Manila

@lovinangelsinstead21 My country is so lovely. I could say the Philippines is a paradise on earth,. The beaches are warm and serene. But there are coasts where waves are a thrill for surfers. The waters are abundant with fish. My people are gentle and hospitable. The bad ones are the greedy rich and the deprived poor who have become cunning in their search for food and life. You are correct, evil lurks in all corners of the globe, preying the good.. Thus forlorn the state of many a dwelling place people loved before. Yours and mine included.

Yup, a stamp was needed for a document, actually. Glad it was easy enough to secure. But the travel to the area was harrowing, from the traffic caused by the construction of a skyway connecting the North to the South passing over Manila to the distressing condition of the dwellers. Would dampen any one's spirit. The sorry sight was old world, I mean, even if my country is third world, a naming I detest, the people could keep up with the times. Their situation, I am sure, was brought about by political power play and greed. The people have no solution but endure.

@eileenleyva Not unlike other places in the world and there are a few areas where I come from you would not believe I was from there either. Its really all to do with money and the land and so on. My town centre before used to thrive somewhat now the shops are almost closed and the rents they ask the shopkeepers is exhorbitant so they have to close also. I can well understand what they are going through. Also there are places here too that are not too bad but not very good either and its all to do with the same money and the greed for the land also. I never think of your Country like that. I think of it as being a beautiful place with its good and bad like everywhere else. I need stamps for documents too and I still have to go and get them its very slow here to do documents so we are not unlike where you live also.

If I am not mistaken, the area is Sta. Ana. We did exit and came out at Quirino, where construction is on going for an expressway. I was shocked seeing dogs on the streets. A simple city ordinance can solve that problem.

@eileenleyva I have not been to Sta.Ana for a long time, I'm not very familiar with that place except for the old church and the her famous museum with pre-colonial archeological diggings

@louievill A museum? That I must see, if ever I get to the area again. The pre-colonial archaeological diggings sounds very interesting. Have not heard of it before.

Manila is a beautiful city. I love Intramuros, the Luneta, Roxas Boulevard, the Mall of Asia area, the university belt. Time and again, I come to visit these places, the latest of which was Good Friday, I just have to visit San Agustin and the Manila Cathedral, the latter restored to its old glory, fully air-conditioned, and beaming with devotees. The short walk from one church to the other brings to mind the old Manila, with guards in old Spanish uniforms. Sta. Ana will rise again, I know. What is your hometown?

Actually, there was a time when Manila was in full swing, the Intramuros area was always packed with tourists, bands playing every night, a corner shows a guitarist singing folk ballads, an area in th Sunset Bay buzz with children and not so young children biking, and running. The reclamation area enhanced the bay area, and there now stands Sofitel and other business establishments like the Mall of Asia, cultural venues like the Aliw Theater, home of Ballet Manila, and SMX where international conventions like the Comicon take place, not to mention the Manila Fame. There stands, too, the I am the Way, the Truth and the Light Church, a walk away from the seafront where people sit and dine till the late hours of the night, or early morning.

@eileenleyva oh that's good to know that .. I haven't had the chance to explore the whole of Manila since the early 80s..

@eileenleyva We go home there every year and only stay for a few weeks staying in our holiday house in the province.. But we are planning to visit Metro Manila area when all the roadworks are done ...I actually look forward to it now ....

True. Quezon City is a problem city, most urban settlers are tolerated for election purposes. Thus, there is Krus na Ligas, Payatas, Laura Street at Holy Spirit, etcetera. But Manila is our capital city. Just by the name Manila alone, the world knows us. So, it is unacceptable to leave Sta. Ana forsaken. Some assistance must be given the people, like paint their houses, give them plants to prettify their front facades, benches and green spaces where people can sit, not old tires and blocks from dilapidated houses. Give the children parks with decent basketball courts. And so on. So much can be done, actually. Plus, shelter the dogs.

@rakski Coursed around new routes yesterday and noticed how the public schools have received a new look. More classrooms were constructed, the front facades exuding academic excellence, if I may put it that way. Twenty years ago, the school children were wanting and shabby, in need of true education. Now, with the clean and beautiful school buildings and grounds, and the free education, our students can concentrate on their studies. There is hope for our people. Manila and all the other cities can only change for the better.

@eileenleyva not only in QC, there are many tolerated settlers in each city which are sore to the eyes but due to election and voting purposes, they are still there. I agree with you that Manila should be improved, in fact all city government's goal is for the improvement and betterment of their city but sad to say some neglected some areas.

The saddest I've seen is Hagonoy, Bulacan, or rather the long, long, long stretch to Hagonoy. As if my heart was stabbed several times. But I could understand Bulacan. The urban settlers were relocated there. They have to make do with what they were given. But Manila, that is where the commerce is, and the educational facilities, the medical centers.

@MrsPumpkins I do not know the situation really. In my area, there was a baranggay that was created two decades ago specifically for the Visayan community.

@eileenleyva but i think those urban settlers were not originally from Manila.

I was at the Intramuros churches Good Friday. Passed by Basilica de Quiapo, there was thrash everywhere. Sigh. The PICC grounds was frequented, my daughter's oath taking was held there last year. It is Sta. Ana that grieves me.

@eileenleyva grew up in Sta. Ana and yes, some parts are depressing but the same can be said about other parts of the city and about some provinces.

@allen0187 I am so sorry. Must have touched a soft spot in your heart. Yup, I did see worse places, most in particular is the long stretch of pigeon homes leading to Hagonoy, Bulacan. Payatas and Krus na Ligas in Quezon City are perhaps like Sta. Ana. The road leading to Centris Walk is a pitiful sight. But Sta. Ana is not a place for urban settlers, is it? It was just forsaken by the city, I think.