Metro Manila part 2

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• published: 12 Jun 2011
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Metro Manila part 2 filmed & edited by Freddy Santiago For the last 10 years, Manila skateboarders have been justifying the architecture at these three spots: Bay Walk, Lawton & Manila Postoffice. They are also know as "the 3 spots" .At one point in time these 3 spots were legal to skate and guaranteed hassle-free sessions. No one complained. Early 2011, Manila city posted its 1st "No Skateboarding" signs at all 3 spots.The 3 spots that unified us in the beginning are spots worth saving. 3 spots that could be renovated. These are the spots that have history in our local skate scene. Before i moved to the Philippines 10 years ago, I lived in a country rich with public skateparks. These skateparks were created for a number of reasons. Mainly, they were created to stop skateboarders from justifying public & private architecture. They were created to provide a sense of safety or to aid the lack of uninteresting architecture in their city. The choice to build skateparks in Manila should never be made by one person. One person cannot dictate what architecture is good for our culture. This choice should be made by the skateboarders who have skated Manila streets for the last 10yrs. The skateboarders that unified because of the architecture at the 3 spots.The idea of building any skatepark in Manila would not be the wisest choice. In fact, the idea of building skateparks in any 3rd world country should be the last option. The bottom line is, skatepark architecture is selfish and only serves skateboarders. Building skateparks in any 3rd world or war ridden country is selfish architecture that only skateboarders can benefit from. Imagine a regular skatepark. Imagine what obstacles would be in that skatepark, then look around your community. Think of your streets and sidewalks. We should realize that any of the skatepark obstacles would serve a better purpose in our community.The next time you hear a story of an old lady falling through a broken cement manhole on public sidewalks, or hear a story of an area in Manila that floods chest-high in sewage, or hear a story how someone popped their tires on city streets because of potholes, you should then ask yourself, "What really needs to be built in our country" - "What really needs to be fixed" - "Do we really need a skatepark?" - "Can we fix or build architecture that serves a purpose for non-skateboarders and still be interesting for skateboarders too?" The next time you go to the 3 spots, ask yourself if a person in a wheelchair could enjoy the architecture - the answer is no because none of the 3 spots have handicap ramps to roll up on. 3rd world countries & war-ridden countries have opportunities to rebuild with skate masons. Its an opportunity to prove that skate architecture can blend into 3rd world urban architecture to create unity among communities. Its an opportunity to put the skateparks back into the streets. Non-skaters may ask, "Why would the country want to invest in the unity of this culture?" There are many answers to this question. We would want the country to know that this culture is open to anyone. A culture open to anyone no matter what age you are, no matter what religion you practice, no matter if you are rich or poor, no matter the colour of your skin, no matter your gender, no matter your citizenship. Its architecture that has united many of us all over the world. Venice Beach California, Embarcadero San Francisco, Brooklyn Banks New York, New Spot Vancouver, Love Park Philadelphia , Hubby-Hide-Out San Francisco. No matter what part of the world, or what time-period you skated, we all owe our unity to architecture. Skateboard scenes abroad have fought for their freedom of public architecture and have lost. They have lost the unity that the architecture once created for them. We should be given a chance to save our public space. A choice to save the history and the unity of our 3 spots. Imagine all the sidewalks that could be renovated. Imagine drainage systems that could be redesigned. Imagine all the public plazas & underpasses we have in Manila that are so close to being skate-able. Imagine if this architecture was created in every province from north to south that acted as a bridge between Muslim & Cristian communities, Imagine this architecture destroying social classes. Imagine the Philippines building urban architecture like barcelona, Imagine this country promoting & guaranteeing hassle-free, hate-free public architecture to boost our tourism industry. Imagine a promise land. PS The last two shots on this video are shots of Quezon Memorial Circle. To me, the monument is a symbol of Unity through the freedom of architecture. It is not a subliminal message or a hint of were a skatepark should be built. Please post a comment Please post a question All footage of video,film,images,photos & animations © WilfredSantiago2009