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Batasang Pambansa - The Philippine Congress Main Hall

It was one Monday rainy afternoon. I was in a mission: To drop by at a Congressman’s office for an official endorsement. I have been to Malacañang, the Senate and the Supreme Court, but I haven’t been to The House of Representatives or locally known as Batasang Pambansa–that’s the legislative center of the Philippine Republic.

Yup. The area I guess most of us know as the center stage of the State of the Nation Addresses (SONA) of Philippine presidents, and as some critics would say, “The Crocodile Pit.” The Batasang Pambansa is where the Philippine assembly of legislative representatives from all over the archipelago, converge and make laws for the republic. Given the bicameral nature of our government, The House of the Representatives is the “lower house” while the Senate (which is in Pasay City) is the “upper house.” However, the said lower house is composed of influential people coming from the local governments.

All right, as we all know that Batasang Pambansa or Batasan for short, is found at Batasan Hills in Quezon City. I guess this is the farthest among the three centers of the government! Its just between Commonwealth Avenue, Fairview and just at the edge of the Marikina Valley. This area has been long surveyed as a planned new capital of the Republic, after World War II. Originally,”The Capitol” was supposed to be at the current Quezon Memorial Circle. However, revisions were made with the design of the new capital of the Philippines a “The Assembly” was moved to its current location near Litex and Constitution Hills. Architect Felipe Mendoza designed the complex, however, it didn’t pushed through until the former President Ferdinand Marcos pushed the plan through in constructing it.

The Batasang Pambansa became the center of the semi-parliamentary Philippine Republic during the Marcos Era. Technically, it became “the capital” of the Philippines. Upon the fall of Marcos in the mid-1980′s, the Batsang Pambansa was dissolved and became what we all know now as The House of Representatives or the Philippine Congress. However, it has marked the consciousness of every Filipino as “Batasan.”

Today, the sprawling complex is the office of the Philippine local and sectoral representatives, voted every three years as mandated by the 1987 Constitution. Joint sessions of the Senate and the Congress are also held here, and as I have mentioned earlier, the annual SONA.

Perhaps, the most recognizable icon or landmark of the said assembly would be the main Session Hall. With the podium, the seats and the balcony with that big Philippine flag at stage, it has marked in every Filipino’s mind as “Kongreso” or “Batasan.” I guess every Pinoy would recognize it–especially its always at the news everyday!

It was rainy. I went in the wrong gate last Monday. The office was at the South Wing annex building, while I entered at the north gate. I never knew that the area was sprawling. Wait, South Wing? I remember that there was a bomb that exploded here in 2007 where Congressman Wahab Akhbar, along with two casualties, was killed. Six were injured, mostly legislators.

Anyway, the main hall itself resembles that School of Arts in Mount Makiling at Laguna. Seemingly a legacy of the brute architecture during the Marcos Era. Two buildings beside it or the North and South Wings, serve as the office of the assemblymen. The newest addition is the South Wing Anne Building…well, we have an increasing number of legislative districts in the country, so better make a new space then.

For those who don’t like to walk around, the Congress provides a transport within their complex. The new e-jeepneys (electric jeepneys) now serve as the transport pod for those who have transactions from one building to another…much like how UP Ikot goes within UP Diliman. The good thing about this, not only its environment-friendly, but its also for free! Para sa mga tinatamad at pagod, merong solusyon ang gobyerno! Hehe!

It was unfortunate of me that I haven’t seen the Session Hall then. I don’t have much time plus the congressman that I was talking with was also rushing to do his business in the committee he was handling. Oh well, there is always a next time. But for now, it was my first time.

Location of Batasang Pambansa/Philippine Congress/House of Representatives, courtesy of Google Maps:

View Batasang Pambansa Complex in a larger map

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In the late afternoons at the sprawling UP Diliman campus in Quezon City, the iskos and iskas ng bayan gather at a vacant lot in front of Kalayaan freshie hall and beside UP Post office. A simple barbeque stand under a few scantly trees is where the people assemble in line, ordering that one delectable street food that is one of my favourites—isaw. The place where I’m referring at—Mang Larry’s Isawan! And I say, parang box office hit ang pila dahil patok na patok sa mga estudyate ang isaw ni Mang Larry!

Lining up at Mang Larry's isawan

This barbeque stand has been known for ages by the students of the University of the Philippines. Every late afternoon to evening, Mang Larry and his crew sets up a stand for his barbeque. Students from the nearby dormitories (Kalayaan, Molave, Yakal, Sanggumay, Ipil) and the nearby staff housing take a hike and go satisfy their cravings for chicken or pork innards skewered and barbequed till golden brown. Isaw refers to either pork or chicken intestine that has been roasted over charcoal—inihaw na bituka ng baboy o manok! On the other hand, the barbeque stand also offers goto (pork large intestine), betamax (pork blood cubes), walkman (pig ears), chicken isaw (chicken intestines), pork barbeque and more. You dip the isaw at either sweetened vinegar or spicy vinegar…nomnom!

