PRIDE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR CITY
We all dream of living well. And since most of us today live in urbanized areas the condition of our cities play a major role in our wellbeing. It is sad that the urban spaces where we move and live in have become blighted and have slipped into decay. And it is not surprising that our desire to live a good life involves an inner longing to see our urban environment changed for the better. The challenge, however, is where to begin.
I was born in Tondo, Manila in the 1970s. The first home I came to know was an old structure in Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Old wooden panels combined with iron elements offered glimpses of the city’s colonial past while the streets where I grew up in projected a lasting image of urban life in the Philippines. It was there, in an old district of Metro Manila, where I first experienced life as a Manileño.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and the center of the nation’s economy. This highly urbanized city is home to almost 2 million residents making it the most densely populated city proper in the world in 2019. Its great history dates back to 1258 when rajahs ruled the region around Manila Bay and along the Pasig River. Multiple transitions and transformations have gone through the Spanish and American periods, its proud past seen in the architecture and monuments within its borders. The world famous sunsets over the waters have witnessed the rise and fall of Manila through many seasons, a testament that our heritage resides in both our built and natural environments.
Manila had a different kind of magic in my younger years that cast a lasting and endearing spell on a wide eyed boy.
I must admit though that my visits to other places diminished my pride in the city of my roots despite the rich history and heritage hidden in plain sight. Manila has turned into an eyesore through the years and for a while I have seen all that is wrong and nothing of what is right as I tend to compare it with other cities I have been to. It was as if I had turned blind to the beauty of Manila, and desensitized that I was unable to feel its spirit. I cared less and less that the city I first called home slipped into rot and decay.
Recently however a new love for Manila is being rekindled in me as plans for the revitalization of the capital are being set into motion. And cycling around the city as a means of exercise and research during the pandemic allowed me to rediscover the capital through a different lens through which I could see its inner beauty. Despite all the negative reviews Manila gets there is, after all, positive ‘views’ if only we care to look closely enough. Slowly what was once hidden is now being revealed, and I have begun to take pride in being Manileño once more.
I long for the transformation of Manila and our cities. But before genuine change happens I first have to take pride in the metropolis that I call home.
Just like many progressive cities in Asia and around the world I desire a city that is designed for people with lush parks and open spaces that sends a message that I am valued by our elected leaders. I want clean air to breathe, affordable prices of goods and services surrounded by friendly neighborhoods and communities. The city I dream of is one that is resilient against natural disasters and one that provides safety and security not just for myself but for my family and loved ones. These are visions of urban life as it should be, a life that I can take pride in.
In thirty years most of the world’s population will be living in cities and I would want to live in one that will make me a better person in mind, body and spirit. Today’s urban landscapes are made up of a mix of spaces that are uninspiring and in some cases downright degrading and dehumanizing. But if we can dig deep and feel the spirit that flows in our cities a sense of pride will be awakened. It is then that we can begin to transform dull spaces into places that resonate in our being. These are places that will inspire and change us from within, where we can interact with our environment and our community in a loving and caring way, places that can shelter and nurture us physically and spiritually. These are places that we, citizens, deserve.
I have only just begun my journey towards rediscovery for there is a lot more to learn from the cities I live and move in. As my eyes are opened to the beauty of the nation’s capital I can take pride in being not just a Manileño but a Filipino. This journey will continue to strengthen my identity and resolve to prepare our cities and communities for a better future.
AJ Moldez