{ SENSATION }

+ general observations

Each station is different, but there were similarities in each of them. Rather than sound redundant and make the write-ups longer than they already are, I'll classify the recurring/general landscapes here.

+ ordinary/vernacular landscapes

+ The MRT itself
+ EDSA
+ Commercial buildings
+ Subdivisions

+ symbolic landscapes

+ The MRT again. For some it's a symbol of the advances of globalization, of technological and economic progress.
+ Actually, anyone can attach symbolism to anything and everything in the universe. It's just a matter of imagination.

+ derelict landscapes

+ The squatter colonies
+ The old, grimy office buildings with the paint peeling off

+ landscapes of power

+ The MRT itself.
+ High-rise office buildings
+ Posh subdivisions

+ landscapes of despair

+ The MRT itself. Others find it a landscape of despair. These are the people who were injured by the MRT bombing, as well as those who have been to countries with more advanced train systems, like Japan, Germany and the UK. They find the MRT depressingly backward and incomplete. There are also those who are depressed by the sight of squatter colonies side by side with posh subdivisions.

+ sacred landscapes

+ There weren't very many sacred landscapes along EDSA. Please see the individual station writeups for that. :)

+ so what do i think about all this?

Our perspective on landscapes is really dependent on where we come from .If a person from a farflung province saw the MRT, they'd most probably be impressed. But if a person from a 1st Word country saw it, they're probably be underwhelmed or even complain about it. Globalization is really an uneven process. I think it's great that we have this relatively cheap, fast and safe mode of public transportation, but the key word there is "relative." I wish it would be faster and connect to more places not only in the city but also to nearby provinces.

Another pattern I discovered was the relationship of trees to the social importance given places. There are lots of trees in highly controlled areas like Camp Crame, Camp Aguinaldo, and the upper-class subdivisions. I guess the presence of many tall, old trees projects long-lasting power, while treeless places denote uncontrolled industrialization and lack of urban planning. That's why there are almost no trees in factory/warehouse districts and squatters areas. The exceptions to this are of course the high-rise buildings, which are able to project power simply by being so tall. That's why I love being tall. :) But seriously, I think this social standard of trees=power is good. It'll encourage people to preserve the environment.

I only realized all these things now that I'm required to think about them. Unconsciously, the absence/presence of living plants affects how I perceive a place. Forests in the urban jungle mean order, control and beauty, which all translate into power. That is so cool! This travelogue was a lot of work, but I learned a lot of unexpected things, so it was worth it.