My Enchantment to the Old Army and Navy Club

I went back to the old Army and Navy Club in Manila today. I saw a group of men converging inside the gate. I asked a security guard if I could go in and see the interior of the once beautiful building. But he said that it was not open to the public and that there would be a press conference that is why the gate was open. Still stubborn, I went on the other side of the building where there was a small puddle before the gate and I asked my friend if she could drive me inside the open gate. As soon as we got in, a group of vagabonds were in sight and a man moved away once we got in. My friend was afraid for my safety but I told her that it was alright. I went out of the car and approached the man and he was friendly. I asked him if there was an entrance at the side of the building he said I have to go in front or visit the Army and Navy Club pool and I told him that I was just interested seeing the building. I thanked him and then we drove to the old Elks Building which is now the Museo Pambata.

This day was our day out to take my niece and nephew to the museum and take a side trip to see my favorite old buildings. My friend and I took the kids inside the museum and let them play until 12 noon. The museum closes from 12 noon to 1 p.m. for lunch; so, I told the children that we will go out for lunch and come back again at 1 p.m.

After lunch at our favorite Matura Bayashi, a Japanese restaurant in Mabini; I persuaded my friend to drive back to the old Army and Navy Club and I was really determined to get answers. I saw three men in blue uniforms possibly the caretakers of the building and asked one of them if I could see the architecture inside the building and he said I have to go to the Manila City Hall to get a permit to see the building. The caretaker also told me that the building was closed since 2007. With a deep sigh, we drove back to the Museo Pambata.

Manila

     I am listening to J.S. Bach's Prelude and Fugue No. 10 in E minor BWV 855 while writing this article. The music is so fitting with the images I search online. I go back in time viewing the Elks Club and the Army and Navy Club both located along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. These were magnificent structures built in the early 20th century during the American Colonial Era.

     I have lived in New York for almost a decade and came back to the Philippines at the latter part of 1995. I loved the museums in New York City particularly The Metropolitan Museum, The Guggenheim Museum and the Frick Collection located on the Upper East Side. My love for the arts never ceased when I came back to Manila. I would visit museums like the old National Museum, Fort Santiago, the Metropolitan Museum to name a few.  

     Last week, I visited the former Elks Club building which is now the Museo Pambata with my girlfriend and niece. I must say that they did a good job restoring the place. I wanted to go to the Army and Navy Club which is now called Museo ng Maynila but it was closed that day. While searching for photographs online, I was in awe by the architecture of both buildings with its high ceilings, the black and white tiles of the Army and Navy Club which I rarely see nowadays.

Manila City Hall

     I am sorry to say that most of us here do not value our heritage and history. I am sad when I see historical sites that were allowed to deteriorate like Intramuros, the Manila Metropolitan Theater; some were torn down like the Mehan Garden.   

        I love my country's history and heritage. Whenever I have time, I would visit   historical sites again and again just to get a feel of the past. I love Manila because I could find everything there. It is soulful and rich in culture. It seems that every turn leads to that one place- my beloved Intramuros.  

Intramuros

Moving On

       It's been quite some time since my last post. Life could be such a breeze. I went through different upheavals these past two years. I don't know if I want to tackle that now. Perhaps I should. We lost two people in our extended family. An aunt and an uncle. We were close because they were like our second set of parents. In between these time period. They came home to for a brief visit from New York and little did they know that their visit would be permanent; they spent the last two years of their lives here. My aunt was recovering from her lung operation. She had an early stage of lung cancer but she never smoked. She said it was second hand smoke from her office mates back then.
 
      On a Sunday afternoon, my aunt and uncle went to a lunch gathering where they served cholesterol laden food: smoked pork, fried garlic prawns, etc. The following morning, my aunt had a stroke. In the next two weeks, my uncle was having problems with his back and he was in pain. He was diagnosed having fourth stage bone and prostrate cancer. For the last two years of their lives, they were bedridden. As a family, together with my parents and siblings we tried to take care of them the best way we could.

    On July 22, 2010, my uncle passed away; this time the cancer has spread to his colon. A week after, on July 29, 2010, we lost our aunt from pneumonia. It was very painful, losing both of them. I still miss them now. I hope that in that span of time they felt that they were loved.

Korean Food

       There is something about Korean food that makes my palate melt. When I go to a Korean restaurant, they would give me and my friend different kinds of kimchi as an appetizer and we would certainly ask them more for a refill. By the time our main main dish would be served, we are almost full but somehow the spicy ingredients from their food makes our appetite bigger.

        There is one particular restaurant in Korea town that was called Koreano Restaurant; my friends and I always go there for good food but since the location is far from the main street, we found out one day that the restaurant was already closed. Nowadays, we are trying different Korean restaurants but nothing pales in comparison with the Koreano Restaurant. We surely miss it.

Contact Sports

As a kid, I wanted to learn Karate. I don't know why, I just liked it. I used to watched martial arts film or something that looked like it. Jacky Chan was my favorite. I didn't know that he was a stunt man. I thought he was really a Kung fu or Karate expert it seemed that he was. Then again, I was just a kid and I didn't know how to distinguish what is Karate from Kung-fu or just plain stunts.

Now that I'm older and somehow I was able to save some money to learn boxing and Muay Thai. At first, I didn't like boxing because the training was too tiring and I thought at first that it was boring; but I like the discipline that comes along with it and after a month of training, I also learned Muay Thai. I figured I should learn first how to box before going to Muay Thai and it paved the way. I could do some hard punches and now I'm polishing my power kicks so to speak.

Learning this kind of sport amazing. I get up each day looking forward to do my training. It feels good doing weight training, running and the like. I have this confidence that I couldn't explain.

Through my urging, I managed to convince my brother, my three nephews and my niece to learn Muay Thai; so, it became a family thing. I couldn't be more happier.

My Pet Cats

I have two gorgeous persian cats whose name is Minky and Logan. Minky is independent and a snub; she has this temper that goes on and off within five minutes. On the otherhand, Logan is a sweet and loving; he follows me everywhere I go.


Having them in my life is like having two kids. I have to monitor them constantly, feed them, give them a bath and play with them.


They give me joy especially when they make me feel that I am loved.

All of Me

For the past two days, a song keeps haunting me while driving. I think the title of the song is "All of Me" though I am not sure. The person who was singing sounded like John Legend and I have yet to confirm.


I love the melody and lyrics of this song. It sounded sad but hopeful...