MANILA, Philippines - Have you ever heard the expression: “The Pearl of the Orient” or “The Paris of Asia”? Visit the most urban and congested streets of Manila and these epithets might never come to mind. Irony aside, there is a champion of our national pride who revives Manila’s amazing history and is working to change your impression, one step at a time.
Meet Carlos Celdran, the man who is single-handedly changing your perception of our city. His Walk This Way tour revives and romanticizes the long forgotten legacy of when the world viewed Manila as the most cosmopolitan city of Asia.
Celdran, a University of the Philippines graduate who studied Art at the Rhode Island School of Design, uses his charismatic approach to dissect the urbanism and interaction of people within a city that is still evolving.
With each step of his walking tour, Carlos Celdran has the ability to reshape your perceptions of what you may have never understood. From controversial themes like colonial mentality, self-loathing, reproductive health, but most importantly our modern, yet sometimes “upside-down” society; Celdran hits every issue with a lighthearted tone that will keep you inspired.
He’s a clever and witty performance artist who delivers the best crash course in Philippine history in a manner that will evoke emotion and reflection. You’ll laugh, you’ll tear up, but most importantly you’ll take away a lesson you might have never taken the time to learn. So effective, in fact, come rain or overbearing shine, participants gladly take each step with the anticipation of the enlightenment that could only come from Celdran.
“I can’t change the way Manila looks, but I can change the way you look at Manila,”says Celdran.
Listen to The Magazine Show tomorrow, Saturday, 1 p.m. as model Raya Mananquil and surf photographer Mark Dimalanta get to the heart of what makes this man tick, only on NU107. Watch the live webcast at www.nu107fm.com/live-access.