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The Gift of Life => VACATION AROUND THE WORLD => Topic started by: juan on May 17, 2011, 03:35:24 AM

Title: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on May 17, 2011, 03:35:24 AM
by Henry L. Yu, M.D.

WHEN you spoke of downtown Cebu back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, you referred to that oldest street called Colon, along with Juan Luna St. (now Osmena Blvd.), and Plaridel, Manalili, Magallanes, Legaspi, Pelaez, Sanciangko, Junquera streets, among others.

These parts of Cebu will always be dear to my heart because they form a fabric of my yesteryears.

I remember the first time I got into downtown Cebu.

It was in 1960 when I tagged along with my mom. Our first stop was at the Manila Restaurant on Manalili St. for a bowl of maki (beef noodle soup) and siopao (steamed meat bun).

After that we went to Inting’s Grocery on Magallanes St. for some grocery stock orders, then across to Gay Sen Goldsmith for some jewelry business transactions, which my mom was engaged in during those times.

We had lunch at International Rice Houseon Colon St. (also referred to as just Colon) after which we went to Crown Grocery on M.C. Briones St.

Next, we went to Carbon Market for another set of stock orders. By 5:30 p.m. we boarded a taxi to Pier 4 and took the boat for our trip back to Iligan.

The summer of 1966 brought me back to downtown Cebu with an uncle this time for a vacation.

We checked-in at Intercontinental Hotel (near Gilmore Tailoring) on Manalili St. We had lunch at Majestic Restaurant in Colon and dinner at Swank Cafe on Sanciangco St. We also savored the renowned spring chicken of Chicken Island located in Colon. And again, I was in downtown Cebu in the summer of 1970 for another vacation. Same time, same places.

I have always been captivated by the lure of the more glittering life of a bigger city like Cebu back in my younger days. I did not know that someday I would become a permanent resident of this provincial capital situated on the eastern coast.

Looking back, it was in 1973 when I started life as a Cebuano (Sugboanon), who would speak the language of a true blue Sugboanon in due time, and who would live the Cebuano lifestyle. It has been Cebu for me since then.

Downtown Cebu was the place where I would run to for my shopping needs—from school supplies to clothes, from toiletries to gifts, and other items.

It was in White Gold (located then on Juan Luna St.) where I bought the materials for my school uniform.

Downtown Cebu was the center for business and entertainment, the heart of the city’s lifestyle.

It was where the movie houses were: Victor, Vision, Eden, President, Premier, Majestic, Mever, Oriente, Rizal, Seven Arts, Ultravistarama, Best, Omega, Diamond, among others. It was Southern Flame at the revolving Skyvue Diamond Tower for our nightclubbing and disco sessions.

Other times, I would find myself either eating my favorite chicken mami (a noodle soup make with either chicken or beef) and siopao at Fuji Teahouse located in what is now Gaisano Metro.

For my shopping needs, I went to White Gold, Fairmart, Best Buy, Gaw, Rosita’s Colon, Cinderella, Chekito Bazar, Sen Hiap Hing, Atin’s Supermarket, Felcris, and so on.

In the ‘90s when the mall trend hit Cebu, Colon took a different turn and has never been the same again.

Downtown Cebu still refers to Colon, though, but it has taken on a different aura.

Gone are the movie houses (some are now used as places where food is sold or cheap DVDs and CDs are sold), the restaurants of old, our favorite hangouts, and so on.

Colon is no longer the place we run to whenever we needed something.

But in my moments of solitude, I long for the old Cebu—downtown Cebu in particular.

That is because that was where lots of beautiful memories were built and created together with the many significant people who have been part of my young life.

Yes, the so-called youthful exuberance when I was a part of “the young and the restless,” in a world that was simpler.

I will never forget Colon. It will be always be The Downtown of my youth.
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on May 17, 2011, 03:37:20 AM
When I read this article, I was overcome with a sense of nostalgia.
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on May 31, 2011, 01:06:12 AM
Left Cebu after grad. Little did I know it was never gonna be my home again. But, then again, Cebu has never been the same again. :(
___________________________
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."
- T. S. Eliot
Title: Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever h
Post by: juan on July 26, 2011, 07:23:01 PM
"Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again." :)
- Willa Cather
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: sweets on July 27, 2011, 09:15:37 AM
hadlok ang colon
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on July 27, 2011, 11:55:33 PM
Quote from: sweets on July 27, 2011, 09:15:37 AM
hadlok ang colon

