The first ever month-long Escolta Block Festival kicked off on November 9, 2019. Organized by The Manila Creative Exchange; the street was filled with music, arts, workshops, lectures, exhibits, stalls, food, and booze! Known as the Queen of Streets, Escolta regained her crown as artists and advocates shared their masterpieces and intelligence to commemorate its heritage. Hundreds of people were present to reminisce, revive, and recreate the golden days of Escolta.
Various people talked about making a difference for the city, which is called Making Better Cities, and handling failures from unpublished works, rejected ideas, and cancelled projects at Revision. There were also meaningful workshops for everyone who wants to learn and try new things.
Even the children were all happy to be a part of the festival because of the storytelling conducted by Museo Pambata. They also had fun during the Love Parade, during which the Manila City Hall Marching Band played Filipino songs as a tribute to the artist and activist Carlos Celdran, who had a heart for Manila.
Different bazaars were also present with most of the products being handmade and personalized by talented crafters and designers.
You could also feast on affordable Pinoy food stalls whilst there.
The crowd went wild when the Escolta Sessions began. An instrumental band, Aoui, set the crowd in the mood with their head-banging rhythms. They were followed by another indie band, Lenses, who played jazz and pop tunes.
A lot of hugot poured across the street when Up Dharma Down took the stage. The band performed tracks from their new and previous albums. The crowd sang in unison when they played “Indak”, “Oo”, “Luna”, and “Tadhana.” Giniling Festival ended the Escolta Sessions and started the massive party at the same time. They made everyone jump to their rock songs.
The party continued as the DJs set the stage on fire. Escolta blasted some EDM music until midnight, and people danced all night long as they drank, while others chilled at the Hub, enjoying the moment with their friends.
It was an event full of talent, creativity, and learning. Watch out for more Escolta happenings in the future!
Escolta Block
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EscoltaBlock
Instagram: @escoltablock
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad!
