Molo Morning Walk

That became a walk and a ride (actually)!

Woke up about 6AM from a comfy unhampered night's sleep at Urban Sands Iloilo! I'll talk about this hotel in a later article, I think. I only arrived last night, its too soon to say anything yet, right?! Anyway..,

swimming pool of Urban Sands Iloilo
It was a nice morning that I thought the outside world (this is Molo District) was worth exploring than the nice inviting pool fronting my room. So, I set out for a leisurely walk. I requested the guard to tell front desk serve my breakfast at 8AM instead of what I wrote on the form last night which was 7AM.

Standing by the entrance of Urban Sands, I noticed the road here is one-way going left and already busy with many vehicles passing by, including jeeps plying the route from 'Villa' to downtown Iloilo. Surprisingly, these vehicle noises are not at all heard inside the Urban Sands compound which is just a few steps inward. It might be due to how this hotel's perimeter fence(wall) was made or is made of.

To my left, I could see a building named Injap Foundation building. Hmm, isn't that a school? Other times I passed here, I thought I read that that is a university. Across is the gate of Iloilo City National High School. Hmm, this is a busy thoroughfare. As I stood here, I was torn between going left or right.

If I went left to the little rotunda and onwards, I would reach Hotel Del Rio. Behind it is the Esplanade, I could cross the bridge and walk all its length, or even stroll around the Technohub and Smallville. But I have seen those places a number of times both night and day, latest was last week (after Guimaras).

So, I opted to walk to the right - I knew it should be a shorter way to the Molo Plaza and Church. Not that I haven't been to those places, but I wanted the 'old town morning charm' this time. So off I went.

Just a big house in between, is already the gate of Molo 1 Elementary School. I could just imagine, if this was a weekday, the immediate surroundings of Urban Sands must be bustling with youngsters - a public high school, a public elementary school and some private tertiary institution all around it. Wow!

Would it be noisy? I doubt, since even loud cars and jeeps cannot be heard from inside the hotel.

After the elementary school is the regional headquarters of DSWD, and across it is also a regional headquarter, of BIR. Whoa, what a busy road! I think I read a sign that said this is MH Del Pilar St.

Hey, after BIR, on that side of the road is a cemetery hehe. I avoided looking that way, and, good I walked on the side of Urban Sands and DSWD hehe. Eh mimintiryo yan eh! Ayaw! Takot ako! Duu!

Here's a funny 'introspection'...
As I was walking in front of some auto-repair shop, I glanced across the road and it was already the end of that cemetery. I saw a nice-looking building that displayed in big letters the name of an MD (yes, Medical Doctor). I was silently laughing telling myself "grabe ang doktor na yan, sa tabi talaga ng sementeryo nag-clinic. Ano, pag namatay pasyente nya i-i-itsa na lang dun sa likod?" Ah naughty me!

But as I was in that "personal conversation" (yes, me ganun), I happened to have glanced again, and saw that the top of the building is like a church dome. OMG! It is a mausoleum pala! So I looked at it again and read "SOL CECILIA DIDELES-MARTINEZ, M.D." There's an image of Mama Mary on top of the big letters. Nanay ko, not a doctor's clinic after all! It's the dear departed doctor's libingan. Kulba!

Of course I did not take any picture. Eh, pag mga ganyan, I don't even like looking in that direction eh! If you want, just pass by that cemetery and you will see what I have been describing hehe. The letters are so big you would think it is some kind of an office! 'Wag sana ako bisitahin ng kanyang kaluluwa!

Further onwards, there is a GT Plaza Mall. Hmm, this area has really already been urbanized...
GT Plaza Mall at Molo District Iloilo City
The look and feel of Molo District now already seems like a totally different city from Iloilo! Urbanized.

From this mall, I could already see the Molo Church...
Molo Church can be seen from the GT Plaza Mall
I initially (instinctively) thought of going there, so I continued walking beside this GT Plaza Mall.

But reaching the corner where I should turn right via that BDO branch, I hesitated...
Molo Church as seen from corner of MH Del Pilar and Locsin streets in Molo District, Iloilo City
I was only wearing shorts (not even board shorts) and my rubber slippers. Yes, naka-sinelas lang pala ako! And this is "Ilonggo country" where they even dress up just to go to SM Supermarket. No can do!

So I moved on, to this palengke-looking bustling (commercial) area of the place...
a department store in Molo District Iloilo City
I liked looking at this building (department store I'm sure). I could see the things they sell through the glass windows. One of those that the Robinson's inside GT Mall will probably kill soon. Ah, evolution.

I gravitated back (to the right, I mean) along Locsin St., by the side of the Molo Plaza to the corner at AvanceƱa St. (main road). Unfortunately (or "fortunately"?), the "Villa" Jeeps kept zooming by, and as if inviting me to ride in one of them. So I did! Going southwards to Villa Arevalo. End of morning walk!

Yes, morning walk over, dahil sumakay na ako ng jeep eh. Happy tamad, hahaha!

The sights and scenes continued though. But let's talk about it NEXT!

Comments