Why I'm this redundant and so tired and boring? Know why? They were talking about Afghans on TV and how many times I told them the war in Afghanistan is as old as Rudyard Kipling. 18th century Mowgli's story. Year 2010 is when you are Italy then suddenly along the canal you see the proverbial arc bridge and then someone said that's part of China. Oh really? Maybe Chinatown. Every country in the world has Chinatown. I don't know why. It's probably because the Chinese is the cradle of civilization and they are the race whose population exceeds in billions? They are the largest country in the world whose population can speak Chinese higher than English speaking entities. Wow! Imagine that.
Chinatown in Philippines is located in Ongpin, Quiapo. The first time been there is with a co-medrep sales representative my supervisor asked me to accompany the new recruit to detail the products (medicine) to few of his medical practioners in his list. Medical clinic in that location.It was the old Chinatown that time. Some of the Chinese still use the rickshaws and calesa to commute. Too many department stores selling jewelries and precious gems it is likened to Kowloon. Food shop selling bbq ducks, chicken, chasiw, hot soup, and the famous special hopia and siopao. It was a busy street over there. It was a commercial area where buying and selling is a normal way of life. Fruit stalls also are abundant on the sidewalk. The aroma of chestnuts filled the air. Along the old buildings there are bulks of textiles and ribbons . It is a place for many crafters to enjoy because everything is there from zippers to buttons. From buri hat to garlands. Fresh flowers are also in abundance in many of the flower market along the sidewalk and there is only few steps where you can walk because the path is too narrow. Too many people. You'll have a headache once you're there because of what you will see and what you will hear. Crowded and noisy but that's the normal scene in a busy market. Have you seen the stock market proceedings how noisy the stock brokers are? That's the dubious scenery it's like there's a riot but that's how its been since the time of barter period. From what I've seen in the new photographs in the internet time has changed and the normal scene is gone. It was orderly and the streets are cleaned. probably the products they were selling their has marked up so high and you cannot haggle anymore. Like you cannot ask for discount? darn that's not good espceially if that's the place where you can buy the textiles you want. because Divisoria and Baclaran is way too far from my destination.
I also remember having to drop by at the old church in there. Yes they do have a Catholic church. being devoted Catholic (before) everytime I see a church I have to go there and make the sign of the cross, sit and kneel and say my prayers. Bought sampaguita and have them hang it on one of the saints or hang them on Jesus feet. (Jesus statue) or lit a candle, pray and get out of the church. Devotees do the same thing too. It's almost a ritual.
So from what I've seen the new photographs compared to the old photographs 20 years ago is shocking really it is like asking myself where I am on this part of the globe? Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?))) Stepping on the map and find where I am ?
Having nostalgia here when I have so many important things to do such as: 3 loads of laundry waiting. Yeap all bedsheets, cover, and pillows to be cleaned, my family's clothes, and some few curtains, house cleaning, cooking, and sewing not to forget that I have to continue my sewing. Yesterday, finished a nice cool trendy shoulder bag. It was made of a red orange polyester, cotton-oxford , and camouflage trimmings. It took me four hours to sew this material. Now I know why bags are so darn expensive.
