The Baywalk massacre

By Pedro Dumancas
Inquirer
Last updated 02:38am (Mla time) 08/20/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The recent decision by Mayor Lim to get rid of the Baywalk bands is anti-musician and anti-artist. The Inquirer says the mayor’s reason for banning the bands is that some of the female musicians wore sexy clothes. It took decades for the perception that bands were synonymous with drugs to be corrected. Now a mayor is associating bands with ****ography.

That is very absurd. His proposal is even more absurd: Replace these bands with “talented students who play native instruments.”

This is a case of artist’s persecution. If the mayor is really worried about sexily clad girl musicians, why doesn’t he try stopping those gyrating noontime TV dancers?

They’re the ones who are lewd, their boobs and bottoms popping out of the TV screen like a formula, a nation’s daily dose that insults women, an act happening in broad daylight, their wide coverage reaching living rooms where children can see them, reaching even the farthest tribes where native instruments are played by real natives.

The mayor’s thinking that talent means playing native instruments is simplistic and insensitive. Or maybe he was ill-advised by an uninformed mind capable of seeing only the surface? A very, very dangerous thing, indeed.

Respected musicians

The bands or musicians who play along Baywalk are varied and not at all the same as described by Mayor Lim. Some of them, in fact, are serious and respected musicians, and if the mayor had visited Baywalk more often and listened closely to the bands, some do play “native instruments.”

Yes, we have observed most of them do covers, the so-called viajeros, but for the mayor’s information, the viajeros are the same Pinoy musicians who perform in hotel lobbies, cruise ships and bars all over the world—they are Filipinos whom we can be proud of.

Like the OFWs, the viajeros have contributed in keeping our economy afloat. If they are performing in Baywalk, it is either because they’re waiting for the next contract or simply just honing their skills for the next luxury ship to dock.

For the love of music, the viajeros are all willing to perform in Baywalk for a pittance compared to what they would be paid performing abroad. For a meal or drinks and a few hundreds, these musicians have opted to keep playing rather than end up getting rusty. And what is a few weeks of sharing the music to the kapwa Pinoys, particularly, the masa?

Mindless decision

But then, comes this mindless decision by a mayor whose real motivation could actually be to erase anything that is associated with his predecessor.

It reminds us of how one administration after another after Marcos would shun all that had the stamp of Imelda on them even if they were hospitals and cultural centers. It’s ugly politics that destroys this nation. Ditto with Baywalk.

What the mayor could have done or could still do is just get rid of the excesses of some business establishments and retain the good stuff, including the tugtugan.

As for the students who could play native instruments, we think it is better for them to concentrate on their studies and leave the Baywalk night life to the viajeros and maybe occasionally, on special events, musicians the likes of Grace Nono, Joey Ayala, Pinikpikan, Lakbay Lahi, Makiling Ensemble, Shalam, Talahib, Sruvaleh, Kadangyan.

People didn’t stroll along the Baywalk at night in the past because most likely they would get mugged. Since it became well lighted and establishments started incorporating live music into their operations, Baywalk became fun and had never been safer.

Where in the world would you see live bands playing every 50 meters? Metro Manilans welcomed it. Any visitor from the province loved it. Foreigners loved it.

People enjoyed listening to the bands that in turn connected well with the people. We saw families, barkadas, lovers, and yes, tourists. We saw musicians spilling over, which attests to the natural musicality of the Pinoys and which explains the Pinoy’s growing world domination of the band scene in which the viajeros are paving the way.

And what does Mayor Lim see? He sees only sexy bodies. Could it be that Manila’s Dirty Harry is the one with the dirty mind?

:lol1:

in this case, i guess the mayor got a point. ive seen these so called artist perform and IMHO, i dont think its necessary to wear revealing outfits in order for them to showcase their so called "talent".

pangattract nila ng customer yung "sexy outfits" nila, so in effect, kaya sila pinapatronize ng mga tao eh dahil sa revealing outfits nila and not that they have "artistic talent"

if they can just perform with a "decent" outfit and let their talents do their marketing for them, then there's no need for these things to happen.

