Church - San Jose and the Island of Trozo

July 30, 2008

During the Spanish period, Trozo was just a small island near the main island of Binondo. People developed a small barrio known as San Jose. Trozo was part of former Binondo district but now part of the Sta. Cruz district, same with the other “islets” near the area. It was called an Island because it was surrounded by two rivers, the Estero de Magdalena, and the Estero de San Lazaro.

(San Jose De Trozo Church - Interior - Sept. 2008)

This is the San Jose De Trozo Church in Masangkay Street, Manila. The church was built in 1932. Before the year 2000, the whole church was totally renovated. The St. Joseph, the patron saint, was transferred to the left side of the altar from it’s previous position at the center. Kung dati mukha syang lumang simbahan na may mga engraved latin scripts, ngayon parang isang modern chapel nalang sya, mas simple at mas malinis, pero sana na-preserve yung mga dati nyang itsura.

(Interior of old San Jose De Trozo - 1970s)

Masangkay street was formerly called “Calle Magdalena” during the Spanish period. Makasysayan ang lugar na ito, dito sa kalyeng ito nakatira ang mga dating katipunero’t katipunera kasama na din si Andres Bonifacio. Dito din mismo sa lugar ng San Jose de Trozo ipinanganak si Emilio Jacinto, isang Bayani.

(Old Photo of Pasig River in Binondo)

At the back of San Jose de Trozo church ay may estero o ilog na noong panahon ng mga kastila ay pinagdadaluyan ng malalaking trozo o mga punong kahoy papunta sa Pasig River. Ang lagusan ng ilog na ito ay bumabagtas sa “Calle Azcarraga” (Now know as Claro M. Recto Avenue) at palabas ng Pasig River sa may Binondo. Kaya mas lalong kilala ang lugar na ito na Trozo Manila noong panahon ng mga Kastila.

(Estero in Binondo)

Kung noong bata pa ako, nakakakita pa ako ng mga punong kawayan at mga lumalangoy na maliliit na isda at mga bibe/ducks sa ilog na ito, sad to say, hindi na trozo o mga ducks ang mga lumulutang dito ngayon, hindi na din mga punong kawayan ang nakatanim sa paligid nito, kungdi mga basura at mga nagkalat na squatters.

(Old interior of San Jose De Trozo - 1994)

This was the old interior of San Jose De Trozo church. Isa ito sa mga alaala ng aking pagiging banal. Imagine, once in my life, I served the Lord. Naks! Proud ako jan. Kung tatanungin nyo kung nasan ako jan sa picture na yan, ako yung nasa may dulong right. Hanapin nyo nalang ako jan.

My Hometown Manila

I can still remember the time when I was still a kid, the time when we’re still living somewhere in the boundary of Sta. Cruz and Binondo in Manila, inside the China Town.

(San Jose De Trozo Church - Sept. 2008)

Some of the landmarks in my hometown are San Jose De Trozo Church in Masangkay street, Hope Christian High School, St. Stephen’s High School, and the Metropolitan Hospital (Now known as Metropolitan Medical Center). Date back in 1903, the original location of the St. Lukes Medical Center was here in Trozo. It had training school for girls, an Episcopal church (now St. Stephen’s Church), a dispensary, and a hospital, having an initial number of eight beds.

(Metropolitan Medical Center)

Officially, my hometown belongs to the district of Sta Cruz Manila. I can still remember when I was a kid, madami pa akong nakikitang mga lumang bahay sa area namin. Not just “lumang bahay” but with the designs of old-manila house structures with full details of birandas, windows, and façade. Nagsimula silang maglaho nitong 1990s. Most of those structures were eventually converted into modern high-rise condominium buildings.

(An old house in La Torre corner Masangkay - Sept. 2008)

Honestly, with the conversion of those old structured houses, natuwa ako dahil naging mabilis yung pagunlad ng lugar namin. But now, I just realized na hindi na pala pwedeng ibalik ang nakaraan. Sadly, that’s the consequences that we have to accept. Kaya dadaanin ko nalang lahat sa pictures.