Distinguished and Ever Loyal

I'm Kjerrimyr Andrés, a happy 17 year-old Filipino political science student from Ateneo de Manila University, Metro Manila, Philippines. I blog about Manila and other Philippine cities, cultural heritage, urbanism, and everything else in between. I consider Manila as my playground and I stand for heritage conservation, responsible and sustainable urban planning, government reform, and better quality of life for my fellow Filipinos. Got featured on the Guardian thrice 1 2 3

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I am extremely saddened that out of having no building of its own, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has to move outside its Faura citadel and into Bonifacio Global City. If it were to happen, the highest court of the land shall be, symbolically, in the midst and shadows of an economic domain, a reversal of Burnham’s plan, a plan in which the civic government reigns supreme in city design. Having the Supreme Court in Ermita situates it in a more public and inclusive place here in Metro Manila, compared to a closely guarded Batasan Complex up north or to an isolated GSIS building being used by the Senate of the Philippines. Not to mention, the neoclassical design of the current Supreme Court greatly gives it a lofty and more dignified status.

Moving it out of Manila is a further attack on Burnham’s memory and adds up to the inefficiency of the offices of three branches of the government. As we have already an extremely fragmented urban reality in Metropolitan Manila because of lots of isolated subdivisions and highways that have been tearing up the urban fabric, with the Executive in San Miguel, Judiciary in Ermita, Senate in Pasay, and House of Representatives in Quezon City, the symbolic implications will be complicated further once the Judiciary moves to Taguig. The services that may concern more than one branch of government will be hindered by traffic, as well as a change of government -- from Malacañang which is near downtown Manila to an extremely private Batasan Complex. This will also undermine the importance of the capital vis-à-vis the National Capital Region. All of these, the result of bad urban planning and lack of vision from the government to imagine and enact a more inclusive and tightly-knit metropolis.

(from Google maps)

All of these have been my secondary thoughts when I first went to the Supreme Court last July 21 for the Torre de Manila hearings.

Check out other pictures of the Supreme Court here.

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Image source: Papal Visit

Tomorrow we celebrate the 444th founding anniversary of our beloved city! As we enter into a new year, we reflect greater on our role in our cities, on how we may have observed how developments can trample our culture, and how inequality is still sprawling. 

I chose an old picture of Manila (this is Plaza Sto. Tomas in Intramuros sometime before 1942) simply because there is a need to bring glory back. There was an abundance of elegant architecture and masterful urban planning. The city never ran out of titles: Paris of Asia, Pearl of the Orient, Venice of the East, the Distinguished and Ever Loyal, etc. Slowly, our heritage is being eaten away by corporate greed and lack of cultural appreciation. In the past, the tallest buildings were those of the church and the government. It had a symbolic meaning: the things that we worshiped were the products of culture and civic life. Today, what are the things being worshiped?

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Image sources: GMA News 1 2

Three days before the 154th birthday of José Rizal, the heritage sector rejoiced as the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a TRO against Torre de Manila aka Terror de Manila aka National Photobomber. It was a celebration, but this is just the first step in reclaiming our hallowed grounds. 

Greater political will is needed to make sure that Filipinos truly care about their heritage as if it is their mother. If Turkish courts can issue a demolition order on three luxury condominiums that are blocking a historic mosque, then the Philippines should do the same.

Then there is the new issue of DMCI, the developer, saying that 2,000 workers will lose their jobs because of this. But for a company that is as big as DMCI, along with the current construction boom, it seems that the company is positing exaggerated alarms, a way to make sure that people are distracted from the greater issue. They could easily employ these workers in their long queue of condominiums. And I think it also boils down on how we have succumbed to the needs of greedy real-estate nowadays that we have forgotten to invest in jobs that are truly ours and can benefit more inclusively, providing more stable futures. An answer to this is livelihood from heritage and culture, something that the country is to be proud of, yet overly underestimated. So underestimated, that we tend to forget it and rely on real-estate, which cannot simply guarantee stable jobs. If DMCI is so eager to defend construction workers, who are probably contractual, then it should also assume responsibility towards their crimes in mining and human rights violations on indigenous peoples.

