OF A PEOPLE RICH IN HERITAGE AND LOVE

Last of two parts

WHEN I talked about Araneta City at the History to Experience (HistoEx) event organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Araneta City, J. Amado Araneta Foundation and Gateway Gallery last August 25, I was using the concepts from our indigenous psychology to highlight the City's role and meaning in Philippine History, its "saysay." I sourced much of my data from the book "The Araneta Center: The Big Dome and Beyond" by Alfred A. Yuson and Paulo Alcazaren, but I also drew from our own collective experiences.

Aside from "Kaginhawahan," tackled in the first part of the column, here are the other uses and relevance of Araneta City to us.

"Kasayahan": Araneta Coliseum has been the venue for performances of many foreign and local acts; it is said that the real gauge of an artist's success is if he/she can fill the coliseum and have a sold-out show. I watched The Cascades there, and recently, as an A'tin (SB19 fan), I had to queue for tickets there for me and my friends to watch SB19 concerts. The system of entrances and queueing is always orderly and systematic. Also, unlike other big venues, you will not go hungry as there is much food around and it is easier to go home from there. Aside from that, throughout the year, there are parades and festivals happening all the time.

"Kaligayahan": Araneta City can be a venue for family events and even weddings, and after the wedding, of course, there's Novotel and other places that are so clean and so good.

"Kaningningan": For a provinciano like me, Araneta Center meant Christmas! I have memories of the Fiesta Carnival and, of course, the crowds that gather on the nights of December before the COD department store building (now Puregold) to watch the COD Christmas display where mannequins are mechanically moved to tell the Christmas story. There has also been the giant Christmas Tree since 1981, which was then opened annually by "That's Entertainment" stars and Kuya Germs! The first ice skating rink at New Frontier (earlier than SM Megamall) was also there, and "Christmas on Ice," a skating show. By the way, Fiesta Carnival is open again, and recently, we were able to take my niece Maze there.

"Kalakasan": The PBA, the UAAP, the cheer dancing competitions I watched to cheer for both UP and La Salle, and even cockfighting are held at Araneta Coliseum.

"Karangalan": The fight for honor, the inaugural event of the Big Dome, was where Flash Elorde defeated American boxer Harold Gomes in a junior lightweight bout on March 16, 1960. Of course, there was "Thrilla in Manila," where Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier on Oct. 1, 1975; their presence gave honor to the country. Also, on July 2, 2006, Manny Pacquiao beat Mexican Oscar Larios. Also, the site of many graduations and professional oathtakings.

"Karunungan": There's the biggest National Bookstore, multi-story. Also Fully Booked, but do not forget, Cubao Expo, where secondhand booksellers helped me build my own library when I was in college. Ate Remy Cabaltera's shop has been upgraded and is now at Ali Mall. That the HistoEx was held under Gateway 2's Quantum Skyway should also be mentioned.

"Kagandahan": Araneta City is home to the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, which is also a charity by the way. Which brings me to ...

"Kabutihang Loob": For many, goodness begins with worship. There are Protestant services within Araneta City. The Big Dome was the venue of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo in 1964; Pope John Paul II visited it on Feb. 18, 1981, and said, "This place will be called the Colosseo of Papal Audiences." And finally ...

"Kabayanihan": Aside from the fact that J. Amado's daughter, Judy, was married to the patriotic senator Gerardo Roxas, the son of President Manuel Roxas, and Judy's son is the public servant, Mar Roxas, the first crowds of the four-day People Power Revolution started when Butz Aquino asked his friends from the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) to converge at Isetann in Araneta Center on the first night, Feb. 25, 1986. The rest was history. And talking about history, you can visit Gateway Gallery for free and see the paintings of "Sining Saysay" where artists from UP were commissioned to depict the whole sweep of Philippine history.

Nonong "Dero" Pedero wrote a song about Binibining Pilipinas called "Win Your Heart," recently reworked by SB19. Its lyrics go, "She's the perfect symbol of the people/Rich in heritage and love/What a lovely pretty captivating so exciting/These girls will surely win your heart."

Araneta City is the perfect symbol of a people rich in heritage and love, and it definitely won my heart.

2024-09-02T16:16:17Z dg43tfdfdgfd