A day at Colon Street
Street Photography was our main theme for today's photoshoot. And our group decided to do it at Colon Street in downtown Cebu. Everytime Colon Street is mentioned, two things usually come up in my mind: very busy and crowded. So I had to keep an eye on my things especially my camera. It's kinda risky to photoshoot there alone, with all the people from anywhere, robbery is common. Yet, the street continues to be the huge and vital site of economic activity in Cebu City.
Unlike at uptown Cebu where large malls and business establishments are lined up, Colon is where you see people of all walks of life shop for cheaper goods and commodities-- clothes, bags, accessories, school and office supplies, hardware, shoes, slippers.. -- name it, and you can find almost everything in Colon at a bargain. Sidewalk vendors are also very rampant at the place. Their way of living is never easy, but as the saying goes, great works are not performed by strength, but by perseverance.
What more can I say. History has it that Colon was the heart and center of the economic trade in the city. But in today's time, it continues to be one however one goes to the place only to shop for whatever is cheaper. The poverty line raises every year too. Street children from anywhere flock to Colon as well to beg for alms. Homeless as they are, at night, some of them can be seen sleeping along the sidewalks.
The less fortunate--- the needy--- they are everywhere. It reminded me of Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror--- "who are we to be blind pretending not to see their needs". I'm guilty. Sometimes, I don't care about these people, about the happenings around me. And today's photo shoot has indeed strucked me.
