I’m A Proud Tondo Boy
And what if I grew up as a poor kid spending his happy childhood in Manila’s poorest district – the proletarian Tondo?
I was born twenty seven years ago in a small clinic here in Tondo and since that time, I have faced all that the district can offer. From the hospital’s poor state up to the poorest living organism that you’ll find, Tondo was considered by many as the place you shouldn’t be at…
Unknown to many, whose only idea of Tondo is that it’s a haven for notorious criminals, it’s more than that.
Do you know that our fearless warrior Andres Bonifacio was born here? And the famous Katipunan he led was also raised here? Along with its so-called brain Emilio Jacinto. To be exact, Katipunan was built along Claro M. Recto formerly Calle Azcarraga, the street wherein our house also stands.
If you’ll notice the streets of Tondo, some of them were named from the famous Rajas who fiercely resisted the Spaniards in the 1500s. One to name was Rajah Soliman, nephew of Rajah Lakandula who led the Battle of Bangkusay in 1571.
The 20th century King of Balagtasan, Amado V. Hernandez was also born here in Tondo along with the music genius Levi Celerio who’s been known as the “only leaf player in the world” and the novelist Bienvenido Santos.
Though not born here, the following personalities had a big part on the district:
Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas) – studied and worked as a houseboy in the home of Tondo’s wealthy Trinidad family.
Lino Brocka – filmed the famous movie Jaguar in 1979, the year I was born.
Former Pres. Joseph Estrada – portrayed Tondo’s Robinhood-like gangster Asiong Salonga in 1961 which gave him his first Famas award.
Fernando Poe Jr. – loved by Tondo for portraying several characters attaching the life of living in Tondo, like the movies Pitong Gatang (a street in Tondo) and Sa Iyo Ang Tundo, Kanya Ang Cavite with former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. who also played as Victor Hood, another famous Robinhood-like gangster in Tondo.
Now tell me, should I be ashamed to grew up in this slump? I really consider Tondo as another Paradise in the Philippines.
Ika nga ni Andres Cristobal Cruz, “Tondo Man Ay May Langit Din.”
Facts Taken From: Proud To Be A Tondo Boy by Wilson Lee Flores