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Then & Now - R. Santos Bldg

October 21, 2008

These were the pictures of Don Roman Santos Building in front of Plaza Goiti, taken after the liberation of Manila on September 3, 1945.

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(Don Roman Santos Bldg - Sept 1945 Photo)

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(Prudential Bank Bldg - Sept 2008 Photo)

Notice that the tranvia railway in Carriedo street was still present. This building was reconstructed after the war.

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(Photo After the War)

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(Sept 2008 Photo)

These new pictures were taken last September of 2008, sixty three years after the Second World War. Although some vendors were now present in front of the building, you could still distinguish the classic elegance of the structure.

Posted by manilahub at 1:45 pm | permalink | Add comment

Then & Now - Plaza Sta Cruz

Home of Manila’s Our Lady of Pillar, the Santa Cruz Church (often abbreviated to Sta. Cruz Church) was erected in 1608 by the Society of Jesus, better known as Jesuits.

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(Sta Cruz Church - Old Photo)

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(Sta Cruz Church - Feb 2008 Photo)

The present building, completed in 1957, is essentially Baroque and somewhat reminiscent of the Spanish-built mission churches in southern California.

Posted by manilahub at 1:44 pm | permalink | Add comment

Sta Cruz - World War II

During the Second World War, the district of Sta Cruz was heavily devastated by the bombardment of the Japanese and American forces.

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(Aerial View of Sta Cruz during World War II)

The area became the entry point of the forces to the downtown. The Japanese occupational forces caught unaware of the fast approaching American & Filipino liberation forces in 1945 from the north, abandoned the northern banks of the Pasig River including Santa Cruz.

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(Soldiers in Pasig River, Escolta)

Much of the northern portions of Manila were also spared from the artillery bombardment. Several pre-World War II buildings and houses in the area were totally destroyed and burned.

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(Aerial View of Sta Cruz during World War II)

Old bridges such as Jones, Mcarthur and Quezon bridges in Sta Cruz, Binondo, and Quiapo were all destroyed.

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(Aerial View of Sta Cruz and Pasig River during World War II)

The tranvia operations were also shut down, and business establishments were abandoned. Even the church of Sta Cruz was also damaged shown in this old photo.

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(Sta. Cruz Church and Carriedo Ruins)

This photo shows American soldiers walking in Carriedo street, leaving the area ruined. The building shown in the picture was the Don Roman Building and now Prudential Bank Building.

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(American Soldiers in Carriedo)

During the war, large part of nearby towns such as Binondo and Quiapo Manila were also devastated.

Posted by manilahub at 1:40 pm | permalink | comments[1]

Sta Cruz - History

Sta Cruz is one of the most historic places in Manila. Date back before the Spanish came to the Philippines, the town of Sta Cruz was just a swamp and partly rice fields.

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(Sta Cruz Church - Feb 2008 Photo)

On June 24, 1784, the King of Spain gave the deeds to about 2 sq km of land that was part of the Hacienda de Mayhaligue to the San Lazaro Hospital which served as a caring home for lepers in Manila at that time.

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(Sta Cruz Church - Oct 2008 Photo)

The land was awarded to the Jesuits in 1581, then later on June 20 1608, they built a church where the present Sta Cruz Church stands.

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(Sta Cruz Church - Old Postcard)

The church served as a parish for Chinese immigrants to Manila, in which many of them were converted into the Catholic faith.

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(Sta Cruz Church - Old Photo)

The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes, but was totally destroyed during the Second World War.

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(Sta Cruz Church - Old Photo)

The belfry of the church was restored to its original structure, the facade was now painted and the bricks in those old photos were all gone.

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(Historical Marker - Feb 2008 Photo)

The church structure we are seeing at present was rebuilt in 1957, after it was damaged during the liberation of Manila.

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(Prudential Bank Building - Feb 2008 Photo)

The town of Sta Cruz and Binondo were once became the central business district of the Philippines during the American period and until 1970s. Major streets of Sta. Cruz were also used for festivities and parades during its heydays.

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(Escolta street - Feb 2008 Photo)

Most of the business establishments like banks, department stores, radio stations and some offices started in this area. However in 1980s, they transferred their offices to Makati.

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(Plaza Lacson - Oct 2008 Photo)

At present, some old American and Europian buildings can still be found in the area. If you want to witness the heydays of Manila during the American period, I recommend to visit the place…

Posted by manilahub at 1:24 pm | permalink | comments[3]