Divisoria revisited... and a pre-Toycon 2014 post.

Busy Friday the 13th on my part. I don't believe that kind luck (before I used to) and I think it's just all in the head really, not the day so yeah, I guess we could just do away with all the belief of "malas". In fact, it might not be luck at all but rather how we react to things that happen I guess, especially if they're beyond our control.

Oh well, that's what I think of that. Anyways, after visiting my old school Marist. I went to dad's place and after staying there for a bit, we headed to Quiapo and Divisoria (again) to buy some things, such as trying to get me a school polo, or buy stuff for bikes that my dad has (one of them is mine actually). So yeah, we went to Quiapo first. We checked out some stuff, tried to check out a place that makes school uniforms, since I needed new ones, looked at DVDs and after that, we headed to Divisoria after walking to Sta. Cruz.

We took this jeep and we passed by this place near the Pasig River and near the once-famous Escolta street. Too bad I didn't have pics of that because it had a nice view of Intramuros, with the Manila Cathedral and Fort Santiago on the riverbanks. For some reason, the song "Mutya ng Pasig" was playing in my head. We came down in the middle of some place I had no idea about. I mean, it's a place I've never been to in Manila but dad told me it was the back of Divisoria. Oh well, we went and finally after getting through a few streets, finally, I saw a familiar sight thanks to a time I was there in Divisoria last October (although that was with ninang when we bought Christmas decors, among other things). Dunno exactly what it was but it was this destroyed building. From there we had to find a way to 168 Mall to get bike parts (and another Gundam for dad's collection). Good thing I was in my rubber shoes since the place was really muddy. :) Divisoria was like a labyrinth since it's so easy to get lost and we were again when we came to 168. Unlike the last time, where we came from Recto, we entered from another entrance (near the back of the Lucky Chinatown Mall. I had to look it up) and because of this, we got lost in that maze of shops :(. We were able to retrace our steps when we saw the toy store where my dad bought a Gundam last weekend and it was kinda easier all the way from there, except we had to find some parts from bike shops and one shop somewhere 'cuz it sold bike parts at cheaper prices daw. Add to this, it was almost the rush hour and my feet were killing me. I didn't like this experience and I was losing myself >_<. In the end, we didn't find this one shop and we bought parts from other shops (albeit at a higher price than what my dad wanted). It was tough to keep my composure back there but at least it was finally over. We parted ways at Recto and I went home by myself.
 
I guess with everything that happened, I should learn to keep my composure. It's tough really to have a calm mind especially in a place like Divisoria or when bad things happen, especially when the unexpected comes >_<. I mean, I went to Marikina just to accompany my tita to my old school then I went to dad's and we ended up on another trip to Divisoria. I guess this should be a learning experience for me. I don't wanna be negative so yeah...

A place I didn't know in in Manila

Back of Divisoria

Wonder what this was... I think it was a mall.

Rubber bands. I guess those are used to make those rubber bracelets I've been seeing.
edit: They're called loom bands pala... Now I wonder why they're popular...:/

Bags. What's with "Cars" and Lightning McQueen?

 

"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob Squarepants!"

I have never watched Frozen.

Taken from a jeepney

While I was there, I took pics as you can all see and I thought that this should be a preparation for Toycon 2014. Since I mentioned that, I am attending Toycon 2014 at SM Megamall next weekend. I'd better keep my composure by then. Hopefully the weather would be good on those days and I'm thinking of ways on how thing's are gonna go...  I've already bought tickets for that event and I'll be going there with my brother. This will be the first time I'm going to an event like that with someone. But right now, I guess I have to live the moment first and once the day comes.... I'll see. :)

Visiting my old school

It's always good to go visit someplace you haven't been to in a while, especially if the place has a meaning to you, like for example, going somewhere you spent your childhood or a place where you had an unforgettable experience. Today, I had this privilege to visit the school where I spent my grade school years in: Marist School in Marikina. Reason why I went there was because I had to accompany a tita because she had this event at there. When we came, one of the guards recognized me (I guess he still remembers who I am after all the years I spent there). After accompanying her, I spent some time to go around the school grounds, remembering some moments I've had back then. Wow, a lot of things have changed since I got out of there and I couldn't help but notice them.

