako rin ang kusang bumabalik upang ipagpatuloy ang aming kuwento.

Pasensya na bro kung sa iyo ako tumatakbo sa mga oras na ito. Alam kong hindi tayo magkakilala at kung anuman ang meron tayo, hindi ko tiyak kung ito'y pangmatagalan. Pero sa gabing ito, gusto kong maramdaman ang higpit ng iyong yakap. Gusto kong ibulong mo sa akin na tama ang aking ginagawa. Paano kasi ay hindi ko pa ito nasusubukan at alam kong ang kanyang pag-alis ay siyang pagpanaw rin ng aking buhay internet.

Salamat ng marami sa oras. Malaking paumanhin na rin sa abala. Susubukan kong bumalik upang sa iyo naman magsalaysay ng aking kasaysayan at kasalukuyan. Nawa'y maging bukas sana ang iyong mga pahina sa aking mga kuwentong-buhay.

Hanggang dito na lang muna. Marami na ang kumakausap sa akin sa YM at kailangan ko pa sagutin ang kanilang mga tanong tungkol sa aking dagliang pag-alis sa aming mundo. Basta nandito lang ako. Hindi ako basta mawawala. Kung kailangan man magkubli ay may dahilan, at kung ito lamang ang paraan upang maipagpatuloy ang paglalakbay tungo sa hinaharap, sana tol ay maging kasama kita.