DOF PHOTO ESSAY: Strolling the (less crowded) streets By lourdesrae - August 25, 2019 1056 FacebookTwitter - Advertisement - This is the juncture of Amelia and Lopez Jaena Streets, the southern spine of the Libertad Public Market. The portion of Amelia you can see used to be passable to only one vehicle as it was choked by vendors lining both sides of the road. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles BANANA vendors at the South Public Market share a light moment as they watch over the produce they sell. These vendors are among those who rent regular stalls within the market unlike the illegal vendors who hawk on the surrounding streets. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles A SECTION of Luzuriaga Street in the downtown area bound by Gatuslao to the east and Araneta to the west. Gaisano Main was one of the first few malls to open in the city. Shown here is its side entrance. Near Gaisano are footwear stores that Bacolodnons used to frequent before the opening of mega malls. This area used to be clogged with jeepneys plying southern routes and street vendors displaying their wares on both sides of the street. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles NOONBREAK: A vendor of assorted goods and produce take a nap along Amelia Avenue which the side entrance of the Burgos or North Public Market is located. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles JUST DARE. A young daughter of a market vendor owning this stall along Amelia Avenue at the South or Libertad Public Market makes a defiant gesture at the photographer. This child has seen the demolition of illegal structure for days at Amelia. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles DEMOLITION MEN: Employees of the City Legal Enforcement Unit prepare to take down an illegal structure along Margarita and Lopez Jaena Streets near the Libertad Public Market. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles BY HINDSIGHT, some drivers say clearing the streets did some good to them. Joebert Guillano has been driving a public utility jeepney for 10 years. He thinks driving along his route is faster now. The faster the travel, the better for his income… | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles “Before the clearing operations, traffic was really terrible… It’s advantageous for us drivers,” Joebert Guillano, a driver says in Hiligaynon. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles AND ON THE 13TH DAY, there were roads again. Lopez Jaena-Amelia juncture almost two weeks after clearing started. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles A PUBLIC LIVING ROOM. Children of ambulant vendors play, rest, sleep even on the side of a closed bank along Lopez Jaena Street near Margarita Avenue. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles OPEN, SESAME! The Amelia Avenue entrance of the South Public or Libertad Market is easier to enter now. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles THE OTHER SIDE. The streets may have been cleared but Elizabeth Villacampa is confused as to where to get the next meal as her street vending had been affected. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles “Sobra guid na apektohan ‘mi ya. Indi ra mi ka display (We are greatly affected. We can no longer display our goods),” says Elizabeth Villacampa, street vendor. | Photo by Lourdes Rae Antenor, text by Julius D. Mariveles - Advertisement -