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Then & Now - Plaza Moraga

December 4, 2008

This is the Plaza Moraga at the end of Escolta. Plaza Moraga is a thriving commercial area in Binondo. It was the site of the very first ice cream parlor in the Philippines. Opened in 1899, Clarke’s Cafe created a stir in those times by being able to offer ice cream to their patrons.

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(View from Jones Bridge - Old Photo)

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(View from Jones Bridge - Dec 2008 Photo)

Plaza Moraga is the gateway to Chinatown and the whole Binondo district. During the American occupation, this was the home of different first class restaurants, business establishments and embassies of foreign countries.

Posted by manilahub at 9:53 am | permalink | comments[1]

Then & Now - Binondo

I don’t know what’s the name of these two magnificent structures at the foot of Jones Bridge in Binondo.

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(View from Jones Bridge - Old Photo)

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(View from Jones Bridge - Dec 2008 Photo)

These two buildings are now unoccupied. Perhaps, its just waiting to be demolished by the Manila City government.

Posted by manilahub at 9:49 am | permalink | comments[9]

Then & Now - Yuchengco St

During the Spanish period, Nueva street is one of the 1st class business districts in Manila. If European businesses were allowed in Escolta, Filipino and Chinese mestizos were allowed to sell their products in Nueva street (now Yuchengco).

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(Calle Nueva - 1901 Photo)

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(Yuchengco Street - Dec 2008 Photo)

For generations, this busy stretch has always been known as the “new” street. It was opened in the year 1863 to ease traffic from the district’s main avenue, the Rosario street, (now Quintin Paredes).

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Calle Nueva was renamed to Yuchenco street after businessman Enrique T. Yuchengco, founder of the Yuchengco Group of Companies. Certainly, Manila city government is doing a very good job in renaming these historic street names.

Posted by manilahub at 9:47 am | permalink | Add comment

Then & Now - Tomas Pinpin

On the afternoon of March 17, 1957, the President Ramon Magsaysay’s plane was found to have crashed on Mount Manunggal, Asturias, Cebu. All the people on board including the president were killed.

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(Escolta - 1957 Photo)

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A few days later on March 22, 1957, Magsaysay was given a funeral with over 2 million people attending, being one of the largest funeral procession in our history.


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(Escolta - 1957 Photo)

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(Escolta cor Tomas Pinpin - Oct 2008 Photo)

The two pictures above were both taken at the corner of Escolta and Tomas Pinpin Streets. The new picture was fifty one years after the historic funeral march.

Posted by manilahub at 9:39 am | permalink | Add comment

Then & Now - Natividad Bldg

The building shown in the old picture was the Natividad Building, after being burned in 1945.

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Other buildings shown in the old picture were demolished after the war. Fortunately, the Natividad Building survived. Currently, it is being renovated.

Posted by manilahub at 9:38 am | permalink | Add comment
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