The Mabuhay Rotonda (originally The Welcome
Rotonda) is a towering monument at the boundary of Quezon City and
Manila. Architect Luciano V. Aquino built the structure in 1948
during the term of Mayor Ponciano Bernardo to greet visitors of the
newly established capital of the Philippines. From that time on, the
monument has become a silent witness to the influx of change on the
borders of the country’s two foremost cities.
The old monolithic structure hardly attracts the
attention of pedestrians and commuters anymore, except when
demonstrators in protest of the government assemble in the area or
when some lunatic climbs on top of it.
For the longest time, Filipinos can only enjoy a
close encounter with the many interesting creatures of the sea when
we go abroad. The nearest oceanariums are found in Hong Kong,
Malaysia, and Singapore. Times have changed and for the first time
in the Philippines, we have our very own Manila Ocean Park.
Peace, work, prayer and communal service are
Benedictine ideals held in high regard by Bedans young and old, and
these are the same guiding tenets that have been exemplified by
outstanding men and women who were feted in appropriate rites during
the Red and White Ball held recently at the NBC Tent.
A married woman recently sent me an e-mail concerning a column I
wrote about cheating spouses. It seems that this young couple is
expecting a baby in the coming months.
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