Missing Singapore-style safety

Singapore MRT

One thing I miss the most about Singapore is having that feeling of safety – you can use your iPhone and other expensive gadgets on trains and not worry about being the apple of the eye of criminals.

The authorities in Singapore are quick to say though that “low crime doesn’t mean no crime.”

I agree. But when I was in the squeaky clean city-state, I felt that I could lower my guard a little bit.

Manila

Why am I writing this article? Well, a pickpocket took my cellphone at a train station in Manila yesterday.

I wasn’t the only victim. A 26-year-old seafarer and his wife raised hell when they realized they had lost their cellphones. The commotion that ensued was one helluva scene.

To cut the long story short, a suspected pickpocket was arrested. It’s obvious that the guy had cohorts who were able to get away with the loot.

Singapore

Singapore

After that incident, I couldn’t help but wonder: How does Singapore do it?

I really don’t know the answer, but at this point, what I do know is that I’m longing for Singapore-style safety.

UST celebrates 400th anniversary

This month there’s another “Royal” event that will take place aside from the much-awaited Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in the UK – the 400^th anniversary of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Philippines.

I never studied at UST, but it will always be a significant part of my life because I lived in the vicinity of the university for almost two decades.

Whenever someone asked me where I lived, I always replied: “Near UST.” It’s a landmark like no other in that part of Manila, a prominent reminder of the more than three centuries of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

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People urged to be wary of stray balls

This picture was taken at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Philippines.

French celebrate sexuality from Paris to Manila

On the grounds of the Louvre

Whether in Paris or in Manila, the French aren’t afraid to talk about sexuality.

When I was in the French capital, I saw depictions of nudity in places frequented by tourists.

I’d say that all of them were artistic.

On a train station (left) and near the Eiffel Tower (right)

The French are really good at expressing themselves through the arts.

I suppose that’s possible if you don’t let inhibitions shackle your creativity.

"Two Cobras" by Agnes Arellano

The Philippine capital

In Manila, Alliance Francaise de Manille and Galleria Duemila are currently holding the art exhibition “Conspirateurs du Plaisir” or “Conspirators of Pleasure.”

It features works of sculptors Agnes Arellano and Duddley Diaz and painter Fernando Modesto.

"Entwined, Shy" by Agnes Arellano

Their works reminded me of the depictions of nudity that I’d seen in Paris.

The Total Gallery of Alliance Francaise de Manille, where the works are presently displayed, seemed like a miniature Paris to me – everywhere I looked there were fine examples of artistic self-expression and French-speaking people.

More about the works tomorrow.

All Saints’ Day scenes at the Manila South Cemetery

Many Filipinos are in cemeteries today, All Saints’ Day, to pay homage to their departed loved ones.

Photographs:

Left: “Apartment-style” tombs

Right: Balloons, food, birds, toys and many others are sold by enterprising Filipinos inside the Manila South Cemetery

The tomb of former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino

The sixth President of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino, is the most prominent personality buried in the Manila South Cemetery.

His tomb is quite easy to find because it’s at the center of the roundabout at the center of the cemetery.

Quirino served as President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953. He died in 1956.

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The world of the living and the world of the dead: the Makati skyline and Manila South Cemetery tombs

Police said the number of people inside the cemetery had reached about 15,000 as of 11 in the morning

The main entrance, at the corner of South Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Senior Extension (formerly known as Vito Cruz Extension)

The Philippines is the largest Christian country in Asia

Palace pictures are okay despite restrictions

It’s probably the most inaccessible landmark in Manila compared with other attractions in the city.

No, it’s not because the roads leading to that place are unpaved or something. After all, it’s in Manila, the premier city and capital of the Philippines. The roads are okay.

I consider it the most inaccessible landmark because of the strict security measures one has to go through to be allowed to step foot on it.

Yes, it’s the official residence of the President of the Philippines: Malacanang Palace.

Palace virgin

Last week I visited Malacanang for the first time.

Obviously, the presidential palace isn’t an ordinary place.

I think of it as the house of the Filipino people, the home of the person we choose to lead us.

And because it’s not just any other place, visitors can’t just wear anything that they want to wear. The minimum: semi-formal attire. Strictly no jeans!

I find the dress code okay, because it’s not very often that I get the chance to wear a necktie and not look overdressed.

At the Palace, neckties are an ordinary sight.

