World War II - Avenida Manila

August 28, 2008

Sa mga history books na tinuturo sa atin sa eskwela, parang wala na lang nga ang sakit na dinulot ng World War II sa atin dito sa Pinas. Ang natatandaan ko nga lang ay yung famous “I shall return” ni MacArthur sa Leyte. Ni hindi ko din mapicture out kung ano nga kayang itsura ng isang city na pinulbos ng bomba kapag may giyera.

(Avenida cor. Doroteo Jose - WW2 Destruction)

Ni hindi nga tumatak sa isip ko na miski dito pala sa kinalakihan kong lugar, sa Manila, masyado na palang maraming bangungot ang dinanas ng lugar na ito. Kung baga sa isang babae, maihahalintulad ang Avenida sa isang babaeng ilang beses ng “nagahasa”, tumayo, at ngayo’y muling humihingi ng saklolo. Siguro nga, wala lang talaga tayong paki-alam sa mga nangyayari sa paligid natin.

(Avenida Before World War II)

Makikita mula sa itaas ang picture ng Avenida noong panahon ng mga Kano. Makikita ang mga lumang sasakyan, sa riles ng Tranvia ng Avenida. Ang mga trams ng Meralco na kulay orange na sya ding kulay ng Meralco ngayon. Makikita din ang Ideal theater na dinemolished na ngayon, at ang State theater na ngayon ay ginawa ng Tianngge.

(Avenida After World War II)

Kung gano kabilis ng pagunlad ng Avenida sa panahon ng mga Kano, ganun din ito kadaling bumagsak sa mga Hapon. Ilan sa mga modern style buildings dito, pinasabog. Lahat na ata ng makita nilang pwedeng pasabugin, pinasabog na nila. Sa itsura palang ng picture na yan, nakakatakot na.

(Avenue Theater in Avenida - Photo After WW2)

Makikita sa picture mula sa itaas ang building ng Avenue Theater na sya na lamang natira pagkatapos pulbusin ng giyera. Ang Avenue theater ang isa sa mga pinagdausan ng mga secret theater performances noong panahon ng hapon. Ang building na ito ay nakaligtas sa lupit ng WW2 pero hindi sa mga buldozer na summira dito noon lamang 2006.

(Doroteo Jose cor. Avenida - WW2)

Sa Doroteo Jose naman, halos nagmistulang ghost town ang lugar. Mula sa dulo ng picture makikita ang intersection ng Avenida at CM. Recto Avenue, ang building na iyon ay nakatayo pa din hanggang sa ngayon. Sa dilim at dumi ng lugar na ito ngayon, hindi mo aakalaing may mas malaking bangungot pa palang dinanas ang lugar na ito noon.

(Avenida - Blumentritt Intersection - WW2)

Hanggang sa kalye ng Blumentritt, umabot ang pinsala ng giyera, sa larawang ito sa itaas makikita ang crossing ng riles ng tren at ng Avenida. Ilan sa mga bahay dito ay nasunog.

(Another Photo of Avenida and Sta Cruz District After World War II)

Isa ang Manila sa mga cities sa buong mundo na pinaka-nasalanta noong WW2. Iniisip ko kung walang WW2, nasan na kaya tayo? Siguro mas maunlad pa tayo sa Singapore, o sa Hongkong. Akala ko nga sa Intramuros lang ang “history” ng Pilipinas, pero kahit pala sa ilalim ng anino ng LRT sa Avenida, may nagtatago ding mas madilim na nakaraan ang lugar.

(Avenida After the War)

Pagkatapos ng giyera, karamihan sa mga buildings dito ay tinayuan ng mga bagong mga gusali. Ang mga mgangilan-ngilang gusaling hindi masyadong nasalanta, nirenovate nalang. Ngunit, hindi napigil ang mabilis na pagunlad ng Avenida pagkatapos ng giyera. Naging maunlad muli ang ito noong 60s at 70s, hanggang sa dumating na nga ang sumonod nitong bangungot noong 1980s, ang construction ng LRT…

Avenida - Manila Grand Opera House

Mula sa ilalim ng madilim na terminal ng Doroteo Jose LRT station sa Avenida makikita ang mga nanggigitatang mga buildings na pinabayaan na ng panahon. Mga buildings na minsan ng nagtala ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa. Maswerte ako dahil sa lugar na ito, may isang malaking sinehan na akong napasok noong bata pa ako. Dito pa nga kami nanood ng Batman noong mga early 1990s. Di din nalalayo sa lugar na yon, dating matatagpuan ang Manila Grand Opera House.

(The Manila Grand Opera House in Avenida)

Manila Grand Opera House was the premiere live entertainment venue of pre-war Manila and was the cultural center of the Philippines from the Spanish era to the American rule and on to the years following World War II. It was here where the greatest artists of the Spanish, American, and post-WWII eras performed bodabil, zarsuela, concerts, operas and other popular art forms. It was also where great operas featuring foreign artists were performed such as Russian Circus and some American theater companies.

In fact, the old name of Doroteo Jose street was “Melba Street” which commemorates the visit of Nellie Melba, an Australian opera singer. In August 6, 1914, the street was renamed in honor of Doroteo Jose, a patriot who suffered persecution for his convictions.

(First Photos of the Manila Grand Opera House)

Built in the mid-1800s as the H.T. Hashim’s National Cycle Track, a circular wooden structure with a nipa roof, the Manila Grand Opera House also served as venue for many important national events. On Oct. 16, 1907, it was the setting of the historic inauguration of the first Philippine Assembly. After the war, the theater was renovated, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for both theatrical and cinematic productions, charging 85 centavos for admission to one theatrical production and one movie.