they are making a huge fuzz bout these acts by the mayor and yet they never mention or admit a thing bout the way they do their acts... they even dare challenge the mayor to put a stop on TV where in the mayor got no jurisdiction of...pffff

pero kng papansinin mo tol lahat ng binabago ni mayor lim e mga ginawa ni atienza. wala nmang magsuot ng sexy e IMO. hindi namn naghuhubad dun. okay din namn ang music. hindi namn magulo sa baywalk. tsaka dyan ang unang EB na nkasama ako.

ok na ung baywalk siguro ung traffic lang at parking ang problema yuing sexy outfit madaling ipagbawal yan at tingin ko susunod naman sila..

ok na ung baywalk siguro ung traffic lang at parking ang problema yuing sexy outfit madaling ipagbawal yan at tingin ko susunod naman sila..
oo namn unnecessary na tngalin mo laht dahil may nkita ka lang na pusod o konting legs.

nampucha!!!

anong bawal ang sexy!!! ni hindi pa ko nakakapunta dyan tatangalin na!!

SIBAKIN ANG MAYOR!!!

LOL

kidding aside ...

kung hindi naman malaswa yung suot at sexy lang bakit HINDI PUWEDE?

saka bakit kailangan tangalin, puwede naman bigyan lang ng restriction yung mga bands sa attire nila??

kung mabenta sa turista bakit kailangan tangalin yung formula, mas dapat pa nga na improve nila, wala bang napapala dito ang syudad as a whole o kahit man lang dyan sa distrito ng baywalk mismo??

oo namn unnecessary na tngalin mo laht dahil may nkita ka lang na pusod o konting legs.

imbes na iupgrade na degrade pa ang baywalk..naku naman..kokonti na ngalang ang mga malilit na business sa pinas pinapatay pa..dapat ipagbawal ni mayor lim din ung mga illegal chinese immigrants sa 168..putcha ang dami na nila...economic sabotage yan..paalisin yang mga yan at tambakan ng taxes ang chinese products!! :boxing: lol!!

pero kng papansinin mo tol lahat ng binabago ni mayor lim e mga ginawa ni atienza. wala nmang magsuot ng sexy e IMO. hindi namn naghuhubad dun. okay din namn ang music. hindi namn magulo sa baywalk. tsaka dyan ang unang EB na nkasama ako.
eto na nga marahil ang dahilan. kahit yung mga pinasarang kalye eh binuksan na din ni Lim(pero dapat naman kasi talaga nde sinara yung mga kalye eh, naging tambayan kasi ng a*** at pakalatkalat na pokpok, i know kasi dun ako sa teresa st na isa rin sa pinaganda at pinasara ni Atienza)

medyo harsh nga at drastic yung ginawa ni lim, na pwedeng idaan naman sa ayos. at tama rin si xz, yung traffic talaga dun ang pamatay rin...

ok lang yan basta wag nya lang papasara yung tindahan ng mga pirated dvds sa quiapo.. ayos lang yan :lol1:

ok lang yan basta wag nya lang papasara yung tindahan ng mga pirated dvds sa quiapo.. ayos lang yan :lol1:
kpag sinara ng tndahn ng dvd aabut ang musli insurgency sa manila. at mawwalan ng ****ong 4 for 100 na 8 in 1 bawat cd.

kaya pala dumadami ang rape case eh.di pa nasusugpo ang mga pirated cd/dvd na bold.4 for 100 pesos ang mura naman.makabili nga.lol!

kpag sinara ng tndahn ng dvd aabut ang musli insurgency sa manila. at mawwalan ng ****ong 4 for 100 na 8 in 1 bawat cd.

may 12 in 1 na pare :lol1:

may 12 in 1 na pare :lol1:
hindi na ako bumibili e. isang araw naisip ko na lang bigla. AYAW KO NA MAGJAKOL!!!

hindi na ako bumibili e. isang araw naisip ko na lang bigla. AYAW KO NA MAGJAKOL!!!
hehehe let the women do it for yah :D :D

hindi na ako bumibili e. isang araw naisip ko na lang bigla. AYAW KO NA MAGJAKOL!!!

ahahahaha. ako rin matagal tagal nako di nabili... ever since na matutunan ko ung mga torrent sites :banana:

pero kng papansinin mo tol lahat ng binabago ni mayor lim e mga ginawa ni atienza. wala nmang magsuot ng sexy e IMO. hindi namn naghuhubad dun. okay din namn ang music. hindi namn magulo sa baywalk. tsaka dyan ang unang EB na nkasama ako.