We should also clamor for the removal of Torre de Manila, as it also photobombs important historical architectural sites in the area apart from the Rizal Monument, such as Adamson University, Manila Cathedral,National Museum, and Manila City Hall. As Torre de Manila now totally overpowers the city hall in both policy and the view of Manila, this begs an important question: Is civic life now less important that the capitalist agenda? If you think that this is probably not real and this is just a symbolic bull, then it may be a sign of disregarding our heritage, as our culture is unequivocally defined by symbols. Our tallest buildings tell us the thing we worship. In the past, especially if we were to also go back to the Burnham plans for the Philippine cities, the tallest and most prominent structures are government buildings and the churches, symbolizing civic and cultural importance. Now, real-estate is destroying our notion of civic and cultural promptness, just how Londoners are starting to get worried about their city because of the numerous “graceless shafts.”

The Rizal Monument is not the only battlefield. Condominiums are now becoming eyesores on other historical sites in the metropolis, such as University of Santo Tomas, Santa Ana Heritage District, Boy Scouts Memorial, Quezon City Circle, Bonifacio Monument, and Intramuros. I also believe that this issue will also become relevant in provincial cities as they are now experiencing tremendous growth and urban development.

The battle is far from over. Yet more and more people have realized the importance of this issue in our cities. As hearings will start at the end of this month, let us be vigilant, so as to bring justice to our heroes, and that we may worship civic and cultural life greater.

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Iloilo just got featured by the Guardian as one of the most cycle-friendly places in the world. In an article last June 1, the city was placed alongside very well-known cycling cities such as Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Santiago through a quote from Diana Mitlin via twitter: 

ONLY city in 15 yrs of travelling where cars stopped for me on early am runs AS OFTEN as I stopped for them 

Realistically, the bicycle infrastructure in Iloilo still pales in comparison with other great cities, but the city is now at the forefront of being a pioneer bicycle-friendly major city here in the Philippines, and there are now many pedestrian and bicycle-centered projects being planned within the city, plans that many Filipinos, especially here in Metro Manila, wish to also have.

But before the infrastructure, the culture is very highly amicable. Even with limited infrastructure compared to other bike-friendly cities, cars still respect cyclists, and that culture should be, ideally, more prevalent among bigger cities. According to an article by GMA, from 2005 to 2013, bicycle-related deaths have reached 1,127, thrice the number of deaths involving four-wheeled vehicles.  In the same period, Quezon City has 393 bicycle-related accidents, Manila had 132, Caloocan had 80, Makati had 69, and Parañaque had 67. The article came out after a cyclist died because his head was sandwiched between a jeepney and a tree. Truly traumatizing for cyclists here in Metro Manila.

In terms of infrastructure, probably the greatest project Iloilo has come up is the Iloilo River esplanade, a fully pedestrianized walkway along the river banks of Iloilo River. Part of the governments plan to rehabilitate their river. The construction of the esplanade also included relocation of informal settlers and the construction of a fully-pedestrianized bridge.  About 1.23 kilometers, the first phase will be expanded to the other side of the river and along Muelle Loney. This is envisioned to cover all of Iloilo river. The esplanade has been praised locally and globally for providing exclusive space for pedestrians and bikers, encouraging activities such as jogging and zumba. Additionally, land value in Iloilo might have risen up 400-500%.

Iloilo River Esplanade. Screengrab from It’s More Fun in the Philippines Iloilo campaign

Another bike-friendly project is the pedestrianization of Calle Real, Iloilo’s historic wall street district.The street is closed off to cars during Sundays and allows many activities that benefit pedestrian movement and other healthy initiatives. The cyclists who also got there would also see the fully-restored historical buildings from the American Era. There are plans of making pedestrianization here permanent.

Calle Real, one of the most beautiful downtowns in the country.

The city is also developing wide bike+pedestrian lanes along both sides of Benigno Aquino Avenue where major shopping centers like SM and Plazuela de Iloilo are located. Developments like also being made for the rising Iloilo Central Business district.

image source: Mayor Jed Mabilog. He himself is a biker. Wait ‘til the trees are fully grown.

