(UPDATED) The GenSan Public Market and Cagampang Street
I have long wanted to take photos of the Gen. Santos City Central Public Market and the streets surrounding it from above and find out how it looks like from that vantage. I remember doing it once when I still had my first digital camera, the first models of Sony Cybershot at 1.5 megapixels so you could just imagine how visually limited the outcome were.
But last week, with a much better camera, the Canon 300D using a 35mm Ultrasonic lens, which I have been using for almost all the pix in these blogs, I got permission from a kind front desk staff of Anchor Hotel to go up their rooftop and take my shots from there of the Central Public Market.
I never realized how clean our streets were, especially those of Santiago Boulevard and Cagampang street until the time I was editing these pictures today. That CLEANEST CITY AWARD in 2004 from Malacañang was really no fluke, if you may allow me to say so. Even the Gensan Public Market won as one of the recipients of the Top 5 Cleanest Public Markets in the country.
Cagampang Street was where I and my siblings spent a portion of our childhood, when our Dad’s tailoring, Avelman’s Fashion and Haberdashery used to occupy the frontage of the ground floor of the two-storey Golden City Theater, which was the first arcade in these parts in the 60s.
The arcade also hosted a hotel on its 2nd floor (managed by the Clarin Family) plus a billiard outlet, a barber shop, a canteen, another tailoring (Valderrama’s Tailors), among others.
That’s me, little Bariles going down the stairs leading to the balcony of Golden City Theater with the Golden City Hotel manager, Mrs. Clarin.
Golden City and the whole of the the public market across our shop was my and my siblings’ playground. Our playmates were the kids from the stores, offices and shops within the vicinity, most notably the Tugbangs (Grecille and Ronnie) whose father, Dr. Tugbang had a clinic beside our tailoring and Raymond, son of Dr. Mendoza, who has a clinic farther up the road.
The arcade had a wide atrium in the center where I learned to roller skate courtesy of my older friends from nearby Lapu-lapu Street, the Alcasid Brothers (of Korelco) and their friend, a son of the Pacana‘s who regularly drop by after school. (God! If only my Mom was still alive, she could have furnished me most of the details and names here. 
)
Golden City Theater burned down in the 80s and in its place, another commercial building rose, now occupied by a chinese retailer. Beside it are shops selling Maranao items and fabrics from Southeast Asia. The whole of Cagampang which is now cemented looks so much different from those times when it used to mean the whole world to me and my siblings.
Here are the photos of the GenSan Public Market and its outlying streets which you may each click for a larger view. :)
- “THE GENSAN PUBLIC MARKET FACING SANTIAGO BOULEVARD ACROSS DADIANGAS SUN TRADING”
- “A VIEW OF CAGAMPANG STREET PARALLEL TO PEDRO ACHARON BOULEVARD”
- “A CLOSER VIEW FROM ATOP OF A PORTION OF CAGAMPANG STREET”
- “THE BUSINESS DISTRICT OF GENSAN, SANTIAGO BOULEVARD”
- “GENSAN PUBLIC MARKET AND A VIEW OF SARANGANI BAY”
- “THE OLD FISH LANDING AREA ROUND BALL AT THE P. ACHARON AND SANTIAGO BOULEVARDS JUNCTION”
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
gensanite Says:
very nice photos, KUY…
great resolution…
pang-sports illustrated ang dating…
clean na pud kaayo ang ’round ball’… set na gyud pud for the holidays kay naa na’y mura’g christmas tree – with a star (photo #5)…
great rehabilitation as well to our public market’s roofing (photo #1)…
i’d have to agree that this area looks spic-and-span… and i hope we’d keep it that way…
cheers, TUNA MAN!!!
p.s.
i used to work in a radio station up in cagampang street – a little further from the scene that you took (photo #2)…
Posted on September 8th, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Rue Ramas Says:
I would salute Glen Gonzales, our Market Manager, under whose management our public market was kept neat and clean, with disciplined vendors around…
Posted on September 8th, 2008 at 7:28 PM
a ab Says:
thanks for sharing the pictures! asenso na gyod ang GenSan
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Jinky Says:
nice shots, sir vel
ako kaya, kelan mo kukunan picture he he he. . .
