October 23, 1953 is a milestone event in the history of Philippine mass media, and of Philippine television in particular. This date is now being celebrated as the birth date, so to speak, of television in the Philippines. The idea of television in the Philippines was something seriously thought about since after World War II as the country was trying to rebuild after the destruction it experienced. In fact it was the dream of an American engineer named James Lindenberg that the country would be the first in Asia to have the first television broadcast through the company he founded in June 13, 1946: the Bolinao Electronics Corporation. (BEC)
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Heritage and some Kapuso history: the Calvo Building at Escolta
Long before Makati’s Ayala Avenue, Manila’s premier street business for any business or commercial establishment would be that one street in Manila’s Binondo district known as Escolta. From the late 19th century to the 1960’s, Escolta was a thriving street of trade and commerce. At its height in the 1930’s the whole street was lined with elegant buildings from end to end, most of them sporting classy architecture that dominated and beautified Manila’s skyline. One of those buildings that rose during that period was a little building near the corner of Escolta and Calle Soda called the Calvo Building. (or to the Hispanics like the Calvo family who had it…
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Baywalk after the storm
I’ve always wanted to write about that 2-kilometer stretch of open space by the seaside of Manila Bay that we all know as the Baywalk. For someone who grew up spending some of my free days along the Manila Bay, I have been witness to the changes the area has seen over the past years and beautiful sunsets that made it a popular attraction and a source of pride as well. How can one forget the Baywalk during the administration of then Manila Mayor Lito “floral shirt guy” Atienza (1998-2007)? In his efforts to revitalize Manila tourism, he spearheaded the redevelopment of the once-dark Manila Bay side into the Baywalk…
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From ABC to TV5: a history thru places
October marks the anniversary of the Philippine television industry which first made its mark in 1953. As its own to commemorate the milestones of the Philippine media, (broadcast media in particular) this blog will dedicate this month writing some interesting tidbits and places in broadcast history, past and present. Long considered as titans in the print media industry with their ownership of Manila Times and the Liwayway Group of Publications to name a few, the Roces family found themselves getting involved in the booming broadcast industry in 1960, thanks to the license given to them by Philippine Congress. Thus, on June 19 of that year, Joaquin “Chino” Roces founded the…