Ugliness is in the eye of the beholder

Cables crisscrossing around the metro are definitely an eyesore.  This chaotic image smack right into the city planners' lack of sense of aesthetics and order.  This photo was taken in the historic and turn-of-the-century architecture-rich Juan Luna Street in Binondo. Likewise, Manila's Chinatown and its historic walled city of Intramuros are replete with frenzied and messy electrical and telephone cables--which, I should say, do not augur well for aesthetics (photographically speaking), not to mention the danger it poses whenever there are typhoons.

Manila has a treasure in its architectural landmarks, but the latter's beauty becomes barely noticed due to these untidy cables.  Admittedly, it has always been my concern when photographing a very beautiful architecture and when these cables get in the way.  It would have been picture perfect when Manila and the rest of the country would just have underground cables.  Save for more modern business districts like Makati and Bonifacio Global City where the planners and architects put aesthetics in these communities. The last time I heard, Ortigas Center will start with its underground cabling system.

Nonetheless, ugly as it appears to me, I still found these cables worthy to photograph--specifically to describe chaos.   I should say I was always wanting to capture these cables, "aesthetically" when I found this above my head.  However, this does not mean I am retracting my earlier concern.  Perhaps, it is not only me who complains about these cables.  I just hope that city planning offices would pass a policy on this matter.  Likewise, electric companies and cooperatives, and telephone companies would also comply and invest in safer and aesthetically pleasing cabling system.

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