But what if your metropolis has 15 million people? What do we do with a problem like Metro Manila? I could only give one answer: political will. If political will in Iloilo is making all of these happen, why not in other cities in the Philippines? It would be really hard to do this in Metro Manila since many more factors are there to consider. The most important one is to develop more transit lines to encourage public transportation to decongest roads and develop pedestrian and biking programs. But this is the challenge to its politicians and citizens. For the politicians, what would they do in the face of this terrible dilemma? For the citizens, how could they promote biking and change the culture to have greater respect with those with less wheels? Political will and change of culture really works, especially if done fast, efficient, and sustainable. Just look at Buenos Aires:

image source: The Guardian

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image source: Rappler

Data like these are really important. They tell what others can’t easily see. Information like these will make us realize that the MRT and the whole transportation system here in the Philippines is truly problematic. It demands reflection, discourse, engagement, and thorough action concerning all stakeholders. Yet there is also a need to act upon this very quickly. Now, I’m not exactly the expert on timeframes regarding ordering trains, but it demands political will–something that many cities in the Philippines, especially the ones in Metro Manila, lack. Our train lines and traffic problems cut across city borders, as well as our dilemmas regarding floods, sewage, and recreation. These 17 entities coexist, yet their problems are dealt separately, with borders dictating where the service ends. What if City A doesn’t have the money to make a project, let’s say, a massive sewage system, in par with City B? Then, City A can be flooded more heavily simply because the services stop at the borders. Additionally, factors, including the political dynasties that cling onto their cities, and confusing directives from additional government agencies such as MMDA, DOTC, LTFRB, and many more, contribute to the further deterioration of the government in the National Capital Region. This makes us hate our cities. We really don’t hate them for being Manila, Cebu, or Baguio–we hate them because they’re heavily problematic and we do not really feel strong political will among them.

The possible solution is to unite the cities in the Metro, with districts acting as cultural ones, promoting a plethora of local flavors in this cosmopolitan metropolis. The same could be done for other metropolitan areas within the country–especially that many provincial cities are now experiencing tremendous growth. And speaking of provincial cities, we have to be constantly wary of their development. We really do not want the chaos of Metro Manila be imitated somewhere else. Though sadly, many urbanists are now extremely worried about Cebu City.

In the end, these problematic cities demand one thing first: reflection. No matter what the problem, MRT or anything, it is imperative to experience and think about the city. This is the only way we can empathize with the city dweller. Lucky are those who are there everyday: they have the experiences that can deliver the smartest and most sensitive solutions. Data will not be enough for planners and politicians. Data is just a tool for them to know. However, reflection and experience will be their weapon against these social injustices that we should not be experiencing in the first place.

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image source: John Chua

News are spreading about the planned improvement of Manila Zoo to be a world-class facility to improve on such key areas like pollution and infrastructure. Yet there are also news of apart from renovating it as a zoo per se, there will also be a proposed mall that could take up half the space of the current Manila Zoo.

It’s very alarming that for the nth time, somewhere in the NCR, an open space in a city devoid of much of its lungs is going to be replaced by a mall that will take away our public spaces. As malls act as a whole new entity within the city, less spaces are now becoming public, and the number of malls in our cities suggests that the most important element is neither culture nor civic importance, but corporate intentions, especially in a city that lacks political will and vision. Why not expand Harrison Plaza instead?

Hopefully we can reverse these kinds of actions so that we can reclaim the public and green spaces we call ours.

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I have been thoroughly disappointed with the administration of the current mayor of the City of Manila.

Manila, will you ever learn?

image source via Carlos Celdran

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Maynila Urban Design Festival 2015 (Day 2)

Maynila Urban Design Festival, is, I think, the first of its own in Metro Manila (I may be wrong). From May 9 to 17, various events were organized, headed and attended by urban planning enthusiasts and those who love the city. Spearheaded by Viva Manila and Curiosity Design Research, I was only able to attend the second day and also for a limited time; however, it was one of the most fruitful and wholesome events that I have ever been.

The event was held along the barracks of the Maestranza, a protective wall structure of the Intramuros. Facing the Pasig River, it has a nice plaza for events like these, and the exhibits and talks were held along the barracks rooms along the wall. Although I have been to most of Intramuros, it was my first time there, and I was amazed by the restoration. Hooray for adaptive use! Hopefully they could make the area permanently open by having shops and community centers.

There were many exhibits, including Maynilad, Palafox Associates, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, Bambikes, and even Filipino martial arts. Within the plethora of booths from organizations that spark further love and curiosity for the city, as well as collaborative brainstorming from the people, in no particular order, here are my three favorites:

Retro Manila: A Place-making Project 

Mapping has been a favorite tool for city analysts to determine short-term and long-term actions, numerous factors, and possible effects. Most deal with demographics: age, gender, income bracket, kind of city they are living in. This project by Curiosity Design Research, however, promises a different approach to city planning. By mapping people’s emotions in a map, it is possible to determine a more personal relationship of Metro Manila to its citizens, and vice-versa. The premise is that they will put a marker on the place that is the setting for their most memorable memory in Metro Manila. And there have been many interesting observations. Many have their memorable moments within tourist sites like Intramuros. Children tend to point out childhood memories, while many adults have been thinking about their workplaces. This is coupled by a series of questions that further reveals the reasons why based on events, demographic, and more. 