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 8:28 AM
miko Says:
nakaka-miss tuloy umuwi ng gensan….
thanks for sharing your pix sir site admin at least kahit papaano nakasilip what is gensan now looks like now…
hopefully, there will be more new pix of gensan…
kudos to you sir…
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 10:38 AM
kyawkyaw Says:
Nice shots ha…. and nice view from the top… ganyan na pala kalinis ang palengke, almost a year na akong di napapadaan dyan ah. Sana di cla mapagod sa paglilinis ng lahat ng sulok ng palengke. Congrats!
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 11:23 AM
glengonz Says:
thanks for posting the food side of the central public market vel, i will show this part to my market personnel during our regular monthly meeting on sept. 19. we have regular monthly meeting every 3rd friday of the month to discuss matters concerning performance, administrative lapses, attendance, security among others. we have gone far with our market operations, our huwarang palengke award (top 5 public market nationwide)is a manifestation of the great efort, dedication of our market “implementors”, market sweepers (day and night shift), office staff and my very energetic OIC market administrator felix gamutin. thank you tita rue for the acknowledgment. rest assure we will do the hardest thing… SUSTAIN the progress.
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 1:48 PM
ayel Says:
wow, you are really part of GenSan’s history.
See, how big GenSan has grown!
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 4:46 PM
gensanite Says:
@glengonz –
my hats off to you, SIR GLEN…
this “facelift” is a manifestation of your leadership, the collective efforts of the people in the central public market, and the support of the local government…
cheers!!!
on another note to TUNA MAN:
great (additional) pics… those photos must’ve been part of your family’s nostalgic collection…
the table on the first “old school” photos has, what i think are, khakis and white cloths… school uniform ba ito ng mga dameans nu’ng araw?
cheers!!!
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 9:36 PM
anonymouse :) Says:
@glengonz,
kailan kaya malilinis ang mga basurang tao (kawatan, mangunguot, mangingilad, atbp) diha sa public market? ajejeje
Posted on September 9th, 2008 at 11:17 PM
meg Says:
hi avel,
nice photos huh… you can really be a pro… ur doing a great job dear fren….
congrats din to our Assistant City Adm. Glen Gonzalez for giving an excellent face lift TO our central public market KUDOS!!!
i feel so proud to really say and claim that together we can do all the best for GENSAN… GO GENSAN GO GO!!!!
meg
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Joy Jocelyn B. Perez-Cue Says:
My eye caught this site as I was searching for news for an old friend. Her name is Grecille Tugbang. I hope to she reads this!
From an old Kalayaan dormmate,
Joy Perez
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 6:36 PM
bariles Says:
hi gensanite! we really have to commend the public market management for maintaining the cleanliness of its surroundings. Glennville, take a bow!
Those are remnants of the xmas tree last christmas 2007. hehehe!
You miss HOT FM, don’t you? Hehehe!
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:08 PM
bariles Says:
hi Rue! If only those little green stalls were not there, then our public market will be one attractive tourist attractions. They actually serve no purpose there. I hope our Mayor pushes through with their plans to transfer them to the BAGSAKAN in Alunan.
That will be one of his most lasting legacies if ever.
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:11 PM
bariles Says:
@bariles –
@a ab, jinky, miko and kyawkyaw, hello! Thanks for appreciating these pictures. This was a good discovery for all of us. Super-linis nga talaga ang streets of GenSan. Hats off to Kagandahan GenSana too for taking good care of the surroundings.
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:15 PM
bariles Says:
Glenn, all I can say is, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK and KUDOS to your hardworking people especially Felix. Dapat ang slogan mo na ngayon ay: ANG SARAP MAMALENGKE SA GENSAN CENTRAL! Mabuhay ka Glenn at lahat ng iyong tauhan pati na mga stall owners!
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:17 PM
bariles Says:
Ayel, history man jud. Hehehe! Salamat my friend.
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:18 PM
bariles Says:
gensanite, we should buy our foodstuff for your bienvenida party at the central market once you’re here. Then pa-cheese burger tayo kay Glenn. Deal?
Yeah, I think those are school uniforms. Remember that those were the days when READY-TO-WEAR were not in vogue then.
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:21 PM
bariles Says:
Ate meg, salamat po! Dapat may commendation na si Glenn from the SP.
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:22 PM
bariles Says:
Hi Joy! Welcome to Bariles Republic. Grecille is now based in Quezon City. I am sure she will be able to read this and contact you.
Small world huh?
