Baywalk nights coming back to life–but in new form

The nightlife is coming back soon to Roxas Boulevard in Manila—but not in the form of bars and restaurants that were removed from the bayside strip seven years ago.

From the late afternoon to early morning,  a “Sunset Market” will occupy a short stretch of an area that came to be known as Baywalk, from Quirino Avenue up to Remedios Street. Food trucks and other concessionaires will be allowed to set up stalls for outdoor diners.

Save for some tables for picnics and perhaps lazy games of chess for tourists, there will be no permanent fixtures allowed since the area would be cleared for pedestrians before daybreak, according to Councilor Dennis Alcoreza, head the city government’s Sunset Market project.

The night market had a trial run for one evening last month. It will resume full-blast after the typhoon season and definitely before Christmas, Alcoreza said.

The al fresco eateries will be allowed from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., their owners paying a P600 monthly fee to operate. Authorized ambulant vendors—currently numbering 27—are now being organized and given special IDs and shirts that contain the motto: “Forward Ever, Backward Never.”

Alcoreza also said a group of midgets would be hired to form part of the staff of food servers at the night market. Most of the midgets are his personal acquaintances who need employment.

Sunset Market customers can also expect to see street artists perform as they enjoy their meals.

“We also want to bring back the regular 6 p.m. gig of the City Hall (brass) band which used to play along Roxas Boulevard,” the councilor added.

Once opened later this year, the Sunset Market would operate until the next rainy season arrives, he said.