HUB: Make Lab - Glimpse of Old Manila in Escolta

Hello everyone!

I wanted to feature something in WEEKEND EXPERIENCES on a Sunday because, you know, weekend. Turned out I'm late again! So, Wednesday Walk it is!

We visited Escolta as our first destination when we went to Manila last August. The plan was to have a food crawl in Binondo (Chinatown), but we had to pass by Escolta Street before going right to the New Binondo Chinatown Arch. We had to walk from Carriedo LRT Station to Chinatown because my friends to us that it was the easiest route from Makati (where we stayed).

The train ride was an experience in itself because it was my first time. It was my second time in Manila, but we were not able to commute during my first time because we were having a field trip. Our nearest station was Guadalupe MRT Station, so we had to transfer from MRT to LRT to reach Carriedo Station. I prepared myself for the possible huge crowd of commuters, but it was not rush hour, so there was no problem except at one LRT station. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the ride and everything was a smooth journey for me except for the part where we have to buy our tickets. The queues can get long and it can get chaotic at times, so I made my friends buy the ticket for me. 😁

In my previous post, I talked about energy management and how this Manila trip made me realize how different I was six years ago in terms of energy level during travels. It was at the skywalk in Guadalupe Station where I felt I'm growing old. 😅 I found myself catching my breath after a few steps in a series of stairs to reach the station. Since I anticipated that there would be a lot of walking on this trip, I started to question if I still have the energy because we were just starting with our Manila adventure and I already felt like going home.

Good thing I was not the only one feeling that tiredness and the dread to continue. My friends felt the same way, but we have to continue, or else, our itinerary would be drastically changed. We just laughed it off and continued with the adventure. We reached Carriedo Station and the whole day of walking began.

When my friends told me that we had to walk the whole stretch of Escolta Street, I suddenly remembered it was the street that's always been mentioned by veteran actors and actresses of Philippine cinema, especially during interviews on how they started in show business. They would say they walked the whole stretch of Escolta just to look for work in the entertainment industry.

Escolta is rich in history. It's the oldest street in Manila. It was a trade hub during the 1800s at the height of the Manila-Acapulco trade and the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. During the colonial era, it was also the center of entertainment for residents and travelers alike. With a variety of establishments, it became a precursor of modern malls, as it became a one-stop shop for the varying needs of the people of Manila at that time. Today, Escolta has been given a new life where people can enjoy Old Manila and become part of its history, but with a modern touch.

_{Sources: Eagle News, The Market Monitor, Primer, and Wikipedia}

From Carriedo Station, we walked to First United Building, an Art Deco building that was completed in 1928. The building itself is historic as it was the tallest building in Manila when it was completed. It was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro, the son of the famous painter Juan Luna. For more information, you can look at their Facebook Page.

From HUB: Make Lab's Facebook Page:

HUB Make Lab is a pioneering creative hub that is artist and maker-led which experiments in art, cultural programming, community activation, and creative sustainability.

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