Well-loved bookstore returning to ‘new’ Lagusnilad Underpass

WALKWAY TO HISTORY A colorful mural showing significant moments in the country’s history is one of the main attractions at the newly reopened Lagusnilad Underpass. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Following nine months of rehabilitation, the Manila government unveiled on Monday the new Lagusnilad Underpass, where passersby would be greeted with a mural showcasing the country’s history — from the 333-year Spanish rule, Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” to a tribute to medical front-liners battling the new coronavirus disease.

“This is a partnership between the local and national government, and we are very thankful to them because they are protecting our national heritage [sites],” Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Aside from 24/7 security and closed-circuit TV cameras, the newly refurbished underground walkway also boasts vertical gardens and images of Manila’s famous structures: the National Museum of Natural History, Jones Bridge and San Sebastian Church.

Another attraction, however, was expected to open soon: The well-loved Books From Undergound that sold secondhand titles, including hard-to-find prints for 10 years at the underpass until it became a casualty of the city’s cleanup operations in 2019.

“We are allotting the only vending space here to Books from Underground. We renovated its old space to make it cleaner and easier to do business. But for others, there will be a strict no-vendor policy,” Domagoso told reporters.