Sulyap sa Quiapo at Casa Consulado

Last August, the 125th anniversary of all-steel church, San Sebastian Basilica was celebrated through its weeklong festival, the Q-festival. Casa Consulado Museum and Library participates by hosting, in partnership with Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp, Inc., a lecture series entitled, “Sulyap sa Quiapo” (A Glance of Quiapo). This was also an opportunity to invite long time and fellow community advocates that has helped shaped Filipino culture and Quiapo community for the better, and to share again their stories and messages about their passion.

“Simula ng Maharlika Life” (The Beginning of Maharlika Life) by Mr. Ian Lucero

Young and creative local artist Mr. Ian Lucero, lead of Maharlika Life, was invited to share his passion for Filipino culture and the pre-hispanic colonial language, “Baybayin”. In the current trend of renewed interest in English calligraphy, his approach of presenting Baybayin with his creativity and graphic skills is as interesting even for the “cool” seeking youth or plain adventurous minds. Behind his passion is a movement to ignite interests for Filipino culture and pride starting from his social circle and eventually branching out to other communities. Inspired by Lucero’s previous experiences with Japanese calligraphy, the newly established group, Maharlika Life can be expected in public through their exhibits and creative enterprise.

KKK - Kabataan para sa Kalayaan at Kasarinlan 2016

On the 118th celebration of Independence Day, Mr. Paul Ituralde, the owner of Casa Consulado, and KKB not just simply celebrated this day as the house opened for the children of Quiapo, last June 12, 2016. Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista at iba pa or simply called as KKB helped for this project, from cleaning the Casa, setting up the designs and audios, from canvassing up to buying the materials needed for the event, and preparing food for the guests. The organization spent almost a month to make this KKK or Kabataan para sa Kalayaan at Kalinangan successful.

News Feed : National Museum is now admission free PERMANENTLY

National Museum is now permanently admission free all visitors, Filipino or foreign, to its museums nationwide.

10 Reasons Why You Should Never Visit Quiapo

Quiapo Church

If you've think you've visited the nitty gritty parts of old manila, think again....


Lets start from the infamous heart of Manila

1. The worst place to bring your car.
Every street is crowded with vendors and stalls. You’ll end up walking just to get from point A to point B

BUT you’ll be surrounded with interesting knick-knacks,souvenirs,and items to see and buy. From the photographer’s haven which is Hidalgo, the handicrafts of you can find under Quezon Bridge, to gadget paradise of Raon. They surely got it all for you!

The Old Iloilo Provincial Jail And The Future National Museum Iloilo

Iloilo Philippines - Last May 31 prior to the opening of the National Youth Parliament, I and Carl Vincent Quitoriano paid a visit to the ongoing restoration works at the Old Iloilo Provincial Jail, which is soon to be the galleries of the National Museum of the Philippines regional branch in Iloilo.

Future National Museum - Iloilo : Old Jaro Municipal Hall

Following our visit to the National Museum regional branch in Iloilo is a visit to NM's another landmark. The old Jaro Municipal Hall, built in 1934, is designed by renowned architect Juan Arellano, and will be adaptively re-developed as offices of the National Museum regional branch in Iloilo.

Mabining Mandirigma: The must-see play before you cast your ballots this May

Tanghalang Pilipino brings back the acclaimed steampunk musical Mabining Mandirigma with a more powerful ensemble cast and thought-provoking performance, just in time when the country is on the verge of deciding the next set of leaders.

One of the scene in Tanghalang Pilipino' Mabining Mandrigma

Liesl Batucan plays a female Apolinario Mabini who effectively mirrors the struggle of Inang Pilipinas in its quest for sovereignty. With superb acting and enunciation, she stands tall in the proverbial wheelchair of frustration on the Filipinos' stand for freedom. Antonio Fernandez Ferrer, powerful tenor that he is, commands presence with his acting and a voice that easily filled CCP's Little Theater. Alternating with Armand Ferrer is acclaimed performer David Ezra, whose voice and theater credentials fits him well for the Aguinaldo role.

First in HIP : We thought you were gone... Laperal Apartments Restoration

Laperal Apartments facade

Its been 4 years since we last heard of the Laperal Apartments. The Art-deco building bought by University of the East, reduced to rubble leaving only its original facade left to crumble... But as time passes on, this tragedy might not be a threat after all.

RISING FROM THE ASHES: The New Quinta Market

Its been a while since we last heard any updates on the construction of the "New Quinta Market" some say it was all fluff and filler, while others say its something worth the wait.

A Veteran’s Last Stand: Goodbye AFP Museum???

Recent reports that the AFP Museum located inside Camp Crame will be shutting down soon due to 2 years’ worth of unpaid electricity bills reaching up P1.375 million.

To those who are not aware, the AFP museum is a private foundation handled by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Museum and Historical Library Foundation Inc. and does not fall under the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Established in 1996, it was to dedicate and promote the AFP’s culture and history as well as military traditions and items of recognition.

Art in Quiapo? The Padilla Art Gallery

For most people Quiapo and Art are not two words you’ll see together in one sentence, but for us its an amazing sight to see!

Padilla house facade

2016 is a new year so why not start off with a new discovery in one of the most unlikely places.

The Massacre continues: Demolishing the Old PNB building

Old PNB Building in Escolta

Manila, under the administration of Mayor Joseph Estrada continues its massacre of the city’s irreplaceable landmarks. Last year January 7, the PNB building caught on fire due to faulty electrical wiring. The building sustained structural damage and there has been incidents of falling debris the following months. It was declared condemned by the local engineering department and a hazard to the surrounding area.

This year heritage enthusiasts and experts are on the lookout for another wave of heritage massacres, similar to what happened to the Heritage Massacre of September 2014 with the recent El Hogar demolition now imminent, the loss of the Original Savory Chicken restaurant in Escolta, and the city’s plan to retake the Manila Metropolitan theatre from the NCCA.

Mayor Joseph Estrada claims the old PNB building is dangerous to pedestrians and that the age of the building plus last year’s fire had made it impossible for any restoration, to which experts disagree citing that the demolition only opens it to another condo developer to the already ever congested city. Haven’t we had enough of these condos?

APPROACHING PACO STATION: The Revival of Manila’s Grand Central

The facade of Paco PNR Station

A sprawl of heritage news went off as 2016 came to our calendars, from the “Manila’s Grand Dame” the Metropolitan Theater to the tachycardiac news on the stealthy demolition of “Manila’s Jewel” the El Hogar Filpino. These structures have been silent the past year but perhaps it’s time to light up and share the historical spotlight to our next contender, the what was planned to be “Manila’s Grand Central Station” the Paco Train Station.