It has always been a wish as I was growing up in the '80s that Tatay Manuel would once again bring me to Kalaw Street in Manila, and let me play at what he introduced to me as an Arcade Center.
I cannot remember my age when I felt privileged to have entered that magnificent place, only the overwhelming joy of riding and maneuvering that electronic car called Bump Car that to this day I still love to experience.
In the late '90s when I was already working in a radio station I would always treat myself after payroll to an arcade center. Since I am from Sta Ana, Manila it's a toss between Timezone and Tom's World which can be both found and enjoyed at Robinson's Manila. When Tom's World then still has the Bump Car I would frequently visit their store as I enjoy driving.
Truly, the excitement, fun, and joy that the arcade games provide are immeasurable. Five years ago, I suffered from a minor stroke, and as a consequence, my right body suffered physical deformity. Gladly, after some time it slowly went back to its usual form. However, Dr. Rob, my attending Neurologist at that time explained that not all will return to their old form.
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| Photo of Iram Bueno, former Batch '91 President of MMMHS. Please check MacJoy Cactus & Succulents Garden |
Dr. Rob has recommended that I help myself by doing the chores and activities I usually do before the stroke. While it will be tougher on me because of my health condition, it will eventually be beneficial to my body. As such, going to the arcade to play ball shooting, billiards, Pacman and other arcade games did help improve my physical development, even my speech that was also affected.
Noting the inherent benefits of arcade gaming not only to children but also to adults for according to studies gaming stimulates and gives comfort to the brain that cannot be acquired through routine exercise. And I must agree that I indeed benefit from arcade gaming's improved cognitive abilities, reflexes, and muscle memory, and mostly it helps reduce stress and depression.
These perhaps are among the many reasons why to this day you can still see senior citizens or even adult professionals or couples taking time to enjoy and play at the arcades be it TIMEZONE or Tom's World as they not only bring comfort to mind and body but it also takes you back to your youth.