the Urban Roamer’s updated ePassport guide

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In case you have not heard, some significant developments came up since my last post “the Urban Roamer’s ePassport guide.”

First significant development is the good news that the ePassport is now available even for first-time passport applicants. The catch is though if you’re looking to get just the more affordable machine-readable passport, (MRP)  sorry to say that the DFA has ceased issuing MRP’s since early this year. That leaves you with no choice but to shell more money to spend the more expensive, yet most technologically advanced ePassport.

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reminiscing the Insular Ice Plant

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At this time when we in the metropolis are suffering from the effects of El Niño and temperatures reaching as to as high as almost 37 degrees Celsius, this urban roamer cannot help but look back at a time when there was such a thing as a literally cool spot in Manila where perhaps we can take refuge from all the heat. I’m referring to none other than the Insular Ice Plant.

the Insular Ice Plant (courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila)

Back in the days when refrigerators either were non-existent or not widely used yet, the Insular Ice Plant was one of the first buildings built by the Americans to keep the steak and beer fresh and cold. Designed by Edgar Bourne, it was a well-built building and it had a towering smokestack that was a landmark of sorts of Manila for many years,  just near the  southern end of the Puente de Colgante, then eventually the Quezon Bridge, right across the Post Office Building, Jones Bridge, and the Metropolitan Theater.

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the heritage of Santa Ana (part II)

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As was mentioned before, Santa Ana’s overlooked heritage flavor is a tourism goldmine of sorts waiting to be utilized fully, thanks to a number of Spanish and American-era architecture that still defines the area. If the houses along Plaza Hugo are not enough for examples, you can also find some old, grand, and, sadly, some dilapidated houses right across the plaza, along the vicinity of Old Panaderos St. If you’re hungry, you won’t find any bakeries here, unfortunately. However this area was once before the place where bakers live and/or ply their business during the Spanish times. I’m not sure if the old houses still standing in the area once belonged to some baker there. With the pictures below, one can imagine how much potential these houses have as crowd-drawers of sorts, given the proper maintenance and attention.

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wishing for a comprehensive jeepney transit map for Metro Manila

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where we deviate from the usual topics here in this blog today to raise this interesting idea I’ve stumbled upon recently.

Every one of us knows how much commuting and the struggles (in the literal sense) behind it has been very much a part of the city and the people who have lived and/or visited it.

Here in the Philippines, the commuting experience would not be complete without having experienced the excitement/discomfort of riding the fabled passenger jeepney.

Having evolved from what was supposed to have been a temporary solution to Manila’s post-WWII transport woes, (since many of the old tranvia lines were destroyed by then) the jeepney has now been dubbed as the country’s “king of the road” as jeepneys of all kinds and sizes have plied the city’s already choked up thoroughfares.

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