Isaw!

Enjoy isaw for only PhP6.00 per stick. The usual price for food in the BBQ stand ranges from PhP4.00 to PhP10.00. Ang drinks lang naman ang mahal—PhP10.00 hanggang kinse ata.

More skewered barbeque, betamax, baticulon, etc.

The simple barbeque stand is so popular, that even students from nearby Ateneo, Miriam and other schools come to UP. Cars line up the vacant lot at Mang Larry’s—at palaging buong barkada ang kasama. Rich and poor alike, they come here just to satisfy and enjoy their craving for Filipino street food. Life’s simplest pleasures.

Sawsaw isaw

Indeed, this institution of Buhay Peyups culture is said to be a success story. Mang Larry was able to send his kids to school, all because of what he earns from his popular barbeque stand. I was caught with surprise that the Mang Larry’s barbeque stand near Kalayaan Hall is already Cart Number 11! Kumikitang kabuhayan! Mang Larry must’ve a fleet of barbeque stands nearby.

Whew! Init!

Basta isawan tayo mamaya mga repapips!

How to get there? Simple.

Note:

Mang Larry’s Isawan has transferred near the International Dorm near the Church.

Here’s the location map courtesy of Google
View Mang Larry’s Isawan in a larger map

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Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA for short spans around 24 kilometers. Named after a Filipino historian, it was once known as Highway 54, it forms a semi-circle road which links the cities of Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon and Caloocan and considered to be one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila (with about more or less 200,000 vehicles per section everyday!). Also called C-4 or Circumferential Road 4. I know that this wouldn’t be my last post about this very interesting road that we have at the heart of Metropolitan Manila.

EDSA Today

Ortigas Interchange, EDSA

A major artery of socio-economic force not just in the capital but also of the country itself, as it connects several important financial, educational, residential and government institutions of the country.

Written on August 01, 2009 — I just learned earlier this morning of the passing of a Philippine icon of democracy. A caring housewife and widow of a senator turned into a mother of millions of people after ousting 2 decades of autocratic rule. As the heavens of Manila cried over the passing of Corazon “Tita Cory” Cojuanco Aquino, former president of the Republic of the Philippines, she has left a mark in Philippine history that restored democracy, weathered several coup d’etats and became a symbol of power of Filipino women and a mother. This article I write shows defiance on that fateful day when the heavens created a miracle, and Cory was one of its instruments. To Tita Cory: Many thanks and be happy with Ninoy and to God, you have done well in your life. Padayon!

On February 1986, being the location of two important headquarters of both the PC (Philippine Constabulary, Camp Crame, successor is today’s Philippine National Police) and the military (Camp Aguinaldo), people barricaded the streets in protest and defiance with the Marcos rule. The public outrage, brought by the assassination of the opposition figure late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in 1983 and the so-called “dayaan sa (cheating at) Snap Elections” in which Tita Cory (wife of Ninoy) run against the Marcoses during those times.

“Sobra na, Tama na, Palitan na!” (It’s too much, that’s enough, let’s change it) was the battlecry of multitudes who went in to EDSA on that day, defying and courageously confronted the tanks and guns with flowers, food and rosaries.

As the people cried for change, this strong defiance of status quo has reached it’s mark when the Marcoses fled to the United States and installed Corazon Aquino as the new president of the republic. That was a fateful February. I was only 2 months old by then.

The Shrine

It was not so long ago when people went here and ousted another president, that was in 2001. Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada was accused of corruption that sparked another revolt, and yes they all went to EDSA once more. Meeting place: EDSA Shrine.

EDSA Dos Relif at EDSA Shrine

Tell me, what’s with this place that it seems to be a magnet of protest and defiance on authority on a peaceful note? Perhaps the lure of the first EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986. The shrine was constructed in 1989 as a remembrance of the mass action that ousted a dictatorship. A miracle that happened at EDSA with no blood shed in the road.

EDSA Shrine, Quezon City, Philippines

The big statue of Mary, Queen of Peace is a famed landmark. A reminder of the democracy that we Filipinos cherish more and that peaceful day when millions joined hands in facing what it seems to be an impenetrable forces.

It does not only serve as a reminder and a landmark, but also its a venue for Catholic masses as well. Yes, its not just a monument, but also a Catholic Church.

Our Lady of Peace, EDSA Shrine

Today, its located just at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue in Quezon City. Going there is as easy as pie. You can take an MRT (go down at Ortigas Station and walk towards Robinsons Galleria), bus or taxi here from almost anywhere in the Metro.

So whenever you think about EDSA, think again. It has done probably so much of its span in  much of our daily lives that we didn’t noticed the little things it has done for us today. Philippines stood here, historically and socio-economically.

More photos below:

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UP Diliman Oblation by Night

After that isaw sessions at Mang J’s near Kalayaan dorm, my blogger friends and I decided to go tour the campus by night. Walk the academic oval towards Quezon Hall where Oblé is and chill there and talk everything under the sun and the clouds.

