Rock n Roll n History

Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad as a traitor for trying to fight for freedom against oppression of the Filippino people - much like Manitoba's Louis Riel. Bagumbayan or 'new city" was the site of his death and where today stands a huge memorial and park. Rizal apparently knew a ton of languages, was highly educated, and wrote several books including the novels "Noli me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo". Upon learning of Rizal's story from my personal tour guide and rock guitarist incroyable, Pet, and further learning about the tumultuous history of the Philippines at the Ayala Museum, I bought both novels in English Translation.

Back to Wednesday - Pet and I walked the length of Manila Bay and all through Rizal park, then had to wait out a massive downpour. A big dark cloud had been building inland the whole time we were walking up the bay from the Cultural Centre and I kept noting, "It's going to pour. Storm's rolling in." Pet replied, "Naw, it won't." It's one of those things here - it always looks like it but you never know what will happen. This one dumped buckets of heavy rain for about 30 minutes during which time we waited it out with about 50 other people crammed into a small stand of snack shops in the park.

After we were able to step through puddles to see little tree arrangements with strange little stone sculptures. The park was beautiful. At one end was an example of a very old Manila house from before the War. Can't remember exactly but must have been from Spanish times. Little squares were made of seashell which was a plentiful building material at the time but is now of course rare. We ended up in what once was the Red Light district of Manila but which was shut down...not sure when but it became a ghost town after that. Now it's all restaurants. We ate at a decent Chinese restaurant, small and grimy outside, bright and spacious and sparkling clean inside. The service is amazing most places. The people are very attentive and customer-oriented in delivering service - a lost art in North America.

Now, headed back to the same area to explore the historical Fort Santiago.