By taking a sociological approach, researchers and planners can use this data to see underlying trends. If many have their great memories along tourist spots and schools, wouldn't that spark and effort to reinvigorate our public spaces and educational institutions to make moments more memorable? As many of these memories are, I think, positive events, this grassroots participation can become the basis on what we should actually prioritize in designing our cities. Most importantly, it humanizes people, not by viewing them by data, but by personal memories.

(Special thanks for Ma’am Pamela Cajilig of Curiosity, my Development teacher last year, for inviting me to the festival whoo!!)

Urban Sketchers Philippines

Urban sketching promises sketchers to be more observable on their surroundings, especially within the hustle and bustle of cities, as compared to taking photography. There is also a community dedicated to this in which members are are developed for art and for the appreciation of the city. 

Urban Sketching Philippines not only exhibited beautiful and inspiring sketches by their members, but also had a workshop for this. I participated in the workshop and I learned so much on the appreciation of the city, techniques, and materials. One of the most important things to remember is that sketching is for all, and the materials that can be used to create beautiful sketches can be your everyday pen and pencil. Yes, it can take time to sketch a building or a lamp post, as compared to taking a picture, but it can heavily improve one’s sense of detail and further see what cannot be seen just by simple walking around your city. Sketching promises memories and great learning experiences.

As every sketch has a meaning, what does it say about your city? Sketches of beautiful buildings obstructed by unwanted elements such as electric wires can be taken into account by those who can see the sketch, or the sketcher himself/herself.

As a budding sketcher I’ll be posting my sketches, too, on this blog, and I hope to get insights, on the sketches themselves and on appreciating, critiquing, and exploring the city.

National Bicycle Organization

The of the National Bicycle Organization booth were being curated by Mr. and Mrs. Rosar and Karen Crisostomo, and their valuable insights were among my favorites in this festival. I was able to engage in a healthy dialogue among them on the use of bicycles, on how all of us agreed that bicycles should be the norm for Philippine cities, comparing developed countries such as Denmark and Spain for being so bike-friendly, to the point that even their local government officials bike to work.

One of the most interesting insights came from Ma’am Karen when she cited Administrative Order 254, suggesting a paradigm shift where “those who have less in wheels must have more in road.” Yet she thoughtfully reflected on this, saying that it is not being implemented, and it looks like laws like these have been written as mere suggestions.

Aside from the complementary public transport system and allocation of sidewalks and lanes for bikes, they would really want to change the mindset regarding cycling itself. Becuase Sr. Rosar is a Theology professor of the Ateneo (whoo!!), he said to me that I don’t have to undergo immersion (a required activity for fourth year Theology classes at the Ateneo) to see and experience social inequality, in which I thoroughly agreed. He said that just by experiencing the streets can give you the extreme feel of inequality, that only 1% of the population own a car, yet this causes stress for pedestrians, cyclists, and even the drivers themselves. Only a few drive, yet the road is allocated to them, to those who can afford--to the point of sacrificing our pedestrian lanes, where drivers even “grind” people on the tight pedestrian lanes. Ma’am Karen added that cars deprive us of our social interaction, because you can be alone, alienated, inside a car, and one does not simply roll down the car window to ask directions (it can be creepy or awkward). However, cycling can be a friendly activity where one can simply ask a fellow cyclist for directions, and can even make friends along the way. We also agreed on our views regarding the new bike lanes of the Ateneo, yet also agreed that this is a fresh initiative.

Looking at the couple, they seemed very healthy and happy, giving credit to cycling as the secret for better well-being. They really encouraged me to bike around the Metro, even on the daily commute from Pasig to the Ateneo, and vice versa. They said that if I ride a bike, I become a bayani, a hero to the streets that I help in diminishing carbon emissions, the traffic, as well as many other expenses. I felt their heroism, and I love people who show their intense passions to give change a chance. Hopefully I could give bikes a chance!

