The New in Old

    by Christine Angela V. Medina

      Cubao Expo is a place for those who see the “new in old.” This is the trend for some people today is not buying the latest in the market, but getting the old-fashioned from not so famous stores in the metro.

   Previously the site of Marikina Shoe Expo, Cubao Expo is comprised of several shops, bars and restaurants. Located along General Romulo Street, Cubao, Quezon City, it is situated amidst high-rise buildings, shopping malls, and other modern establishments. A passer-by like you might overlook this small space unless you are quite inquisitive and would like to know what it has to offer.

     When I went there and entered a number of thrift shops, I was amazed by the large variety and collection of vintage items because it was my first time to see one. There were original The Beatles albums, Matryoshka or Russian dolls, and Filipino comic magazines, among others.

Matryoshka/Russian dolls

      However, in contrast to these diverse products, I noticed that almost no one was in Cubao Expo except for the store owners themselves. I initially thought that maybe because that was a Sunday so almost no one was visiting the stores, but the store owners admitted that it is indeed common not to see a lot of people at Cubao Expo.

     As a teenage girl who is used to going to malls regularly, I realized that this shopping place is completely unique from the former because the latter caters only to certain customers. The stores are intended for a particular group of people only, and these are whom we label as collectors. Although some are coming from far places, they especially visit Cubao Expo for its offered products.

    Before going to the place, I was afraid it would not fascinate me because I am not a novelty collector. But as I stepped into the shops, all items surprisingly caught me offguard. However, one kind of item particularly stood out among the rest, the rotary phone. Whether you are familiar or not with it, let me just relate to you a brief history of telecommunications.

   Through the centuries, the field of telecommunications has evolved from the discovery of Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 to the large and modern variety of cellular phones we have right now. Over the 1920s, rotary phones were extensively popular. As the name suggests, it is a communication medium that uses rotary dial to put in successive numbers. During this decade, a family that owned a rotary phone was already considered to be affluent.

     But rotary phones gradually lost their prestige as touch tone and cordless phones slowly became the trend during the 60s to the 80s. Using a dual tone multifrequency, these improved means of communication were easier to use since they are push-button telephones.

     Decades passed and what we have now are products of extensive evolution, because who knew that we would have touch screen phones that come with a camera, a music player and even an Internet connection! These new outputs of technology generally offer more convenience, enjoyment and satisfaction.

    The field of telecommunications has truly undergone a lot of advancements and breakthroughs. From the hard-to-dial rotary phones to the modern variety that we have right now, the world has witnessed a huge change.

    The irony, however, is that some people today seem to be fascinated with the trend which was popular almost a century ago. While most of us are busy trying to buy an iPhone 5, there are those who are engaged into obtaining rotary phones.

    “Pumupunta talaga dito ang mga vintage collectors na regular customers namin para lang bumili at gumastos nang malaki kahit para sa isang product lang. Dumadayo talaga sila dito kasi wala kang makikitang mga ganto sa malls kasi authentic at kakaiba yung sa amin (Vintage collectors really come here as our regular customers to buy and shell out a large amount of money for a single product. They really visit us because you can not find these products inside malls because ours are authentic and unique),” stated the owner of Genshiken, one of the thrift shops in Cubao Expo.

     James, one of the people who are fond of collecting vintage items like rotary phones, tells his top reasons why he does this and why more and more people get interested with this hobby.

     First of all, he finds hunting for these items thrilling. “One does not simply get an original vintage item from anywhere. You have to be persistent in searching for what exactly you want. But one time, I got more excited because I found out that the rotary phone I bought was still working. See how my determination paid off,” he states.

     Also, the items that he buys provide a sense of recollection. A single thing brings him back to his past and makes him remember his childhood memories. Laslty, he believes that it is completely fulfilling. He may have to spend a big amount but he says that at the end of the day, it still gives him happiness.

    These are James's foremost reasons, but he also adds possible ones of other people. He states that others might be collecting for its historical significance, business purposes, status symbol, etc.

    Now we think to ourselves, “Why waste money and time on these kinds of products?” As I contemplate this question, I realize it is not a waste at all. What actually makes people buy them is the fact that as these vintage and specialty products age; they acquire added value. Perhaps, we may find this whole collection thing as strange. Collectors seem to waste money on things that may have no use at all today, but can we blame them? It is something they find fun, and who knows you might be planning to head into a thrift shop right now and even start your own collection!