Restrictions

Since it’s the official residence of the most powerful person in the Philippines, my movements were restricted.

I couldn’t just go wherever I wanted to go.

I also couldn’t take pictures of everything. Some areas were off-limits to picture-taking <sniff>.

But despite the limited chances for picture-taking, I’m happy with my Malacanang photos.

I think they’re quite good, even if they were taken in a hurry.

Typhoon leaves trail of damage in the Philippines

Felled tree and collapsed wall hamper water flow of a creek in Manila suburb Quezon City

Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana) has left the Philippines, but parts of the national capital region and surrounding areas are still reeling from the effects of the weather disturbance, which is said to have brought more rains than hurricane Katrina.

I was not affected by the typhoon because it was my day off when it unleashed its fury on Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces last Saturday. I didn’t have to leave the house.

In addition, I live in an area that’s not prone to flooding.

Passport of my sister's mother-in-law was soaked in floodwater

Sadly though, the Marikina City home of my brother-in-law’s parents was submerged in water at the time, forcing them to flee.

They sought refuge in his uncle’s two-storey house, also in Marikina City, a suburb of Manila.

The floodwater in their house has now subsided. My sister and her parents-in-law together with their household worker are cleaning up the mess left by the typhoon.

Corazon Aquino makes the impossible possible

Behind me is my brother-in-law

It was a sight I thought I’d never see: people being so happy to finally be at the end of a line.

The unthinkable happened on Monday at the public viewing of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s body at the Manila Cathedral.

I understood what the euphoria was all about. It was hard to hunt for the end of the line, which snaked its way through the streets of Intramuros, the original Manila.

My sister, her husband and I spent about 20 minutes just looking for the last person lining up to see the remains of the woman who made the impossible possible in 1986: removing a dictator from the presidential palace.

Drizzle. Clear skies. Heavy downpour. Clear skies. That's the weather

There was even a point where I almost gave up and wanted to go home and sleep, for it would be a long day for me tomorrow. And I was already tired – I had been toiling on my thesis proposal for several days.

That thought quickly disappeared though as I met people from all walks of life along the way, all of whom appeared eager to pay their last respects to Cory, come hell or high water.

Finally

The seemingly endless line had an end after all. It was on Muralla Street, on the fringes of the centuries-old Walled City. I was so relieved.

Background is the Manila Cathedral

My brother-in-law said it was the perfect time to be falling in line for the public viewing.

He said it would have been too hot in the morning or the afternoon. We escaped the scorching heat of the tropical sun, yes!

But we were not spared from the intermittent drizzles and heavy downpours in the evening.

Despite the unpredictable weather and the long queue, the people waited patiently.

Son

I was one of the lucky few who were able to shake hands with Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who came out of his way to meet the people on Aduana Street, near the Palacio del Gobernador. His handshake was firm, by the way.

Senator Noynoy Aquino expressing his deep gratitude for the people's support

Noynoy is the only son of Cory and Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Junior, who was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. The airport is now called the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Noynoy thanked the people for coming to see his mother.

Casket

Our five-hour journey ended at 2 AM Tuesday, when we finally entered the Manila Cathedral to pay homage to Cory.

I had never been that weary all my life – I was sleepy, I was hungry, I was thirsty, and most of all, my urinary bladder was killing me.

But I was amazed by the discipline of the people filing past Cory’s casket.

Disciplined? Wow!

Even in death, Cory made the unthinkable thinkable. Twice.

Thanking Cory for freedom and democracy

Trip gives people a chance to revisit Philippine history

In one of my classes in graduate school, the instructor asked us to go to Intramuros.

Intramuros, or “within the walls,” was the seat of the government established in the Philippines by Spain, which colonized the archipelago from the 1500s to the 1800s.

During that period, Intramuros alone was considered Manila. Now, it is just a part of one of Manila’s six districts. 

“This trip is designed to give you the opportunity to revisit history so that you can undertake a critical reflection of colonialism’s disruptive impact on Filipino culture and consciousness,” the instructor, Johnathan Rondina, said. (Note: His name is really spelled that way)

Nice words.

He added: “You need to open your eyes and ears to the silent revelations of the past, to the quiet murmur of things forgotten, and to the echoes of heroes’ voices muted by the passing of the years.”

This slideshow contains photos of our class’ trip to Intramuros, Manila: