Fire in Carriedo and an old picture never found

I took some photos of the Carriedo fire (Avenida Rizal corner Bustos), which destroyed the Good Earth store. There was black smoke all over the place. I heard that the LRT coaches were stranded that day, electricity in the vicinity gone for a few hours, traffic re -routed but I was surprised that few people minded the chaos. Stores were open surrounding its area, people were walking and shopping - it is as if there was no danger present from the fire and the thick black smoke.

Only in the Philippines!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="356" caption="Look at the family on the right side (pedicab), enjoying their moments amidst the raging fire less than a block away!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="354" caption="Good Earth! on Fire!"][/caption]

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I was walking the streets of Manila the day when this fire took place, I don't have much to do lately but study and treat myself with this leisurely walks. Its good exercise you know.

The purpose of this particular trip was to look for a photo studio where my father had a picture of him in an Americana suit, he was still a binata when it was taken. He was a handsome mestizo (I can't figure out why I am not!) and he had this show business aura, he was a looker! This was probably the reason why the studio owner used his photo as a display (without his permission!). So the first thing you would notice when you enter this shop is his blown up picture, ala Pancho Magalona.

Unfortunately, due to bad memory he cannot name the place, he gave me a big area to cover, but that's cool with me since I love to walk anyways. There was this one place near Quaipo church, but that was not it - we had a portrait there as a family.

He only found out about this from a relative. He never saw it personally. Inspired by this story, I tried looking for the photo studio around Carriedo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo area; unfortunately I did not find it. It was later that I realized that this old studios are probably been out of business for sometime due to the new technology of digital photography or its possible that they've converted their business to one. Throwing away the old photos that once decorated their small shops.

Things I do to satisfy my cravings for the past!