Where I spent my Grade school years...

It was a walk down the memory lane since I've had a lot of memories, both good and bad there from all the years I spent there as a grade school kid. Back in those days, while I did have some good moments, I remember times I got bullied back then. >_< Oh well, now that I'm older and all, I guess I have to learn from those days then and look forward to what's happening to me and live the moment. :) Even so, at least I've had some good moments and in a way back then, I was somewhat well known. :)

One of the buildings. Where I had my last year in grade school, Grade 6

Leading to the Grade school canteen and the gym and many classrooms. I remember times I walked in these halls.

St. Marcellin Champagnat. Founder of the Marist Brothers who administrate the school

Swimming pool. I was once a member of the school's varsity swimming team then.

New gym. Built after I left the place. One of the many new additions to the school.

Marist Oval. Where the our sportsfests and school fairs were held.

Taken from one of the school's highest points. One could see parts of QC from there.

Hope the students are living by these...

Marist School Chapel

Interior and sanctuary of the chapel. A very modern, artistic and beautiful church.

Stained Glass windows, Marist Chapel depicting scenes from the Old Testament

More windows depicting the Ascension and Pentecost

A snack bar located right in front of the school. Not sure if they still do this but I remembered them selling trading cards back in the day and I bought a lot of them. :)

After going around the school, I went to my dad's place but before going, I stopped first at Conception Parish, which was my parish church back when I was living in Marikina. Reason why I stopped there because I was told by dad to take a tricycle there from Marist. Although this was our parish, I went to a chapel nearer our place to attend Mass (though it was under this parish community then. Now it's under a newer parish community). After that, I walked a bit and took a jeep to dad's place. But I ate in a 7-11 before going to dad's. After staying in dad's place for a while, I left with him and we headed to Quaipo and Divisoria (again). Be posting on that tomorrow or some other time.

What used to be Concepcion Market is now replaced by a McDonald's.

Immaculate Conception Parish, Bayan-bayanan ave., Marikina. I gotta like the fact that it looks like an old church, though it isn't. It's also one of the most beautiful churches in Marikina.

"By Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the World"

Interior of Concepcion Church. It's been renovated many times and is under another one. Originally, the altar before was much simpler and featured the life sized crucifix in the previous photo before this golden sanctuary was added. I don't know when that was though.

Ave Maria

Luyong Restaurant, J.P. Rizal, Marikina. There's a nice goto place across it.

A jeepney I took a picture of. The Marikina and Rizal provice area has these really nice Jeepneys. Many far better than this one.

The echoes of VST and Company's songs and Divisoria pics

I know my they're not my generation but kinda strange I've been having an interest in the songs of the disco group VST & Company and they've been echoing in me for a while now (especially "Awitin mo at Isasayaw ko"). It started when I heard that song during an episode of Eat Bulaga last April, though I stopped watching it for now. That said, I guess I (and many others) should be listening to more OPM songs then... But really, VST&C's songs have been ringing in my mind. Weird, since I'm just a college student and I'm liking something not of my age :/ . But then again, there's nothing wrong with it.:D

Anyways onto a different topic, today, me and my dad who came from Marikina went to Divisoria, mostly to buy some pambahays for me (and for my brother) and dad even bought some for himself. Whilst there, I've took some pics. Some of the pics are sepia 'cuz I wanted to give them some kind of "old" feeling, inspired by vintage pictures of Manila. Just to say some things we've done, we looked for bargains, dad looked at Gundams and bought some clothes. It's been a busy day, since I went all over the place, other than just Divisoria. Even then back there, I've been thinking of VST&C's songs. I'm liking their songs, strange...

Kinda looks like a scene from a game

I just had to take a pic of this. Fail :P Good thing no one minded me. :)

Just wanted to take pics in sepia, to make it look old.

"tayo'y magsayawan, sumabay sa takbo ng tugtugan..." :)
(excerpts from "Tayo'y Magsayawan" - VST and Company)

edit (added 6-15-14): Did a few edits to the post.