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CM Recto Ave - History

September 12, 2008

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?

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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

Previous Comments

Aranque Market is memorable to me because as a teenager I use to go there to buy good stocks of racing pigeons - its sad that it no longer exist *sigh*

Posted by Arnaldo at June 21, 2009, 5:26 am

i know for a fact that the immediate past name of calle azcarraga was calle paz. it was from this street that the famous funeraria parlor got its name.

kindly check with the national historical institute.

Posted by Roberto at January 16, 2010, 10:47 pm

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