With the resurgence of the local street scene, the fourth installment of the Escolta Block Party celebrated the glory days of old Manila with art, music, and dance last August 26.

The towering facade of the First United Building glorified the landscape of the gathering. Nowadays, its ground floor is repurposed into the Hub: Make Lab which serves as an incubation space for a sustainable setting and is home to independent clothing shops and DIY wares. Happening alongside the street party is a variety of workshops, pop-ups and shop openings all buzzing in the fourth and fifth floors of the building.

Some of the events include Saturday x Future Market @ESCOLTA, a street bazaar organized by 98B COLLABoratory, a design talk called Live by Design at the First Coworking Community, a Coffee Tasting by Escolta residents Kalsada Coffee HQ, and The Twelfth House White Label series launch at Ponderosa Hall, among others.

More than just a street gathering, the Escolta Block Party celebrated the history and heritage of Escolta with the help of Manila’s culture cultivators and locals. The event gave new light to the block, promoting a homegrown love and appreciation of the locale’s diversity.

Photos by Koy Mico and Sace Natividad