Sunday, July 13, 2008

ARAW NG MAYNILA FEATURE: THE PASIG FERRY ADVENTURE - FROM PLAZA MEXICO TO GUADALUPE (PART TROIS)


The sight of the Power Plant Mall signals that we have arrived in the City of Makati (former name: San Pedro de Makati, shortened to Makati on by Act 2390 of the Philippine Legislature in 1914). A coal-powered power plant used to stand on this very spot hence the name of the mall. It was incorporated into the Rizal Province in 1901 and was separated yet again in 1975 and became an independent city in 1995 (RA 7584). In July of 1937, Makati became the home of Manila's first airport, the Nielson Field, using 42 hectares of land leased from the Ayala family. Philippine Airlines' inaugural flight took off from Makati for Baguio in March of 1941. The former runways are now known to us as Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue. The former airport tower, known as the Nielson Tower, is now the permanent home to the Filipinas Heritage Library. :-) More on this in a future post.

Without a doubt the trip can be described as leisurely and one can really sit back, relax, and take in all the view possible from your side of the ferry. To be honest, not all of the scenery is worth taking photos of. Anyway, you can always bring a book with you to read during the unexciting spots.
The ferry seats are wide and comfortable despite being made of tough plastic. The airconditioning doesn't make the interiors very cold, but otherwise the temperature inside is tolerable.

This looks dangerous, but this serves as the fastest way to cross the river for residents along the Pasig. It takes the place of the jeepney which takes the circuitous route. This one goes straight from point A to B with ease. It's the route Superman would have taken, you know.

Some of Makati's high rises loom into view.

The controversial billboards of Guadalupe Viejo. They have been stripped bare because of the recent typhoon which hit the metro. TRIVIA: On Bernardino St. of Guadalupe stands the city's oldest and most historical landmark, the Sanctuario de Guadalupe, which was restored during the leadership of the revered Cardinal Jaime Sin.
A white-and-blue MRT coach crosses the rail bridge atop the Guadalupe bridge. Methinks the MRT system is a gift we all should be thankful for. I can't imagine traveling from North Manila to the South without this train system. Think hours of being stucked in traffic!
The Guadalupe bridge comes into view with the Guadalupe MRT Station above it.
The water may be generally brown but at least it isn't black - which is what it was several years ago before the revive-the-Pasig (Buhayin ang Pasig) movement. Already, signs of life have returned to Manila's most important river.
A play with words, this is what this is. "Pasiglahin" comes from the Tagalog word sigla which means vitality, ergo the tagline Ilog Pasiglahin means to restore the river's vitality. Not bad for a long-term plan (IF it is long term at all, but I'm crossing my fingers).


A quick peek into the bridge reveals very simple mechanisms for moving this ferry about. You can trust Filipino sailors in doing a great job in this business.











I'm very excited about this tap card! Finally the technology has reached us in Manila. This is the system widely used in Singapore and Hong Kong.










Our ferry leaves Guadalupe to proceed to the few last stations in Pasig City. Note the beautification done by the City of Makati on the waterfront. Soon there's be tap card or mCASH card for those who use the system frequently. It saves the trouble of having to line up and sign your name on the manifest every time you ride the ferry.
This was our last stop - Guadalupe Station in Makati City. From here, people working in these parts can take connecting jeepney rides to their offices. It can be convenient on a clear day, but I can imagine it to be hellish on rainy days. Well, we have yet so much to work on.
This is the waterfront of the Guadalupe Station. Looking forward to traveling the entire length up to Marikina soon! Mabuhay ang Pasig Ferry! Maligayang araw ng Maynila!


CCP DREAM THEATRE IS RENAMED TANGHALANG MANUEL CONDE

A special tribute to Manuel Conde, pioneer of Philippine independent filmmaking, will be held during the 2008 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition on July 11-20 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The tribute will include the launching of the book, The Cinema of Manuel Conde, by Dr. Nicanor G. Tiongson during the opening of the exhibit on this maverick of the Filipino cinema and the first public screening after many decades of Conde’s films, especially the famous 'Genghis Khan', the first Filipino movie to be invited to participate in an international film festival, in this case the very prestigious Venice Film Festival of 1952.

Manuel Conde (1925-1985) was a director-writer-actor-producer who made 40 films from 1940 to 1963. He established his own film organization, MC Productions, because he wanted to do movies with an independent spirit that studio producers would not touch. The most important Conde films that embody the independent spirit that is celebrated by Cinemalaya today are his Juan Tamad films in which Conde successfully transformed the slapstick comedy into timely social satire.

Conde’s uncommon courage in satirizing social and political evils, his playful but insightful revitalization of genre movies, his unflagging and absolute dedication to artistry and, most of all, his passionate and absolute commitment to his truth, definitely qualify him to be called the “Father of Independent Filmmaking in the Philippines”.

Six Conde films will be shown during the 2008 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde (formerly CCP Dream Theater). These are Genghis Khan (1950), Ibong Adarna (1955), Verganza (1958), Señorito (1953), Cruz na Kawayan (1956) and El Robo (1957). The Conde films will be shown on July 17-19 with screenings set at 12:45 PM for Ibong Adarna, Cruz na Kawayan and Verganza and 3:30 PM for Señorito, El Robo and Genghis Khan.

Cinemalaya is presented by the Cinemalaya Foundation, Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments Inc. Cinemalaya is an all-digital film competition aimed at discovering new Filipino filmmakers. Cinemalaya will be highlighted by the screening of world premieres, director’s cuts and the very best Filipino independent films on wide-ranging and controversial topics. Films from Cinemalaya 2005, 2006 and 2007 will also be shown. A major event of the Festival will be the Cinemalaya Independent Film Congress with the theme Spreading the News: Promoting, Distributing and Exhibiting Indie Films.

This year, Cinemalaya also will feature a new children’s section dedicated to children’s films and a retrospective of Manuel Conde films. For information, please call the CCP Marketing Department at 551-7930 or 832-1125 local 1800 to 1808 and the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 0r 832-1125 local 1409.


Source: Clickthecity.com

Saturday, July 12, 2008

EXHIBITS: JUAN LUNA & JOSE SANTOS III




SUPERPASYAL is a supporter of the Ayala Musem. Click on the photos to enlarge.