Not the old Colon I used to stroll alone or date with my gf. :) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: sweets on August 03, 2011, 08:48:27 AM
ngeeeeeeeeeee hadlok baya
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on August 22, 2011, 10:54:28 PM
Quote from: sweets on August 03, 2011, 08:48:27 AM
ngeeeeeeeeeee hadlok baya
Bsan asa sa Cebu, hadlok nko. Maau untag kuyugan ko sa akong Anghel Magbalantai. Fragile ra ba ko kaau. Hehehe. :) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: felix on August 23, 2011, 12:49:44 AM
dili kaayu hadlok basta vigilant lang ka hihihi
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on August 23, 2011, 02:42:10 AM
Mas safe jyud kon kuyog nako si Guardian Angel. Hehehe. :) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: felix on August 23, 2011, 02:57:12 AM
pirmi mana kuyog
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on August 23, 2011, 05:53:01 PM
Let's just say, I'm not dumb. Hehehe. :) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: felix on August 23, 2011, 09:03:57 PM
you're smart juan
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on August 24, 2011, 08:43:01 PM
Just staying alive. Hehehe. :) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: sweets on August 26, 2011, 07:09:27 AM
daghan manguhit sa colon
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on August 26, 2011, 09:17:58 PM
Quote from: sweets on August 26, 2011, 07:09:27 AM
daghan manguhit sa colon

Ako sad. Ganahan mokuhit ini. :) ;)

Quote from: thatsmyboy1992 on August 14, 2011, 10:35:10 PM
eto sya ang dyosa

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/282022_265450203470488_100000165314226_1271579_5668795_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: felix on August 26, 2011, 11:03:01 PM
Quote from: sweets on August 26, 2011, 07:09:27 AM
daghan manguhit sa colon
asa ka dapit gikuhit bai?
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: felix on August 26, 2011, 11:03:42 PM
Quote from: juan on August 26, 2011, 09:17:58 PM
Ako sad. Ganahan mokuhit ini. :) ;)

hahahaha
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on May 28, 2012, 02:19:38 AM
Quote from: juan on May 28, 2012, 02:05:21 AM
"And so much of my life has been about returning home and longing for home, wanting my children to know about my roots. And I thought I can't be the only one to feel this way so I thought it would be an interesting topic to explore."  :)
- Sela Ward  
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on December 21, 2012, 07:58:35 PM
“I have learned that if you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all your yesteryears are buried deep, leave it any way except a slow way, leave it the fastest way you can. Never turn back and never believe that an hour you remember is a better hour because it is dead. Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance.”  :) ;)
- Beryl Markham, West with the Night  
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on October 31, 2013, 05:40:17 PM
Quote from: sweets on August 26, 2011, 07:09:27 AM
daghan manguhit sa colon
Ingon ini ba ang nanguhit nimo? ???
Quote from: OMG! on October 25, 2013, 07:47:48 AM
masaya sa Staples Center kanina with K

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/25/mezaja3u.jpg)
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on October 31, 2013, 06:56:39 PM
Quote from: juan on December 21, 2012, 07:58:35 PM
“I have learned that if you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all your yesteryears are buried deep, leave it any way except a slow way, leave it the fastest way you can.
Never turn back and never believe that an hour you remember is a better hour because it is dead.
Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance.”
- Beryl Markham, West with the Night
  :) ;)  

Quote from: juan on October 25, 2010, 09:17:02 PM
"We shall not cease from exploration.
But at the end of all our explorations, we will go back to where we started; only to know the place for the first time".
- T. S. Elliott
:) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: sweets on October 31, 2013, 07:20:19 PM

Quote from: juan on October 31, 2013, 05:40:17 PM
Ingon ini ba ang nanguhit nimo? ???
;D ;D ;D

Hunk ra kaayo na!


Sent from my iPhone5 using Tapatalk - now Free
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: sweets on October 31, 2013, 07:23:26 PM
4yrs ko nag work sa cebu government very safe talaga ako there...


Sent from my iPhone5 using Tapatalk - now Free
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on March 23, 2014, 12:59:21 AM
Just realized the garbled dream had before daybreak was the Colon before leaving Cebu, 40+ years ago, juxtaposed with the Colon of today saw in the web recently.
Yes, the exuberance of my youth. Really2X homesick! :)

Quote from: juan on July 26, 2011, 07:23:01 PM
"Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again."
- Willa Cather
 :)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: wardiflex on March 23, 2014, 01:12:37 AM
hala no?
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on March 23, 2014, 01:22:16 AM
Quote from: juan on May 31, 2011, 01:06:12 AM
Left Cebu after grad. Little did I know it was never gonna be my home again. But, then again, Cebu has never been the same again. :(
___________________________
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."
- T. S. Eliot

Even love ones have become loved once. :(
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on March 23, 2014, 01:40:24 AM
Quote from: sweets on October 31, 2013, 07:23:26 PM
4yrs ko nag work sa cebu government very safe talaga ako there...


