| 01.13.2020 – From a neighbouring building around a once lonely hotel to seeing the last of a Christmas tree at Greenfield District and wild weekend at Ronac Art Center in Secret Fresh’s clothing drop for DBTK, Tanduay, and Villains collaboration Sunday was busy as hectic like the way things went down while volcanic ashes blows.
Metro Manila was at its usual randomness and it gets more challenging from here with so many things happening around you get lost at the infinite moments, which happened in just one day to think the New Year would be chill. But it wasn’t when unsuspecting things unaware of what was really going down quite what I did not expect when my only plan was to do my Sunday errand to wrap up this weekend. |
It started with nostalgia nearby when I just came out of Assembly Ground, a new hangout place what could be considered a ‘condo-mall’ type concept that has become the trend for high rise residential places in the CBD of Makati City. More than a decade ago this place was literally a big hole where beside it was a quaint hotel.
But in today’s standards that particular hotel has so many neighbors around with Belton Place that was constructed five years ago at the background and the aforementioned The Rise has occupied this part of Makati. There’s another condominium still being constructed beside The Rise, which will be finished by next year and as surrounding areas become more crowded business establishments owned by foreign Chinese nationals has opened up restaurants.
How’s that for complete change of what used to be a place that has warehouses for printing press and other old businesses in the outskirts outside the Central Business District that is now evolving into a high rise hub of residential area.
What used to be the sleepy side of Makati has become an over crowdedly densely populated mix cultures of locals and foreign nationals from China and Korea that makes its quite challenging dealing with the unnecessary urban noise that should be regulated by the city government. But laws in this country are not as firm compared to neighbouring Asian countries, which is why legalities are bent to their original terms.
Ronac Art Center
The first destination after taking the bus going to Ortigas Center and then passing through Robinsons Galleria to take the pathway crossing the overpass having a quick Jeepney ride was Ronac Art Center, which is where Secret Fresh is located that has now expanded their business not only to promote the local artists for their gallery launch but also getting into clothing and apparel.
Upon arriving a huge crowd was all over the parking lot scattered with different people lined up to purchase the latest streetwear collaboratrion from brands like DBTK (Don’t Blame The Kids), Tanduay Rum, and Villains clothing. There were commotions and from what I heard the hype for DBTK gave way to the huge turnout that started forming a long line since Friday and this was unheard of for a clothing and apparel launch which usually reserved to sneaker releases
It is literally insane to see the youth element at full force hoping to get the limited edition Secret Fresh X DBTK collaboration that was immediately sold out due ot unforeseen circumstance with ‘resellers’ (flippers/hoarders) scooping out a fairly large quantity of the product leaving most individuals and groups disappointed or grasping for hope that Secret Fresh would release more. But in reality based on the past collaborations with other brands this apparel are only released 100 pieces per size and design and that makes these products popular added the huge following of DBTK on its own as a product by this generation.
I ended up picking the Villains shirt that featured Dennis the Menace as most of this generation are unaware of this character that debuted in a newspaper comic strip originally created, written, and illustrated by Hank Ketcham for the us publication not to be confused by the UK version a long-running comic strip in the British children's comic The Beano, published by DC Thomson, of Dundee, Scotland.
After seeing DJ Bigboy Cheng and some familiar faces I’ve met over the years at Secret Fresh I finally head out to avoid further traffic in the area as the day slowly turned into night time deciding to Greenhills making the next stop.
Ortigas Foundation Library
After several stop overs after the crowded Ronac Art Center I end up on Greenhills just because I was on a toy hunt for the missing Transformers action figure that I only to complete a collection that I don’t regularly get into. It was surprisingly seeing the Ortigas Foundation Library having a temporary space at Virra Mall selling merchandise to promote their library.
I haven’t had the time to visit them since encountering their booth at last summer’s Dia Del Libro (World Book Day) event at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. It was so random to catch them at their busiest while I was at the second level of the mall heading to Toy Kingdom in a rush as I had limited time to get close to their booth.
First Dinner at Burger King
The next ride out to Greenhills took me to Robinsons Galleria trying to track down that Transformers action figure ending up with a different figure altogether having no sign finding that target figure at Toy Kingdom at the same time going to Babes Children’s Toyworld where I got a ‘consolation’ Transformers figure that was also on sale, while the later was already gone since December 2019.
I was hoping that Titans Return Deluxe Class Blurr would still be there, but instead getting the one that I was holding on to get in case the later did not turn up spending more than I was hoping to save up. After getting that one I headed to Robinsons Galleria the usual toy run at TRU flagship store and the toy section inside the Department Store had nothing there to see.
I also did a side trip to Comic Odyssey picking up an issue of X-Force #4 (2019) that my local comic shop had missed on my regular reservation list and a Doctor Strange back issue prior to the one that is currently being published.
Side Trips and Ash Fall
Time was literally running out as I walked across Emerald Avenue trying to get to Ayala 30th Mall, but when I got there all the stores had just closed as arrived at the location exactly 9 PM and then I quickly dashed out going to the Podium in the next fifteen minutes on foot.
While walking ash from the Taal Volcano has just covered some parts of Metro Manila particularly the Ortigas and Manadaluyong area as these places has seen what was happening. I made it to The Podium and went straight to Toy Kingdom, where I finally got the missing Transformers that I’ve been looking for and after that went to meet a friend nearby to have my second dinner.
See You around Tree
Before heading to Starbucks after dinner at North Park we stopped by the Christmas tree the Greenfield District. It was different for 2019 and it wasn’t as colourful unlike the one in 2018 where there were a lot of ornaments. This one was more focused on the lights and defined the way it separate itself from the previous one.
But just like the one in 2018 there was a mini entrance underneath the tree that revealed sort of diorama with ‘snowy light’ effects that make it appear that it has snow but it’s not. For five minutes we took photos as workers started dismantling the surrounding area as Sunday is the last of what would be the longest Holiday Season for the country as SM Megamall has already switched from Christmas to Chinese New Year with the ‘Year of the Rat’ theme collaboration with Walt Disney.
Yes, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are the characters representing the year of the rat, but I have other things in mind regarding that. Anyways, this was it for the Christmas tree at Greenfield District as we headed to get our coffee.
Having Late Coffee
It was a tiring day and my feet have seen the wear and tear of walking, but after a good conversation with a cup of coffee it was time to wrap up. I’ve got what I need and while waiting at the bus stop with a friend the dust particles from the volcano has slowly stopped making my eyes itchy.
Of course, getting back to where I started it was past 1 AM and it was really a rough day from there. I got so many things on top of my head after a challenging day last week this was quite a breather. I got caught up with the comicbooks that I picked up and then went to bed even though the neighbors still making the usual noise at 2 AM.
Finally, got the decent sleep but not the one I was missing back in Adelaide. But this will do for now. I think.
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