Parang naalala ko pa nga...at ngayon, parang di ko maimagine na mag i EB tayo tapos ang background music eh rondalla habang umiinom kami ni KG ng iced tea. Pare bomalabs yata yun.

Parang naalala ko pa nga...at ngayon, parang di ko maimagine na mag i EB tayo tapos ang background music eh rondalla habang umiinom kami ni KG ng iced tea. Pare bomalabs yata yun.
o kaya nkabahag na lalalaking tumutugtog ng flute. :D

he he he. ang latest...pinatatanggal na rin ni mayor yung mga basketbol courts sa kalye!..Iba talaga si sir...:kiss:

mahigpit talaga ang kumag ...

kahit may mga negative sa mga pinatutupad nya, mukhang may mga positive din naman...

kaso kung ako tatanungin okey na sakin kahit ma traffic at bukod sa kinalakihan ko na, kinantandaan ko na rin yan kaya okey na lang sakin ang uminom sa baywalk na may kumakantang sexy at magbasketball sa kanto ... saka bukod sa wala rin akong auto, hindi rin ako marunong mag drive he he ...

he he he. ang latest...pinatatanggal na rin ni mayor yung mga basketbol courts sa kalye!..Iba talaga si sir...:kiss:
yun tlga kelngan tanggalin kesa mali na tlga. sa gitn a ng daan na e

bad trip open din nya yung avenida na close ni mayor atienza sa traffic.

nilagyan ni atienza yun ng mga cobblestones para maganda lakaran ng mga tao, ngaun dadaanan lang yun ng mga jeep.

bad trip open din nya yung avenida na close ni mayor atienza sa traffic.

nilagyan ni atienza yun ng mga cobblestones para maganda lakaran ng mga tao, ngaun dadaanan lang yun ng mga jeep.
binuksan na yan tol. una pa ata sa baywalk. lhat ng ginawa ni atienza binaliktad ni lim.

binuksan na yan tol. una pa ata sa baywalk. lhat ng ginawa ni atienza binaliktad ni lim.

ganun naman pla patakaran eh di un pinasara ni atienza na massage parlors sa sta cruz eh dapat buksan nya :lol1:

ganun naman pla patakaran eh di un pinasara ni atienza na massage parlors sa sta cruz eh dapat buksan nya :lol1:

Pati ba yun, napupuntahan mo rin? Yung nasa me malapit sa palengke ng Arranque?

ung alas 8 pa lng umaga e pwede na?

Pati ba yun, napupuntahan mo rin? Yung nasa me malapit sa palengke ng Arranque?

ahahahaha alam mo rin yun... merchants hotel yun. madalas ako bumababa malapit dun nung nag work pako sa may sta cruz dati.

yung security guard namin nagturo sakin dun 400 lang and yes umaga pa lang bukas na :lol1:

pero that was 7 years ago pa, on and off un operation nun.

ahahahaha alam mo rin yun... merchants hotel yun. madalas ako bumababa malapit dun nung nag work pako sa may sta cruz dati.

yung security guard namin nagturo sakin dun 400 lang and yes umaga pa lang bukas na :lol1:

pero that was 7 years ago pa, on and off un operation nun.

Bilib talaga ako sa iyo pare. Eleven years ako nag office sa Avenue Theater Bldg. (dating Avenue Hotel) sa Avenida, 1985 to 1996, kaya alam ko rin yan. Ang hindi ko alam kung nag ooperate pa rin sila hanggang ngayon.

Bilib talaga ako sa iyo pare. Eleven years ako nag office sa Avenue Theater Bldg. (dating Avenue Hotel) sa Avenida, 1985 to 1996, kaya alam ko rin yan. Ang hindi ko alam kung nag ooperate pa rin sila hanggang ngayon.

eh cliente namin yung may-ari nyan eh papanu di ko malalaman ahehehehe

one time na-raid yan ng umaga ni atienza, kinagabihan bukas na ulit :lol1:

ganun naman pla patakaran eh di un pinasara ni atienza na massage parlors sa sta cruz eh dapat buksan nya :lol1:

