Welcome to this edition of The Monching Walks, with yours truly at the helm. I’ll be writing about the Muni Market Day held last March 28 at Capitol Commons Park, Pasig City. Organized by Muni PH, the event is a “continuing effort to bring together the creative community of entrepreneurs, makers, musicians, and other cultural creatives—to create a culture of conscious consumption and mindful living.” CJ and I were excited to attend, as this was the first event we went to without relying on public transportation. Pardon me if it isn’t as comprehensive as you expected it to be.
Going to the venue wasn’t a problem as I already had a vehicle. I parked at the basement building of the newly built Estancia Mall, right beside the park. Here’s a little bit of trivia: the former capitol building of Rizal province once stood on this property, donated by the Ortigas family (of Tiendesitas and Greenhills fame) to the provincial government. When a new capitol building was completed in Antipolo City, the property’s ownership reverted back to the Ortigas family—who then developed it into today’s Capitol Commons.
We arrived at the venue at around 11 in the morning – when the sun was almost at its peak. The park looked vibrant with white tents and a lot of people walking around. The non-food merchants sold their wares on the side facing the road, whilst the food merchants were situated under a larger tent with tables and chairs. An elevated platform served as a stage for the various artists that performed – such as Reese and Vica, A Problem Like Maria, and Ton Vergel de Dios. All in all, Muni Market Day became a selling avenue for gluten-free and vegan culinary delights, organically grown produce, all-natural cleaning solutions, fashion picks from recycled materials, and useful everyday items incorporating indigenous products.
Speaking of fashion picks, I managed to buy a pair of shoes from Manila Sole for P1,400. Manila Sole makes use of old tires and conveyor belts for their soles. Worn-out conveyor belts and tires that are no longer roadworthy get a new life with Marikina craftsmanship and hip designs. I originally wanted the Bonifacio in midnight black as I loved the leather material, but they ran out of size 12. Thus, I settled for the Rizal in black and charcoal gray as it was the only variant with that size. As of this typing, I found the shoes excellent for getting behind the wheel as the old tire used for its sole is thick enough to withstand use with vehicle pedals. The only downsides I saw would be the canvas material that easily got wet, and the rather thin foot lining. I bought a pair of good quality insoles for the heel area and treated the entire show with waterproofing spray, so it’s protected from light showers and water spills. (I’ll write more about that process in a future entry.)
As the day progressed, we found ourselves lying down on the grassy patches under the trees. Good thing we brought along some mats. I managed to take a power nap for about 15 minutes—just to feel recharged for a long drive. After that, I stood up and bought a bottle of Stanford X Shaw‘s freshly brewed lemon ginger ale. The ice-cold brew was perfect for a hot day. Now refreshed and energized, CJ and I left Capitol Commons at about four in the afternoon. The only regret I had was I didn’t have enough money to buy some of the offerings sold by the merchants. Regardless, we both enjoyed the day and we look forward to attending the next iteration in October.
For the full set of pictures, do click on this link. You can visit Muni PH’s official website and Facebook page here for more updates and news about eco-friendly living.
Until the next post here at the Guide, see you. 😉
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