The Only Steel Church in the world

You read that right my friends, this wonderful piece of Neo-Gothic architecture is the only standing church made out of pre-fabricated steel! (Which means it was made somewhere else and delivered here piece by piece) The name is the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian or better known as San Sebastian church.

One thing that baffles me after discovering this wonderful piece of history is that its been hiding under the buildings of residential condominiums and university campuses. Its hidden at our very own Recto Ave, just behind the San Sebastian College building. You have to walk to Loyola st. and take a turn on Bilibid Viejo st. to get a good view of the whole structure.

The Quiapo Theaters (Part 1)

One of the first gems ive taken pictures of in my expeditions in Manila.

Before i discovered their hidden identities, i pass them almost every time when i was young. Incredibly after i researched more about them, it amazed me to know that Quiapo was one of the most brightest areas in Manila; an incredible diamond in a rough. There were numerous stand-alone theaters scattered all over Quiapo and border Sampaloc before World War II, lining the streets with magnificent works of art-deco and entertainment. The sky was awake at night with these theaters, people from afar would come to Manila and die to hope to watch at least one the theaters. Ah those were the glory days.... Now but a history long forgotten, the names Galaxy and Bellevue theaters don't ring a bell in our present days because most of the theaters have been let out to rot and abused while some were fated to face the iron wrecking ball, reducing their proud facades to rubble. Their great days as theaters are now lost from the entertainment industry to moth-balled textbooks and various webpages. I'll be posting more about them in the near future, but for now let me introduce you to the most noticeable ones in the area.

If you ever see yourself passing by near Quiapo Church, better take a look at these art-deco treasures.