Nyahahahhahahah


IMO OA naman masyado si General. naka seksing suot lang eh papasara na???!!

eh di warningan nya muna. written document na nagsasabi na bawal ang ganun kung talgang trip nya yun. ngayon pag me warning na ginagawa pa din. eh di ipasara. ayaw sumunod eh. pero yung agad agad ipapasara eh tingin ko kakupalan yun.

walang due process

pero kng papansinin mo tol lahat ng binabago ni mayor lim e mga ginawa ni atienza. wala nmang magsuot ng sexy e IMO. hindi namn naghuhubad dun. okay din namn ang music. hindi namn magulo sa baywalk. tsaka dyan ang unang EB na nkasama ako.

hmmm, i think flippy is correct...pansin ko rin nga, there's a personal intention behind these moves....nagkataon lang na naging escapegoat ang mga music artist wearing these kind of clothes, but i think there's a personal vendetta between the two mayors.


but still, chad has a good point, they can show their musical talents w/o going too far on what they wear, pero they can still wear sexy cloths that fits their music...

hmmm, i think flippy is correct...pansin ko rin nga, there's a personal intention behind these moves....nagkataon lang na naging escapegoat ang mga music artist wearing these kind of clothes, but i think there's a personal vendetta between the two mayors.


but still, chad has a good point, they can show their musical talents w/o going too far on what they wear, pero they can still wear sexy cloths that fits their music...

Politics is all about pleasing the voters. The only difference is which side of the voters you chose. In case of Mayor Lim, he chose go by the side of those who complain vs Baywalk than with those who wanted to keep it. Obviously, those who wanted to keep it had vested interest in Atienza during his tenure, so it makes common sense (for Lim) to scrap it altogether.:boxing:

Politics is all about pleasing the voters. The only difference is which side of the voters you chose. In case of Mayor Lim, he chose go by the side of those who complain vs Baywalk than with those who wanted to keep it. Obviously, those who wanted to keep it had vested interest in Atienza during his tenure, so it makes common sense (for Lim) to scrap it altogether.:boxing:

yeah tama ka dun pareng counter. but the numbers that turns out there dun sa baywalk is.. what can i say.. humongous. and thats even on an everyday, non-holiday. i dont know but had the people knew that tatangalin nya un, i bet it would have turned off a lot of voters.

susuportahan kita mayor lim! isang bala :killyou: lang kayo kay dirty harry!lol!:D

Politics is all about pleasing the voters. The only difference is which side of the voters you chose. In case of Mayor Lim, he chose go by the side of those who complain vs Baywalk than with those who wanted to keep it. Obviously, those who wanted to keep it had vested interest in Atienza during his tenure, so it makes common sense (for Lim) to scrap it altogether.:boxing:

Tama ka pre.


pero Politics ba tong usaping ito? Baywalk pinasara nya agad tama ba yun? lahat ba ng gagawin nya tungkol sa politics? di ba pwede administrative naman kasi malayo pa eleksyon?

Kung nag warning na si general sa mga may ari ng establishment sa baywalk tapos di pa din sumunod eh makatarungan na ipasara. pero kung pinapasara ni Mayor lim mga establishments para makuha simpatiya ng mga botanteng hindi pabor sa baywalk eh sa tingin ko hindi tama.


sabi nga nya wala daw dapat ikatakot kung walang nilalabag na batas. eh bat pinasara nya kagad? Walang warning muna?

Tama ka pre.


pero Politics ba tong usaping ito? Baywalk pinasara nya agad tama ba yun? lahat ba ng gagawin nya tungkol sa politics? di ba pwede administrative naman kasi malayo pa eleksyon?

Kung nag warning na si general sa mga may ari ng establishment sa baywalk tapos di pa din sumunod eh makatarungan na ipasara. pero kung pinapasara ni Mayor lim mga establishments para makuha simpatiya ng mga botanteng hindi pabor sa baywalk eh sa tingin ko hindi tama.


sabi nga nya wala daw dapat ikatakot kung walang nilalabag na batas. eh bat pinasara nya kagad? Walang warning muna?

Tapos na kasi eleksyon, so hindi na niya kailangan ng simpatiya ng botante sa ngayon. ang mga nakapaligid ngayon kay mayor ay yung "sumuporta" sa kanya. baka may gustong "umarbor" ng baywalk, malay natin. bayad utang. eh di..politics pa rin? ..Ngyahahaha!

