Manila’s Merchant of Musical Memories
Photo Essay by Marcus Virgil Salvante BAJ 2-1N
Manila’s Merchant of Musical Memories
Innovations compelled us to depend on modern technology, especially in music and entertainment, but at what cost? Gone are the days when listening to your favorite artists meant scratching their discs, and these collective memories are what existing streaming platforms fail to give us.
In hindsight, an overlooked place that keeps this nostalgia lies underneath the streets of Recto, Manila. A 78-year-old Mang Greg owns a record store in Cartimar Shopping Center, and he's been single-handedly operating this business for eight years.
I went there to see everything for myself, and he was organizing boxes of records in front of his store all alone when I arrived. As I walked across the halls to approach him, his joyous presence accommodated me and immediately asked me what I was looking for. His record store greeted me with an overwhelming amount of books, cassette tapes, vinyl, and mostly CDs displayed and stacked to one another like a tower.
While searching for a specific record seemed like finding a needle in a haystack, the feeling of accomplishment rekindled the fire that encouraged me to become a CD collector several years ago.
Our conversations initially revolved around the records I bought, but Mang Greg also shared more about himself eventually. He stated that his recent feature on "Recto Records" boosted his sales, and many people visited.
However, he knows this won't solve the declining demand for physical media overnight.
"Sino ang bibili ng CD na ganitong ang hirap ng buhay?"
A question struck me as it is the same reason why record stores are elusive nowadays.
Nevertheless, I also realized that as long as someone like Mang Greg is here to preserve traditional media, this will remain regardless of its more contemporary alternatives to see the light of day for future generations.
1 - The front view of Mang Greg's store, where Rock CDs are mostly displayed.
2 - Mang Greg separates a CD inlay from the jewel case to check its condition.
3 - Boxes of Rock CDs displayed in front as it is the best-selling genre in the store.
4 - The view inside Mang Greg's store, where other boxes of CDs and books are displayed.
5 - A corner in the store filled with Live Concert DVDs.
6 - Another view inside Mang Greg's store where more boxes of CDs were stacked to one another.
7 - A visitor looking through the selection of cassette tapes while Mang Greg is organizing album discs.
8 - Various cassette tapes displayed in a wall rack ranging from ₱50 each.
9 - The debut album of Rock artist Pat Benatar, In the Heat of the Night, on vinyl, released in 1979, being for sale in 2024 for ₱300.
10 - Mariah Carey's self-titled debut and fifth album, Daydream—what Mang Greg considers his best-selling artist in his store.
11 - Wide range of Pop and R&B albums for sale ranging from ₱300 each.
12 - A CD inlay of Pulp Fiction: Music From the Motion Picture.
13 - Mang Greg sitting in the facade of his store.
14 - Mang Greg interacting with a stall neighbor in Cartimar Shopping Center.
15 - Students visiting Mang Greg's record store.
16 - A framed website article featuring Mang Greg displayed in the store.