A Miracle in 20 years

Title

Language

English

Year

1969

Subject

Manila North Harbor.

Harbor maintenance and repair.

Marcos, Ferdinand Emmanuel E. Sr., 1917 – 1989.

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

tips for the homemaker Buy vegetables by the kilo. Choose the pieces carefully. When you buy a kilo of onions get them in assorted sizes, a few large ones and many small ones. When you use only half of an onion the unused half often goes to waste. • • • Test the freshness of eggs with the "sink or swim test." Place the egg in a pan of cold water. A fresh egg will lie nearly flat at the bottom. If the egg stands at an angle, it is about three to four days old. If it floats, it is rotten. • • • Keep salt dry by putting about half a teaspoonful of rice in the container. • • • Cubes of ice instead of plain tap water harden the gelatin faster. • Keep your corn on the cob fresh and juicy by cutting the end of the cob and letting it stand on a pan of water. Keep corn husks on. • • * Never make the mistake of pouring hot water on dishes when washing them. Put the hot water in a basin with soap suds, before putting the dirty dishes in. PM 10 The New North Harbor "A MIRACLE IN 20 YEARS" T UGBO.f\.TS blew their whistles; ships sounded their foghorns as the M a n i l a North Harbor celebrated its 32nd year of existence. No less than President Marcos himself was the guest of honor, and he came with compliments for the builders of the port and also with stern warning for those who have made North Harbor notorious as a thugs' paradise, or, to change the metaphor, a gate of hell particularly for provincianos coming to th~ cih· for the first time. North Harbor virtually grew out of marshland west of Tondo. The early traders plied their commerce at the mouth of the Pasig River in what was known in PreSpanish days as Daungang Hilaga, made famous by Rajah Lakanclula, Soliman and others. During the Commonwealth, interisland shipping was generally confined at the Pasig but the more luxurious passenger vessels like "SS Mayon" and "SS Corregidor" used the facilities of Pier 3 at the South Harbor. Work on the present site of Barrio Bangkusay began on March 7, 1937; four piers, 2, 4, 6, and 8, were completed until the outbreak of the war. The warehouse was destroyed but otherwise the port structures remained intact to be used by the U.S. army with the liberation of Manila. The rebuilding of North Harbor when it was finally turned over to the Philippine government was a difficult one. The whole North Harbor was a mess; it was dirty, unS'afe, run-down. Efforts were made to improve the facilities but somehow North Harbor developed a notoriety that somehow lin<rPTs on today. With the change of administration in 1966 North Harbor saw new life, and in the words of Manila columnist Teodoro F. Valencia, "what has been done in the North Harbor is a miracle of 20 vears." Besides new facilities there is better cooperation between Harbor authorities and shipping companies in certain areas of port improvement. President Marcos paid tribute to the builders of the new North Harbor which now has six operational piers, one is being paved, and another is still being built. Actually it was under the administration's infrastructure program that North Harbor has developed into a modern, multi-million pier complex. President Marcos was gracious in giving awards & citations during the March 7, 1969 celebration to both Harbor personnel, shipping companies and some of their officers. At the same time the President saw to it that the audience did not forget that North Harbor still has a reputation it need not deserve. He said : "The Manila North Harbor is the gateway to the cit~· as far as manv of our colmtrymen are concerned. Many people from all over the islands come to Manila by ships that dock in these piers. To them Manila is a kind of promised land, and they come with all kinds of hopes and expectations." Marcos said he was "distressed to know that many of them, uninitiated in the ways of the city . have been victimized by thieYe:-; and criminals some of whom are involved in the services of loading and unloading, in transportation from the piers to city destinations of these hapless passengers." "This situation must be changed," the President said. He called upon the authorities of North Harbor to see to it that every passenger and every cargo is safe . He also called upon the shipping companies to follow rigidly all regulations for the protection and safety of passengers. Supported by the Manila press in this regard, the President ma:v well have begun clean-up drive. in his words, "to restore to interisland travel the glamor and the pleasantness it used to have."Flvi THE PHILIPPINE MAGAZINE I MARCH 31, 1969

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