Four years old

I remember waking up one fine sunny Sunday morning and decided to walk half a block to the Legazpi Market, which had just opened. It was then very neat and tidy.

The restaurant Bollywood, which had just opened in Greenbelt 3, was also there. I saw Larry Cruz, an old friend, and we chatted for a while. Now, four years later, Larry has left us, as Bollywood left the place shortly thereafter. But the market continues to be there.

It was a tidy albeit spiritless kind of place but it had a certain charm. The first friend I remember making there was Adela, who owned the fruit stand. She sold me big blackberries, fruits that were strangers to me. I enjoyed them. I liked then the fruit stand and the jewelry store of Joey and Mylene Casimiro. They moved from one end of the block — the same parking area where they are now — to the parking area behind Corinthian Plaza.

I would still go there once in a while to buy calamansi, flowers, fruits, and to look through Mylene’s jewelry. Then about two years ago the market moved back to where they started. This time I noticed they are selling paintings. My art exhibit had just ended and I had leftover paintings. So I asked if I could sell them there. Yes, they said. That’s how I got in.

I have been there for almost two years. In addition to my paintings, which sell so rarely, I also sell anting-antings in necklaces I make myself, my book We’re History! and postcards of my paintings. Still, my sales are low but I love the friends I’ve made at the market.

Today, there is more of everything. More food, more perfumes and soaps, more clothes, more bangles. It also has a growing art department. In my tent we used to be only three. Then we grew to four but the youngest and prettiest among us left. She has been replaced by a Chinese artist/healer. So in our tent you meet Sunny Garcia first and his smashing oil paintings, then you meet William, who does abstract art. Then you meet Raymond Ongcal, dressed in an expensive straw hat every Sunday. Raymond is a framer but he also sells art. Then you meet me and my watercolors. Across us is Reni who sells photographs, some as refrigerator magnets, very pretty for only P20. About a market block down from us, meaning 10 to 15 steps, you see Inday’s daughter, who sells her mother’s work next to Mylene’s jewelry. You should also check out Juana’s jewelry. Good stuff!

Like I have written before, the market has grown. Where once there were around 40 people selling, there are over a hundred now. You can buy all kinds of food there — organic, Pinoy, or foreign. You can also buy what we call dry goods — things for the house, things to wear, things to indulge in. Ideally the market should be bigger with more tables for people to eat. It offers a wide variety of good dishes and there’s a price range so there’s food for everyone. Before there were enough tables but now it’s hard to find a place to sit.

I sometimes wish it would be better set up, all the dry goods in one area, all the desserts together, all the food together, all the drinks together with lots of tables in between. It can be done. We already have new tents. The aisles need to be topped with better fabric, maybe a see- through plastic to let more sunlight in and as a rain shield. If they get the market in really good shape, we can get more tourists or sell it to tour groups. Why not? Well, because nobody listens. They just want to run the market the way they see fit and I don’t blame them. It’s comfortable the way it is. You can bring your pet dogs over. I see a lot of them. I haven’t seen any pet cats but one of these days maybe a pet tiger will come. I hope I never see a pet alligator no matter how small. Pets are welcome.

Tomorrow is the fourth anniversary of the Legazpi Market. There will be a buffet lunch featuring all the good food that’s sold there. You pay P180 only and you have around 50 dishes to choose from. You will also be given gift certificates you can use for shopping. It will be like a fiesta, I am sure. That’s a good deal, isn’t it?

Come over. Look at our market. Have a good time. I can’t believe it’s been four years since I woke up and decided to walk down half a block and check it out.