The "Dalang Colon"

Discovering history helps us understand the change that has been happening in the society we are in. history is not a matter for idle curiousity.  by knowing its origin, it helps people to abandon incorrect assumptions. that knowledge that you gain from searching histories has an applications in almost every aspect of human life. Many decades have passed but the Dalang Colon remains at its finest. Dalang colon or known as "Colon Street" is a historical street in downtown Cebu City that is often called the oldest and the shortest national road in the Phil. It was named after Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus). Colon Street was built during the time of the Spanish colonization. It was developed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the Spanish explorer who arrived in the Philippines in 1565. Colon Street, a bit run-down now, used to be the heart of Cebu’s shopping and business district. Many people wanted to buy their necessities in Colon because of the cheap price that the vendor offers. It was the central site of fashionable shops, boutiques, restaurants, offices and movie houses. In recent years though, with the American mall culture arriving in the Philippines in the 1990s, there was a significant shift of activity to the uptown malls and business establishments. Still, Colon is presently a huge and vital site of economic activity as shoppers of all walks of life still flock to Colon to search for cheap, economical goods to get more value for their money. Colon Street became the center for commercial activities in downtown Cebu. Over the years, it continued as the lifeline of trade and commerce in colonial Cebu. It was also the place where numerous significant social and cultural events took place. Through the years, Colon has seen the varying phases of the economic and political atmosphere of Cebu. Many universities such as the University of San Carlos, University of Cebu, University of the Visayas, and the University of San Jose-Recoletos were built near or along Colon Street, as it was identified as the center of commerce and trade. It was in Colon that many businesses were first established and had grown to enormous success. Many businessmen still believe in the profitability and business potential of investing in Colon. Colon is the very economical choice for shopping for various items, as you can get more and pay less.An obelisk detailing Colon Street’s historical significance was constructed on its northern end. In the hearts of most Cebuanos, past and present, are memories of this street. Especially for today’s elders, they have many memories of how Colon Street used to be when they were younger. Indeed, Colon seems to be a witness of many worlds of time. For Cebu, Colon Street is familiar to the mind and close to the heart.