Sent from my iPhone5 using Tapatalk - now Free

Understandably enough. Wa na sya dha. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: wardiflex on March 23, 2014, 02:27:44 AM
wa na.
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on March 23, 2014, 04:24:41 AM
Hear that, skipper? ??? ;D
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: sweets on March 23, 2014, 05:11:27 AM
Self employed.


Sent from my iPhone5 using Tapatalk
Title: Colon Street Cebu City 14 10 2011
Post by: juan on April 03, 2014, 06:41:08 PM
Colon Street Cebu City 14 10 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYwCEfjfvcY#)
Title: Harassment in Colon Cebu City Philippines
Post by: juan on April 03, 2014, 06:45:37 PM
Quote from: sweets on August 26, 2011, 07:09:27 AM
daghan manguhit sa colon

Harassment in Colon Cebu City Philippines (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8vDN-dOLek#ws)
Published on Jan 20, 2013
Tourist quietly drinking beer being harassed by local man outside convenience store at the corner of Sanciangko St and Pelaez St Colon, Cebu City, Philippines on the night of Sinulog Festival 2013.
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on April 03, 2014, 07:05:30 PM
Several years ago, posting in site owned by Yankee. Think site gone now.
He was planning to retire, move to Cebu City and marry young Cebuana gf, then, studying computer science. But deferred plan due to economic downturn.

Love to go back for good myself. But, oh, too risky. Daghang binuang. 8) ::)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on April 10, 2014, 11:58:45 AM
Quote from: juan on May 31, 2011, 01:06:12 AM
Left Cebu after grad. Little did I know it was never gonna be my home again. But, then again, Cebu has never been the same again. :(
___________________________
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."
- T. S. Eliot

Dunno Colon anymore. :)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on June 05, 2014, 09:18:24 PM
Quote from: juan on April 10, 2014, 11:58:45 AM
Dunno Colon anymore. :)
Quote from: juan on June 05, 2014, 09:13:33 PM
"There's no place like home", so they say. But, then again, depends on what one means by "home".
Been an exile more than half of my life. So, what is home to me? The place born and raised or the place of exile? :-\ :)  
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: erika on June 06, 2014, 04:06:32 AM
ang dami talagang pumupunta sa Cebu pag summer...
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on August 20, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
Miss those days dating with first love. Yes, she looked like Miss Loon-- brainy, too. But that was 45+ years ago. Hehe :) ;)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on October 21, 2014, 11:47:05 PM
Quote from: juan on August 20, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
Miss those days dating with first love. Yes, she looked like Miss Loon -- brainy, too. But that was 45+ years ago. Hehe :) ;)
Quote from: juan on October 19, 2014, 06:59:49 PM
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/30/yby8emyj.jpg)
Does have a mark resemblance
Like looking at a portrait of my first love
 :)
? "Green Leaves of Summer" - Peter and Gordon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi69jWGtNgk#ws)Love watching the youtube. Tropical. Look at that mango! sour and crispy, very nice , and memorable.
Makes me homesick.
 :)
Green Leaves of Summer
Peter & Gordon
A time to be reapin', a time to be sowin'.
The green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then, in a season of plenty,
When the catfish were jumpin' as high as the sky.

A time just for plantin', a time just for ploughin'.
A time to be courtin' a girl of your own.
'Twas so good to be young then, to be close to the earth,
And to stand by your wife at the moment of birth.

A time to be reapin', a time to be sowin'.
The green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then, with the sweet smell of apples,
And the owl in the pine tree a-winkin' his eye.

A time just for plantin', a time just for ploughin'.
A time just for livin', a place for to die.
'Twas so good to be young then, to be close to the earth,
Now the green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.

'Twas so good to be young then, to be close to the earth,
Now the green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
Quote from: juan on July 26, 2011, 07:23:01 PM
"Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again."
(Willa Cather)
 :)
Quote from: juan on December 21, 2012, 07:58:35 PM
“I have learned that if you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all your yesteryears are buried deep, leave it any way except a slow way, leave it the fastest way you can.
Never turn back and never believe that an hour you remember is a better hour because it is dead.
Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance.”
(Beryl Markham, West with the Night)
 :) ;) 
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: juan on December 04, 2014, 07:05:04 PM
Just heard this. Makes me nostalgic and melancholic.

Freddie Aguilar Anak (original version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n-2lPzH7Do (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n-2lPzH7Do)

Anak (Tagalog) lyrics by Freddie Aguilar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m99G5CMKb6c (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m99G5CMKb6c)

Freddie Aguilar Anak (Child) English Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9YX3XZ8S0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9YX3XZ8S0)
 :)
Title: Re: Longing for Colon St.
Post by: wardiflex on December 04, 2014, 10:13:43 PM
colon to carbon