UP Diliman’s Academic Oval is bustling with people jogging by night. Health buffs, lovers, students, barkadas and the like. Even though my campus at college is at UP Visayas, seeing these really brings back memories of those happy go lucky days as a university student. Different campuses have different characters but something really binds all UP campuses in my own opinion. I felt home and comfortable, as if UP Diliman campus is an oasis of calm and expression amidst the sea of chaos of Metro Manila.

While we were walking towards Oblation, I’ve noticed flying lights near the lagoon area. One, two, three of them flying besides the gracious acacia trees. And they multiplied. We thought these may be enchanted trees. After all, UP Diliman is full of those ghastly and enchanted tales.

The UP Carillion By Night

But no. My heart was filled with bliss and said, “Mga alitaptap! Nakakita na rin ako ng alitaptap at sa Kamaynilaan pa! Sa Iloilo pa ako huling nakakita nyan! (Fireflies! Finally I saw fireflies and here in Manila! The last time I saw one was at Iloilo!)

I’ve read somewhere that fireflies are good indicators of air quality of a certain area because they are sensitive to pollutants. If you see one or several lights flickering at your area, they may indicate that you have a good quality of air. And I believe UP Diliman has the quality of air that really makes it an oasis itself.

And as we’ve approached the Bulwagag Quezon (the administration building of UP Diliman) and the ever heroic Oblation, seeing the fireflies and the new Carilion makes me feel that UP, my beloved alma mater, is part of who I am now.

And as for the fireflies, I hope they keep on flickering at the cool nights of Diliman…I hope I haven’t seen the last of them yet flourishing besides the embrace of the old acacia tree.  UP Diliman, a place of the graceful diwatas and great anitos.

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I myself is a graduate of the premier state university and I dearly miss my college a lot. The days when brewing ideas clash with personal perspectives. Liberty was our battlecry and being “iskolars ng bayan” we did fight for our right to be educated fair and square. Yeah, I am a UP alumnus, but not in this campus, but down south.

I had a chance to take my summer courses in UP Diliman in 2004. Called by some of our professors as “Imperial Diliman,” this is the flagship campus of the University of the Philippines, the country’s premiere state university, after they’ve transfered majority of their schools from the old Manila campus (still houses College of Medicine, College of Nursing and others) sometime after World War II.

The first thing you’ll ever encounter in every UP campus is the symbol of “the iskolars ng bayan”, the Oblation. Well, we were taught once that it is a symbol of the “isko’s” selfless service and sacrifice towards humanity and his countrymen. Popularly they’ve said that Oblé as we call it, was the father of the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., but some it was believed to be that of a certain Fernando (?) Caido…more or less still it was an obra maestra of Guillermo Tolentino. The original statue is now housed at the Main Library (at the 4th floor ba yun, its in the Institute of Library Sciences).

The campus is popular among the Sunday health buffs as it is one of Metro Manila’s last bunch of greeneries. The temperatures are said to drop here by at least 2 degrees celcius as compared to the surrounding communities due to abundance of trees, especially the acacia trees that line up Acad Oval.

The major buildings here such as Quezon Hall (Administration Bldg), Main Library, Palma Hall (CAS) & Melchor Hall (Engineering) exhibits a post-war “international style” architecture. Malcolm Hall (home of UP Law School) exhibits its European architecture…nakuw, if we discuss architecture here it would take another post as the campus itself exhibits varying styles.

The famous Sunken Garden, where sports and concerts collide. This ground becomes a dustbowl during UP fair. Most of the outdoor activities of the school are being done here. Sarap din tumambay kung minsan. It was notorious/famous before for being the “lover’s lane” (now it was transferred to “The Lagoon” yet wala na daw wild lover’s lane ngayon).

I had my share in loitering the Vinzon’s Hall and the Philippine Collegian office where my colleagues at student publication base themselves. I had my chances to stay at one of their dorms, Yakal Residence Hall, which (no offense to Diliman peeps) is so left unkempt for centuries as compared to the dorms of UP VIsayas! No wonder the UP D

iliman people would complain that they are being deprived by the government in maintenance…the popular cry back then (or maybe until now) “Increase State Subsidy” by the activists.

I had my chance to listen to the carillion bells which were being played few times during my two months stay there. And yet, the best way to get around of the humongous campus is thru the UP Ikot jeepneys.

It’s been 2 years since I worn the sablay (UP’s equivalent to the graduation toga/hat), I frequently pass by UP Diliman. The atmosphere of the passionate dreams and ideas of the young students still gives this distinct feeling over the campus. Yeah, I’m a proud Maroon. I wouldn’t prefer to sulk and remember my college days, but I have to learn from what my alma mater gave me in preparation for life outside of the halls of the verdant and the passionate red. Isang Daang taon na po tayo Iskolars ng Bayan!