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 8:23 PM
gensanite Says:
@bariles -
not really… mas na-miss ko pa ang ANNA @ 97.5…
i was actually referring to Campus Radio – where i started my broadcasting “career” back in 1998…
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 9:03 PM
gensanite Says:
@bariles –
puwede rin, KUY…
wholesale na bilihan eto!!! hahaha…
Posted on September 10th, 2008 at 9:04 PM
rj Says:
my mom went to bacolod city lastwik, mas malinis at maganada daw ang public market nila,well hope mas pagandahin at imaintain ang cleanliness ng market natin,..ask ko lang san naba ang project ng water irregation ba un ung plan ng USaid at city gov jan sa my pearly shell???hmfff..mtgal na yan…
Posted on September 11th, 2008 at 2:49 PM
none_air Says:
Nice pictures Kuya Avel!.. oo nga mas maganda nga ang palengke ngayon compared dati pero sana naman mapanatili ang kaayusan at kalinisan ng PAMILIHANG BAYAN NG LUNGSOD NG HENERAL SANTOS….Congrats xempre kay Sir Glen xa ang dahilan kaya maganada ang palengke natin….
Sana ang Basura mahakot agad para di ukayon sa mga bata at e recycle ang mga kamatis……Lagot! ibaligya dayon tag P5.00 ang tapok…HOy!!!! true raba ni xa.
Posted on September 11th, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Toinks Says:
@none_air – OMG!!!…Eeiiooowwwh!
Posted on September 12th, 2008 at 12:37 AM
odette Says:
were you at the rooftop of dolores hotel when you took some of the pics? i’m one of the partners of the coffee shop (miss mocca) operating there, and i must say the improvement of the market has been a breath of fresh air for us up there, and no trash anymore for an eyesore.
congratulations to glengonz, what a feat!
odettes last blog post..down times
Posted on September 12th, 2008 at 6:47 PM
lovely Says:
WHOOOA! That’s another thing we have in common–I also grew up in Cagampang as we used to have a store beside Specialist Clinic. Pero san yung Golden Theater haha di ko na ata naabutan yun! By the way how do we register sa Oct. blog event?
lovelys last blog post..Mang Pandoy Is Dead
Posted on September 15th, 2008 at 5:43 AM
archmykel Says:
Hi lovely the Golden Theater is at the junction of cagampang and westside street. Its were the hollywood blockbuster were being shown. I remember that capitol and pioneer theater used to show tagalog movies. Golden theater the english movies, state and pacita theater show the chinese karate and swordplay movies. and Virgie theater shows adult movies. later pacita theater change its nameto family theater but ironically, it started showing adult movies.
those were the days….. heheheheh
Posted on September 15th, 2008 at 11:36 PM
archmykel Says:
Its a great transformation. and the green color really gave the market a clean image. Great work Glen. next na dapat ayusin yung hagdanan sa loob ng palengke. Di kasi cya elderly and pwd friendly. masyado mataas ang steps.
Posted on September 15th, 2008 at 11:40 PM
orman Says:
take a bow, glen! ang galeng mo, Ter! keep up the good work!
Posted on September 18th, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Joy Jocelyn B. Perez-Cue Says:
i really really hope so! i would love to hear news from her again! it’s been 30 years!
thanks again!
Posted on November 1st, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Niezel Hidalgo Says:
Magandang GenSan! Nice shots! this is really the actual scenario in our Public Market.
Posted on September 26th, 2010 at 10:16 AM
bromasig Says:
wish i could also communicate with grecille. 09084732139 bong UP Visayas
Posted on October 10th, 2010 at 7:18 PM
Joy Jocelyn B. Perez-Cue Says:
FOR: GRECILLE TUGBANG
If you happen to read this, please contact me at 09178099910 or email secretsofjoy@gmail.com
Joy Jocelyn B. Perez-Cue
UP Kalayaan ’78
Posted on February 3rd, 2011 at 2:21 PM
bariles Says:
Joy, Grecille has a Facebook Account. Try looking for her there.
Posted on February 5th, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Joy Jocelyn B. Perez-Cue Says:
THANK YOU!!! FOUND HER…
Posted on February 5th, 2011 at 2:51 PM
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Posted on August 17th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
The Notre Dame of Lagao Class 1954 of my Dad | GenSan News Online Mag Says:
[...] in Davao for two years and later on, established & owned the biggest tailoring shop in GenSan (Avelman’s Fashion and Haberdashery) until he retired in the [...]
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