Coffee Shop under the bridge

A constant source of wonderment and amusement among Ilonggos is the literally named Coffee Shop Under the Bridge, an “accidental venture” of businessman Lando Layson. Layson, 66, is fondly called by local media “Ambassador of River Development” because of his effort to develop the boulevard and keep the river clean.

“This is the world’s most expensive coffee shop; the roof is about P10 million,” says Layson, pointing at the Carpenter’s Bridge. He is one of the first to initiate the Healthy Lifestyle Partnership Association in December 2009 when the boulevard had its soft opening.He was also instrumental in having vehicles banned from using the road.

From a membership of 15, the association now has 400 card-bearing members. It does not collect any membership fee but has a commitment to regular exercise and healthy lifestyle, as well as keeping the boulevard clean.Layson, who starts his day with taebo exercises at 5:30 a.m., has asked permission from the DPWH to put a landfill on the smelly and dirty area under the P78-million bridge. After he was given the go-signal, he and his nephew, Joemarie Layson, spent P80,000 for the project.

Although it was a lot of money, Layson says he had to find a way to continue his taebo sessions with his friends—rain or shine.

“We would always run under the bridge every time there is rain and it became a habit, so I decided to improve the place,” says Layson, a trusted ally of Mayor Mabilog and overseer of the Iloilo River.

Bring your own coffee

Coffee Shop Under the Bridge, however, doesn’t sell coffee. Instead, patrons must bring their own coffee sachets. Hot water will be provided by the utility man hired by Layson to keep the shop clean.

Even before people started paying attention to the boulevard in 2009, Layson spent for the installation of 20 big garbage cans and sent 15 employees of his stevedoring company to clean the boulevard, cut the surrounding grass, and maintain the cleanliness of the two makeshift toilets he had constructed beside the Carpenter’s Bridge.

His coffee shop has been frequented by prominent individuals. Among them were Drilon, Treñas, Mabilog, socialites Judgee and Sarah Peña, Pavia Mayor Arcadio Goricetta and former Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Paul Dominguez.

Snippets from the article entitled
A boulevard for health, environment
By Hazel P. Villa
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Acknowledgements

PHOTOS Hawili Hurom Photography and PARIANOON of SSC | ARTICLE Philippine Daily Inquirer

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