Home » Archives » 12. September 2008

Then & Now - Quezon Blvd

September 12, 2008

Quezon Boulivard in Quiapo Manila is also one of the most notable streets in Manila.

Click to Enlarge
(Quezon Blvd. - WW2 Photo)

Click to Enlarge
(Quezon Blvd. - Sept. 2008 Photo)

During the Second World War, it was used as a vital road in deploying military forces in and out of Manila. The old photo shows a military tank near the Quiapo Church. Most of the buildings near the church were heavily damaged.

Posted by manilahub at 5:24 pm | permalink | Add comment

Then & Now - Life Theater

Life Theater can also be found along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo Manila. It was constructed in 1950s and designed by National Artist Pablo Antonio who also designed the Ideal Theater in Avenida. This art deco theater had a maximum capacity of 800 people.

Click to Enlarge
(Life Theater - Old Photo)

Click to Enlarge
(Now Villonco BLDG - Sept. 2008 Photo)

Life Theater used to be one of the most prime theaters in Manila during 1950s. The Life Theater closed its operations as a theater and is now a shopping center. The building is now renamed as the Villonco Building.

Posted by manilahub at 5:21 pm | permalink | Add comment

Then and Now - Times Theater

Times Theater can be found along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo Manila. This theater was erected in 1939 and designed by national artist Luiz Araneta as his art moderne relief. It can accomodate 800 people with its single screen operation.

Click to Enlarge
(Times Theater - Old Photo)

Click to Enlarge
(Times Theater - Sept. 2008 Photo)

During my travel in Quiapo, I saw some people still entering into this old theater, and others were sitting on the detailed lobby of the theater. Times Theater is still operational at present, but poorly maintained.

Posted by manilahub at 5:18 pm | permalink | Add comment

Then & Now - FEU

The old building standing in this old photo was the Far Eastern University in Quezon Boulevard. FEU was built in 1928, being one of the oldest universities in the Philippines.

Click to Enlarge
(FEU in Quezon Blvd. - WW2 Photo)

Click to Enlarge
(FEU in Quezon Blvd. - Sept. 2008 Photo)

During the Second World War, many soldiers and civilians were imprisoned in FEU and most of them were slaughtered. The campus was seized and occupied by Japanese Army. Many executions of top Filipino personalities in refuse to accept the Japanese occupation of the campus, like that of Josefa Llanes Escoda, Nicanor Reyes and others. These executions were conducted inside the campus.

Posted by manilahub at 5:02 pm | permalink | comments[3]

CM Recto Ave - History

Did you know that the old name of Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila was from the name of Spain’s former Prime Minister, Marcelo de Azcárraga, who was the first and only Spanish Prime Minister with Filipino descent?

Click to Enlarge
(CM Recto Ave. in Divisoria - Sept. 2008 Photo)

Azcarraga was born in 1832 in Manila and studied law in the University of Santo Tomas. His father was General Jose Azcárraga, a Spanish bookstore owner in Escolta Manila and his mother was a Filipina Meztiza from Albay Bicol. On his retirement at the age of 72, Azcarraga was given the Toison de Oro, or golden flees, the highest possible distinction given to a person in Spain at that time.

Click to Enlarge
(Kapital Pepe Building, CM Recto Ave. - Sept. 2008 Photo)

Due to his achievements, a major road in Manila, was named after him. The Paseo de Felipe, named after King Philip II of Spain, was renamed to Calle Azcarraga. This old street became one of the most upscale place in Manila.

Click to Enlarge
(CM Recto Ave. cor. Abad Santos Avenue - Sept. 2008 Photo)

Jose Rizal even mentioned some of the place nearby Binondo and Azcarraga in his novels. Fernando Amorsolo, a national artist, also lived in an old apartment building in Azcarraga. In fact, he was in that area when the Japanese forces attacked Manila. In a part of his diary, he wrote that he saw a huge part of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz burning from where he was standing in Azcarraga.

Click to Enlarge
(CM Recto Ave. cor. Rizal Ave. - Sept. 2008 Photo)

After the war, this hundred year old street was renamed to Claro Mayo Recto Avenue, a former senator of the Philippines, who also received Master of Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas. The street’s fame eventually deteriorate when the Americans built the Bilibid Prison near the area.

Click to Enlarge
(New Odeon Terminal Mall - Sept. 2008 Photo)

Although most of the big universites in Manila were now located here, CM Recto Avenue became one of the most unsafe areas in Manila. Today, most of the old establishments are still there, including those old apartment buildings and huge deluxe theaters.

Click to Enlarge
(New Odeon Terminal Mall - Sept. 2008 Photo)

Although these buildings are now considered condemed buildings of Manila, most of it were converted into dormitories for students. Ten years ago, you would see several kalesas (a horse-driven carriage) everywhere in this part of Recto Avenue. Today, pedicabs replaced kalesas as secondary form of transportation next to jeepneys.

Click to Enlarge 
(CM Recto cor. Benavidez street - Sept 2008 Photo)

I grew in Benavidez street and everyday I am seeing this old building in Recto. At that time I’m not aware that Recto was formerly called Azcarraga. I can also remember another hundred year old cobblestone streets of Juan Luna in Divisoria.

Click to Enlarge
(New building in Aranque cor. CM Recto Ave. - Sept. 2008)

When I went back to the place, I noticed that one of the landmarks in the place was not present. Aranque Market was already demolished and was converted into a condominium building. This market used to have rare Chinese seafoods and exotic meat products which you cannot see in other ordinary markets.

Posted by manilahub at 4:56 pm | permalink | comments[3]
Page: 1 2