August 31 marks the birth anniversary of one of the most popular and well-loved presidents the Philippines ever had. We are talking about “the Guy” himself, Ramon Magsaysay who served as president from 1953-1957. His life and achievements have been immortalized; some may say they are a stuff of legend. I guess it is a testament to how much admired and well-loved was Magsaysay that until now his campaign theme song still resonates among the people who still suffer the same problems and are still hoping for the same ideals as was the case in 1953, the year Magsaysay ran and won as president.
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“Can we defend it at Plaza Miranda?”
The title of this entry refers to the famous quote of Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay (whose birthday falls on the month of August as well) whenever a national policy that was to be implemented is something the public would support or not. It was a testament to the importance of Plaza Miranda as the venue for public opinion. But we are getting ahead of ourselves here as it is important to know first the story of this particular spot that has become a national landmark of sorts. History tells us that Plaza Miranda was named after Jose Sandino y Miranda, the Spanish-era Treasury secretary from 1853-63. While his “claim to…
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the park at Salcedo Village
First things first, Salcedo Village is not an actual village filled with residences, except perhaps for some high-rise condominium residences scattered throughout the area. It’s known more as a business address, where companies like Shell, Chinabank, RCBC, and PhilamLife to name a few; schools like the Lyceum Law School and Ateneo de Manila Professional Schools; and embassies like the Saudi and German embassies are located. In the midst of the busy character of this area, it’s interesting and good to note that at the heart of Salcedo Village a wide green space known as the Salcedo Park, or, officially, the Jaime C. Velasquez Park, one of those who helped develop…
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the quiet sentinels of Makati
The stretch of Makati Avenue in the busy commercial business district of Makati is an interesting sight by itself, not much because of the tall buildings along this road, but of the 3 monuments that gives this part of the city a distinct flavor, not to mention a reminder of what Philippine heroism is all about. They also share a common history: all 3 were erected in 1972, a project of the Ayala Corporation in, for which sculptor Jose Mendoza was hired to do the work.