Adrian Clarke L.

Dee February 19, 2020

A Home for Any

Manila (Frederico Licsi Espino Jr.) vs. Manila (The Hotdogs)

Considered as the “New York of the Philippines,” Manila, as the country’s

capital, serves as the melting point for businesses, food, and entertainment. The
jeepneys, the traditional wear, the culture, the longstanding night lights, and the
very welcoming people are the aspects as to why the Philippines and its vast lands
make it so memorable to have been in. There are certain aspects about Manila that
can make people seem skeptical about being there due to its current status of
crime, poverty, and waste disposal, but having the opportunity to visit a place like
Manila and be there for an extensive period can immediately brighten how people
see the highly urbanized city. In retrospect, Philippine national heroes, writers, and
artists have been praised for their ideas as to being able to appreciate the
patriotism in the country. In particular, two pieces of the same title, entitled
“Manila,” have been written by Frederico Licsi Espino Jr. and the Filipino band, “The
Hotdogs,” in 1976.

“Manila” by Federico Licsi Espino Jr. refers to Manila as the “beach of time,”
a land inhabited by numerous people of various of different ethnicities. The
Filipinos, referred to as the hermit crabs, who lived in different eras of the Spanish,
American, and Japanese occupations in the Philippines. His message portrays the
need for hermit crabs to re-establish the shell they call their homes as a number of
Filipinos did struggle from having most of their land taken and government
influenced by different foreign societies. The piece also portrays how the hermit
crabs, being the Filipinos, must utilize all possible resources on the beach to survive
as much as the Filipinos have struggled from poverty during these times as well.
The nature of hermit crabs is to find a horse immediately after trading or losing a
shell. This is because being under the heat emitted by the sun can potentially harm
or kill them. Similarly, regarding the societal status of the Filipinos throughout
history, local Filipinos have been affected by foreign people as hermit crabs were
affected by “selfish” hermit crabs that take each other’s shells. Furthermore, the
“sidewise movement” of the crab portrays the stagnant nature of the Philippine
economy and political status during the occupation of different nations in the
Philippines.

Page 1|3
Adrian Clarke L. Dee February 19, 2020

“Manila” by The Hotdogs refers to Manila as home. “Ikaw lamang ang aking
lagging binabalikan.” Home is what gives people the sense of familiarity to the
place they have once belonged to. Home is not a family, a house, one’s belongings,
or the cobwebs that fill every corner of the house, but it comprises of all these
things that brings forth that sense of relief after leaving it for a while. “Ang ingay
mong kay sarap sa tenga.” Despite the clamor, the crowded streets, crime, or its
imperfections, Manila continues to be a place remembered by every Filipino.
However, the Manila setting and the sounds are not the only factors that make
Manila seem like home to a number of Filipinos, but the humble people and the
Filipino lifestyle are what give a greater sense of significance to the lives of Filipinos
living in the Philippines. Similarly, a piece by Fernando Maramag entitled Moonlight
on Manila Bay portrays similar sentiments of the sense of belonging, and nearly
identical aspects of speculation as a literary theme can be observed as well. “A
light, serene, ethereal glory rests. Its beams effulgent on each crestling wave; Not
always such the scene; the din of fight Has swelled the murmur of the peaceful air;”
The parallelisms between the writers’ ideas of Manila can be observed when it
comes to describing Manila as a beautiful place regardless of all the undesirable
historical events or all its unmistakable flaws.

Throughout the course of stylized poetry and whimsy short stories in

Philippine history, Filipinos have been recognized for having based their literary
pieces on their love for the country. This love, despite all the horrible controversies,
wars, and deaths that haunt the foundation of this very nation, continues to grow as
the culture continues to change and as the time passes by. As much as how people
tend to invest in working with people in other countries or how several Filipinos
work elsewhere, the Philippines is always considered an option as families prepare
for their long-awaited family members to come back home and celebrate holidays
the “Filipino way.” Through pancit, lechon, paper plates, rice, and a variety of
sauces, the Filipinos always try to make everyone enjoy with that “Filipino holiday
spirit” as thousands do in the heart of the Philippines, known as Manila. Regardless
of the notable differences in perspectives between the two types of texts, the
shared ideas behind the texts are the mind’s familiarity, sentiments, and love of
one’s homeland. Apparently, as much as it has been said repeatedly, there seems
to be no place like home.

Page 2|3
Adrian Clarke L. Dee February 19, 2020

Page 3|3