It’s really sad that I had limited time during the Maynila Urban Design Festival. I missed the lectures and the chance to have great discussions with more exhibitors. Hopefully they could repeat this event next year because this is really a great opportunity for ordinary people to take a chance on changing the city by presenting different and personal perspectives.

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What's wrong with this picture?

I've seen pictures of the record-breaking Papal Crowd of Pope Francis last January 17, and I always want to comment this: the crowd could have been bigger!

Looking at the picture, the 6-7 million crowd tucked themselves into Luneta Park, Burnham Green, and the adjacent roads of Roxas Boulevard, Bonifacio Drive, Taft Avenue, T. Kalaw, among others. But it is impossible not to notice the large space on the right side of the picture. That is the Intramuros Golf Club, a wide open space for golfers of the upper-class population. The area, together with Plaza Lawton is almost 34 hectares which could fit many more millions of people. 

The exclusive golf club, during that day, excluded many more millions from being part of the Papal Crowd. Everyday, that golf club excludes many more Filipinos from experiencing more parks and open spaces in this cluttered metropolis, as well as seeing and appreciating the walls of Intramuros more up-close on the outside.

Filipinos deserve more parks and ways of relaxation, and for me, the problem becomes really apparent when open spaces are stretched to the limit. Open spaces are highly important for the democratic Filipino. They provide more space for discourse and reflection. Luneta Park, as the national park, serves more than 10 million Metro Manileños. The Golf Course beside it can only serve to those who are part of the exclusive membership. Imagine if the park would be open to the public. Even when you go to the park on ordinary days, Luneta never loses its people, and to some, they might feel crowded. The expansion of Luneta with an additional of more or less 34 hectares can really de-stress the population of Metro Manila.

image source

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HERITAGE ALERT!!!

I passed by Binondo earlier and I wasn't expecting this: it looks like Cobankiat Building is being demolished! There is a huge blue tarp covering the building and there are barriers. There are also notices for demolition. Noise is also heard inside the building and one of the pictures show a man during something to the building.

What a sad fate for Manila! This could be the first heritage crime of our great city this 2015. The scene along Calle Q. Paredes/Rosario is truly heartbreaking.

To all owners of heritage buildings, be responsible for them and think about the value of these unique buildings to the Filipino culture and the next generations to come! With all of us, heritage advocates, let us also be steadfast, especially in the chaotic and disturbing environments in Manila.

This is my first time to witness a demolition of a heritage structure. It was deeply heartbreaking!

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Ancestral houses Sta. Cruz and Tondo

One way of transforming the districts of Manila into lively and orderly districts is to bank on tourism by preserving and transforming surviving ancestral houses and other built heritage through adaptive reuse. Through adaptive reuse, these houses could be made into museums, coffee shops, specialty stores, and eateries. The transformation should first be wide scale -- covering many districts, many areas and tackling on a number of issues including housing, security, and pollution. The local city government might have its eyes on established historical centers like in Binondo, Ermita, and Intramuros, but it would be really helpful for the city to also developed these areas, especially Tondo, which has an unpopular image among Filipinos.

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Vigan: Triumphs and Challenges

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Last December 8, the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, was declared one of the New7Wonders Cities. Despite its beauty, Vigan hasn't always been like this. A decade ago, Vigan was still a struggling city in which its historic core survived the second world war. Its historic houses were deteriorating, and local officials opted to demolish these treasures and build new ones. However, concerned architects like Augusto Villalon tried so hard to preserve this historic city. and later, it became a UNESCO World Heritage City. Mr. Villalon also helped to introduce the sense of community among owners and inhabitants of the heritage structure. The result is now a thriving heritage city thriving on tourism and sustainable local livelihood.

Its inclusion as part of the New7Wonders Cities opens up new challenges for this unique city. This might be the perfect opportunity for the city to achieve its goal of having millions of visitors per year. This opens up infrastructure challenges such as maintaining the houses in the midst of so many visitors, visitors getting used to many more people, easier access and transportation, and stricter conservation rules. 

Finally, the city opens up new opportunities for other towns in the Philippines with heritage centers such as Taal and Sariaya to take potential of heritage houses and buildings for sustainable tourism and livelihood. In relation to this, the biggest problem would always be Manila. With its barely surviving structures, irregular government units, the challenge of community development, and the ever problems of over-development, Manila could learn something or two from Vigan, especially in valuing history for progress.

