Walk for a Better Manila

I saw this post on Carlos Celdran's Facebook account inviting people to Walk for a Better Manila.  It's a free guided walking tour at Luneta Park, going to the National Museum, the Manila City Hall and the Post Office.  I wanted to go and luckily Em was still in Manila and had Saturday morning free so we were able to join. 


One of the goals of this activity was to deliver the petition to suspend the building permit of DMCI's Torre de Manila. If it pushes through, it will destroy the skyline at Luneta, forever photobombing the Rizal Monument. I signed the petition via Change.org and I'm glad to also be part of handing it over to the government. Let's see what happens next.


There is a lot of repairs/reconstruction going on at the Rizal Park.  We could not go nearer to the monument because the area was cordoned off.  A temporary inconvenience but if it makes the park better, I'm all for it.

Carlos is pointing to where the DMCI building would be located, if they do not stop the construction.


We were a good-sized group.  We started walking from the Rizal Monument and entered one of the pocket gardens (forgot the name) on the way to the National Museum.

We stopped at the National Museum for maybe 30 minutes.  The last time I was here was in college to fulfill a requirement for my Humanities class.  Entrance is free for the whole month of October and free all Sundays of the year.  If you have not been to the National Museum, I highly encourage it.



Sister date.

Juan Luna's Spoliarium.

On the way to Manila City Hall.

Inside the Manila City Hall.

Delivering the petition to Councilor Bagatsing.

Next two pictures are from the Change.Org Facebook page.


Sat on Erap's desk.

Final stop, the Post Office.

We were not given full access to the ground floor because they were filming an advertisement with Ogie Alcasid.

I do not have Manila roots but I do care about conservation.  I believe it's important to preserve the old buildings and make them relevant to the times so that people continue to appreciate our history and heritage.  Makati or The Fort may be the modern face of the country but we all need a Manila to anchor us to our roots as a people.

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