baywalk no more

i haven't actually seen the famous baywalk but i've seen it on tv. i heard this place revived manila's image from being dirty to classy. but it seems like i won't be able to see the beauty of this place anymore. what baywalk was known before as a new hangout place for the barkada and family during night time is now gone. because of his policy of "no liquor in public places", newly re-elected mayor alfredo lim ordered to dismantle the structures located in the area. the bars and foodstalls aren't there anymore. he also wanted to get rid of the baywalk bands. his reason for banning the bands is that some of the female musicians wore sexy clothes. he thinks those bands are associated with pornography. you think that's absurd? his proposal is even more absurd: to replace bands with “talented students who play native instruments.” geeessh..

just look at the difference. before...


and after...


it's already 2007 and people's tastes have changed, public places themselves are sometimes not enough to get the crowd, they need to be anchored on something that draws the people, the place is a leisure hub, walking around the place and enjoying the view is not enough, it needs to have more activity into it because the city crowd can easily get bored, dining, retail, and entertainment establishments are essential, although they need to be screened carefully to create an appropriate mix. it doesn't always have to be an establishment placed there to attract people or for gimiks. why don't they try a themed street-market selling the freshest produce like the weekend market here in makati. that would surely attract bay condo dwellers. or how about an exercise class, free martial arts lessons, basically any kind of activity that would give life and character to the place. and don't forget the access, it must be seamlessly connected to the city by way of public transport for this place to be really accessible to everyone. before tearing down the baywalk structures, mr. lim should have had a concrete plan on what to place there afterwards. he said in an interview before that he doesn't really have any concrete plans for the baywalk yet (they say plans are already in the works) but he just have to demolish the structures now. it just seems pointless.