(Proposed Manila Grand Opera Hotel)

Currently, a new landmark is rising on this historic site, the proposed Manila Grand Opera Hotel. The location of the old opera house was acquired by Cabangon Chua from the heirs of Don Toribio Teodoro. The Grand Opera Hotel will have a Figaro coffee shop and a Chinese restaurant with a chef imported from Hong Kong.

Avenida - The Lost Treasures

Noong panahon ng mga Amerikano, isa isang tinayo ang mga makabagong buildings dito sa Avenida. Ang mga buildings na ito ang nagsilbing bahay ng mga teatro at pelikula. Ang hollywood ay napalapit sa mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng Avenida.

(Business Establishments in Avenida - Sept. 2008)

Dito nagtanghal ang mga sikat na artista noon gaya nila Dolphy, German Morena atbp… Pero, nung dumating ang mga hapon sa Pilipinas, natigil ang pagpapadala ng mga foreign films mula sa America. Imbis na isara ang mga sinehan, ang mga ito ay kinonvert sa nalang bilang taetro na may mga live performance. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang mga sumusunod…  

1. Avenue Theater (Closed/ Demolished)

(Avenue Theater before and after it was being demolished)

Avenue Theater was an art deco work of national artist Juan Nakpil in 1930s. The theater has 1 screen with a 1,000 seating capacity, with its lobby bearing a marble finish flooring. It was used to have a hotel and a venue for office spaces. During the war, American movies stopped coming. The theater became a venue for live performances, the vaudeville acts that helped people get their minds off the war.

(Padis Point - Sept. 2008)

The theater was closed in 1997, finally demolished in 2006. The lot was converted into a bar-resto that has live band performances every night.

2. Ever Theater (Closed)

(Newly Renovated Ever Theater - Sept 2008)

The Ever Theater was also designed by national artist Juan Nakpil and has a single screen cinema with an 800 seat capacity. It was also visited by Walter Gropius during its inauguration in the 1950s, praising the theater’s oustandings qualities. Currently closed as a theater, it now serves the public as a commercial arcade.

3. Galaxy Theater (Closed)

(Galaxy Theater in Avenida)

This is a lovely movie house designed by National Artist Pablo Antonio Sr., also among the prime movie houses during its time, with a seating capacity of 1000. The use of sun buffles created a very dignified character to the structure. The stairway leading the balcony is very graceful. The arcade post is accented with mahjong-like blocks. Galaxy also used to have an original DP70 wide-screen projector, built in Belgium in the 1950s, that was popular in international cinemas until the 1970s.

4. Ideal Theater (Closed/ Demolished)

(Ideal Theater in Carriedo, Avenida - 1970s)

The Ideal Theater was designed by the late Architect Pablo Antonio in 1933, the theater was then closed and demolished in the 1970s to give way to the construction of a department store in the said area. The Ideal Theater was one of the first major works of Pablo Antonio along with the buildings of Far Eastern University, Manila Polo Club, and the post-war reconstruction of Manila Cathedral.

5. State Theater (Closed/ Demolished)

(Newly Renovated State Theater)

This theater was erected in the 1930’s, designed by national artist Juan Nakpil, following the art deco design. Its facade used reinforced concrete, and adorned with steel grillework. This was renovated sometime in the late 1960’s and followed a plain facade design. The right photo shows the old Avenida during 70s with the Ideal and the State Theaters.

Avenida - From Trams to Trains

August 14, 2008

Did you know that the LRT in Avenida is the first elevated rail system in Southeast Asia? On july 12, 1980, president Ferdinand Marcos created a project of having an elavated rail system to reduce traffic congestion in the area, of course, Imelda Marcos became the chairman of the project, she was also the governor of Metro Manila at that time.

(Light Rail Transit - Yellow Line)

The LRT was first test-ran in March of 1984 with its first half stations, from Baclaran to Central Terminal. It was opened to the public on December 1, 1984. After a year, the second half was opened on May 12, 1985, from Central Terminal to Monumento.

(Vito Cruz LRT Station)

The LRT has a 15-kilometer fully elevated track which consists of 18 stations. The line commences at Baclaran, and ends in Monumento, passing to the cities of Pasay, Manila and Caloocan. The current LRT fare ranges from 12 to 15 pesos, being the cheapest rapid transit in Southeast Asia.

(Postcard - Tranvia in Escolta, Manila - American Period)

Before the LRT was constructed, Tram network was already established in Avenida and Escolta date back to the American period. The first tranvia opened in Manila in 1905, which connects Manila’s busiest streets, just like first class cities in Europe.

(An Old Tram in a Museum)

The old Manila Tranvia was operated by Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, now known as Meralco. Some of the old trams that were used during that time can still be seen in the Meralco Museum.

 

(An Old Station of Tranvia in Sta Cruz - Old Postcard)

Stations of the old Tranvia can be seen in this old photo. A tram station particularly at the back of Sta Cruz church in Plaza Goiti, Carriedo. Presently, this plaza is now dedicated to the former mayor of Manila, Lacson.

(An Old Picture of Avenida Manila - American Period)

The present location of the LRT in Avenida is using the same path of the old Manila tranvia. The left picture above shows the intersection of Avenida and Carriedo during the American occupation. The right photo shows the same location, now with elevated rail system, which is the LRT.

(Trams in Escolta Manila)

The old Manila Tranvia can also be seen in the street of Escolta from Sta Cruz going to Binondo, and from Jones bridge entering the walled city of Intramuros.

(Old Photo of Intramuros)

After the world war II, the city of Manila was totally devastaded, including the product of its former glory, the Manila Tranvia…

 

(Carriedo Street, Sta Cruz, Manila - Before WW2)

The tranvia network was totally shut down after the Japanese forces bombed the entire city.