In any case, I've never been this proud of being a Filipino! It has been a few days since the declaration of the New7Wonders Cities, yet I still can't move on! 

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Everywhere in Metro Manila, there would be always proof of short-term planning and projects. Sometimes, we pass by them every single day that we fail to see how chronic lack of planning is to Manila and by extension, to other urban projects in the Philippines. For example, this towering light post at the middle of Marcos Highway will be a huge obstruction if ever the extension for LRT Line 2 would be built in a few months or somewhere in the near future, especially that the extension would be above-ground.

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Why I'm not that positive about the Ateneo's new bike lanes

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Many weeks ago, Ateneans were quite surprised because of people painting yellow tracks along the roads. A few days later, it became clear: with the imprinting of yellow bike icons on the streets of the Ateneo, a meter-wide bike lane is being implemented throughout the campus. The implementation was exposed as positive news, but I was already skeptical of it the moment I knew that they were starting to implement bike lanes -- and gladly, many Ateneans and non-Ateneans also criticized the bike lanes. 

First off, the bike lanes are so narrow (how about the bikers who are couples?), just like how the entire stretch of meter sidewalk along EDSA Camp Aguinaldo also became the bike lanes.

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Especially during peak hours, there would be cars disrespecting the bike lanes. This seriously discourages biking in these bike lanes. Banning them from bike lanes would be stupid, because it would be really impossible for cars to avoid hitting on the bike lanes on sharp curves.

Unlike in UP-Diliman where half of the oval is used for runners and bikers (the difference between the lanes is clearly defined), this small stretch of asphalt is barely noticeable; there are already blurred demarcation lines like this one

I also don't think that the number of bicycle riders in the Ateneo would rise significantly. There are students like me who would love to practice this alternative way of commuting, but the safety outside the campus can be worrying. Also, sidewalks in public roads are chaotic. Typically, there are many physical obstacles and there would be cracks, open manholes, and unusual bumps. People would set up businesses along sidewalks and friends having small parties on the side of the walk and other instances are not rare. This sidewalk along Marikina/Pasig is grossly mismanaged and is not lighted, and is littered by the pedestrians. Ultimately, no one really notices the bike lane.

How would my parents let me ride a bike from Pasig to the Ateneo, especially at night? This is just the proof of a fragmented Philippine society in which the private and public are not harmonized; there is stark contrast between general services offered by the government (like public transportation and safety) and the private sector developers. This creates unconscious rifts in the society.

On the other hand, there was a generally renewed interest for alternative, healthy, and eco-friendly means of transportation among the general campus populace.

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Now Happening: 

Alternative Urbanities: New Perspectives on Quezon City and an Urbanizing Asia Conference organized by  the Department of History School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University LH 111, Ricardo and Dr Rosita Leong Hall Auditorium Ateneo de Manila University Quezon City

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AlloyMTD gearing up for Leyte government center project

PALO, LEYTE -- AlloyMTD Group of Malaysia, through its local unit MTD Philippines, Inc., will build a P4 billion climate-resilient regional government and business center in this typhoon-ravaged town next year.

The problem with new government centers is anchored on many reasons. First, the meanings attached to government centers are lost becuase of the modern architecture due to the fact that there are already familiar ideologies attached to old architecture in civic buildings, especially with neoclassical. Second, there are many new cities that simply focuses on roads and not on pedestrians. Third, new government centers might be quite far from the population; this gives the impression of a divorced government to the people, sometimes placed in sparsely populated areas. Four, I think that it might be that the capital far from the center of people could be an excuse for the government to fix what is already there.

The greatest example of this is Brasilia where even Brazilians tend to hate their capital especially that the architecture in their capital is antithetical to the festive nature of Brazilians. Also, the buildings had no history. Buildings with history are always attached with the established ideas which the state is built upon, which is different from modern architecture where instead of the idea, the person is the one that is praised.

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The proposed mass-transit network for Mega Manila by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for 2030

I hope this really materializes, and be finished early without any structural or financial setbacks. They should plan for underground systems, instead of above ground and elevated tracks, such that the disaster that is Rizal Avenue would not happen again. Rizal Avenue and downtown Manila lost its potential because the above ground LRT-1 made the area dark, which attracted crimes and dangerous businesses. They could also plan for BRTs which is a cheaper alternative, a solution to the disturbing attitude of bus drivers.

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