Where to?

This curved footbridge leads from the Araneta Coliseum, but for the life of me I can't remember where it leads to. Probably to Farmers Plaza, the mall behind me, but don't rely on that or you might get lost. The sad part is, I know I've walked through that footbridge several times in the past. Sigh. The green glass structure to the left of the coliseum is another mall, Gateway.

The Big Dome

Well, one entrance to it anyway. I was just way too near to get a photo that will give a better sense of what this stadium looks like. "The Big Dome" is the nickname of the Araneta Coliseum, probably the biggest indoor stadium in Metro Manila. It is the venue for many basketball games, boxing matches, cockfighting derbies, concerts, prayer rallies, and the annual Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) beauty pageant. The first really big event that I remember being held here was the 1975 Thrilla in Manila, the final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. (No, I didn't watch it. I was too young. And even if I wasn't, I wouldn't have watched anyway. I just can't watch boxing. Sorry, Pacman.)

The dome

Finally, I managed a photo of the Araneta Coliseum which actually shows its dome. Previously, I've shown photos of one of its entrances and the curved footbridge which connects it to several malls in the area. Nicknamed "The Big Dome," this multipurpose stadium in Cubao, Quezon City is one of the biggest indoor stadiums in Metro Manila. Its biggest claim to fame is the 1975 Thrilla in Manila, the final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. The glass building on the left is the part of Gateway Mall which stretches across a public road.

Basketball-crazy

The 73rd season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) games began last month. Since the Philippines is a basketball-crazy country, many of the basketball games are held in the Araneta Coliseum, to accommodate the large number of fans who watch. One of several restaurants on the periphery of the stadium is Café Bola, with its circular logo and light fixtures.




Talk about thematic: even Café Bola's food is spherical! This is their Seafood Bola with Parmesan Cream & Ham sauce.

European-inspired

Eurotel is a chain of small, inexpensive hotels in Metro Manila, most of which are located in commercial centers with easy access to public transportation. This is the hotel in the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City which is across the street from the Araneta Coliseum, Gateway Mall, Farmers Plaza and the Cubao Station of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT).

Banking on the Lord

I didn't know anything about the United Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) until I checked their website. The community specializes in helping each other solve their problems (financial, health, family, spiritual) through prayer and faith. Since everyone has some kind of problem all the time, I imagine they have a pretty big congregation. This is their main church in the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, a highly commercial district so it's not surprising that the church has rented out space in front to Security Bank. It is right across Farmers Plaza, the Araneta Coliseum and Gateway Mall. That's the Eurotel hotel, which I posted last month, peeking on the left.

A smaller dome

This glass pavilion is the prettiest entrance of Gateway mall in Cubao, Quezon City, right across the Araneta Coliseum. It is also an extension of the dining area of Italianni's, the restaurant right beside the pavilion.

We won!

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles beat the De La Salle Green Archers 62–51 and are the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 71 men's basketball champions! Woohoo!!! This is the entrance to the Blue Eagle Gym of the Ateneo de Manila University where a projection screen was set up for those who couldn't watch the game at the Araneta Coliseum because they couldn't get tickets or had classes in the afternoon. A tarpaulin poster of the boys has been hanging there the entire season. From left to right: 17 Chris Tiu, 5 Jai Reyes, 12 Kirk Long, 13 Ryan Buenafe, 19 Rabeh Al-Hussaini, 7 Nonoy Baclao, 4 Yuri Escueta, 10 Jobe Nkemakolam, 20 Tonino Gonzaga, 11 Eric Salamat, 8 Raymond Austria, 14 Nico Salva, 16 Mike Baldos, 15 Vince Burke, 6 Christopher Sumalinog, 18 Justin Chua. Congratulations, boys! We are so proud of you!