Gusto ring palabasin ni Mayor na mali ang pag convert ng Baywalk ni Atienza dahil sa kung anuanong rason. Mali rin ang pagsara ng Rizal Ave. Basta mali si Atienza! eh di...Politics! LOL!

Yung kung may warning o wala, di natin alam yun. kasi kung walang na-ipresent na permits o proof of payment or contract yung mga tenants duon, ibig sabihin colorum agad, so pwedeng tanggalin agad ni Dirty Harry, kasi illegal. Look at it this way, kung legal yan at walang sabit sa City Hall talaga, dapat sana ipinaglaban ni Atienza o nung nga tenants, di ba? May lumaban ba? baka...guilty! LOL!

hindi natin alam ang totoo...opinyon lang po ang lahat.

hindi pabor sa malilibog ang ginagawa ni mayor lim.hehehe.

yeah tama ka dun pareng counter. but the numbers that turns out there dun sa baywalk is.. what can i say.. humongous. and thats even on an everyday, non-holiday. i dont know but had the people knew that tatangalin nya un, i bet it would have turned off a lot of voters.

hehehe, sigurado ka ba taga maynila yang mga nakita mo. Ang alam ko ang tumatambay dun, puro taga Pasay at Cavite! ngyahahaha! Also, kung alam ng tao na tatanggalin nya yun, baka marami ring umayon..at bumoto pa! Never can tell din kung ano gusto ng voters talaga. Buti siguro, nagpa-survey muna ni Dirty Harry para medyo opisyal, objective at documented ang basis. Although in the end, call pa rin nya yun. Talaga yatang style na ni sir yan. Baka yan ang way nya to say "I'm Back!"

hindi pabor sa malilibog ang ginagawa ni mayor lim.hehehe.

wag na kayong malungkot eh bitin din naman yang nakikita sa baywalk! maraming sulok ng Manila ang mapupuntahan para mairaos ang kalibugan nyo! Sa Pasay, Paranaque, Makati, QC. Tanungin nyo lang si Nadz at Chito! LOL!

wag na kayong malungkot eh bitin din naman yang nakikita sa baywalk! maraming sulok ng Manila ang mapupuntahan para mairaos ang kalibugan nyo! Sa Pasay, Paranaque, Makati, QC. Tanungin nyo lang si Nadz at Chito! LOL!
pareng counter taga saan ka ba?malapit na rin akong umuwi?

hehehe, sigurado ka ba taga maynila yang mga nakita mo. Ang alam ko ang tumatambay dun, puro taga Pasay at Cavite! ngyahahaha! Also, kung alam ng tao na tatanggalin nya yun, baka marami ring umayon..at bumoto pa! Never can tell din kung ano gusto ng voters talaga. Buti siguro, nagpa-survey muna ni Dirty Harry para medyo opisyal, objective at documented ang basis. Although in the end, call pa rin nya yun. Talaga yatang style na ni sir yan. Baka yan ang way nya to say "I'm Back!"

ive never talked to anyone sa manila na di pa nakakapunta dun, bukod sa mga nakatira outside of manila. btw, kung sakali ngang sinabi nya un, di lang mga taga manila ang aangal baka naging national issue pa yan.

i dont personally patronize yang baywalk actually sobra kasi dami tao, but i can see that the people go there enjoy the happenings there even if wala silang pera. the negative effects may have been felt but only by a few ( pickpockets, mga hipuan).

pareng counter taga saan ka ba?malapit na rin akong umuwi?

Pasay ako. pero malapit sa boundary ng makati. malapit din sa baywalk, ngyahahaha! pag uwi mo. eb tayo, sa baywalk! LOL!:banana:

Ako tiga Pasay. born and raised pero sa totoo di pa ako nakakapunta sa Baywalk pero nung araw part yan ng pinagja-jogging-ngan ko nung naglalaro pa ako sa school.Roxas Blvd from Pasay to Luneta ang route ko nun daily.Sarap mag-jogging diyan nung araw, masasalubong mo pa mga PBA players nun. hehehe Lol!

Basta project ni Atienza sibak ke dirty Harry yan!! LOL :D