Avenida - The Lost Treasures

August 28, 2008

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.

Avenida - Know About It’s History

July 31, 2008

Hindi kalayuan sa lugar namin matatagpuan ang Rizal Avenue o “Avenida”. Masasabing ang Avenida ang pangunahing pasyalan ng mga Pilipino noon sa dami ng mga naglalakihang cinemas, theaters, opera houses, music studios, movie production outfits, entertainment centers, restaurants and department stores.

(Newly Painted Buildings of Avenida - Sept. 2008)

There are still few business establishments that can be found in Avenida. Most of the old theaters here were converted into malls that sell appliances, cellphones, and other gadgets that were imported from China and Taiwan.

(Old Buildings in Avenida - Sept. 2008)

Avenida was also named “Calle Dalumbayan” during the Spanish era, which meant “edge of the town” or end of civilized territory. Sa lugar na ito nagtatapos ang civilization ng mga Kastila mula sa loob ng Intramuros.

(A parade in Avenida corner Carriedo street during the American Period)

The above pre-WW2 photos show the evolution of the intersection of Rizal Avenue and Carriedo street in Manila. Avenida’s entertainment strip flourished up to the 1970s, when the country’s central business district shifted to Makati and other suburbs.

(Intersection of Avenida and Carriedo street during the American Period)

The construction of the Light Rail Transit system in the 1980s put a stop to development in the area. Unti-unting dumilim ang lugar at naging pugad ito ng mga pulubing walang matirhan, prostitures at mga mandurukot.

(Intersection of Avenida and Carriedo street - 1970s)

Ang mga pictures na ito ang ilan sa mga ala ala ng masiglang Avenida noong 60’s at 70’s bago itayo dito ang LRT. Sinara ang Avenida sa trapiko noong umupo si Atienza bilang Mayor ng Maynila para pasiglahin muli ang lugar, pero ibinalik ito sa trapiko ng nakabalik si Lim sa pagiging Mayor ng Manila.

Church - San Jose and the Island of Trozo

July 30, 2008

During the Spanish period, Trozo was just a small island near the main island of Binondo. People developed a small barrio known as San Jose. Trozo was part of former Binondo district but now part of the Sta. Cruz district, same with the other “islets” near the area. It was called an Island because it was surrounded by two rivers, the Estero de Magdalena, and the Estero de San Lazaro.

(San Jose De Trozo Church - Interior - Sept. 2008)

This is the San Jose De Trozo Church in Masangkay Street, Manila. The church was built in 1932. Before the year 2000, the whole church was totally renovated. The St. Joseph, the patron saint, was transferred to the left side of the altar from it’s previous position at the center. Kung dati mukha syang lumang simbahan na may mga engraved latin scripts, ngayon parang isang modern chapel nalang sya, mas simple at mas malinis, pero sana na-preserve yung mga dati nyang itsura.

(Interior of old San Jose De Trozo - 1970s)

Masangkay street was formerly called “Calle Magdalena” during the Spanish period. Makasysayan ang lugar na ito, dito sa kalyeng ito nakatira ang mga dating katipunero’t katipunera kasama na din si Andres Bonifacio. Dito din mismo sa lugar ng San Jose de Trozo ipinanganak si Emilio Jacinto, isang Bayani.

(Old Photo of Pasig River in Binondo)

At the back of San Jose de Trozo church ay may estero o ilog na noong panahon ng mga kastila ay pinagdadaluyan ng malalaking trozo o mga punong kahoy papunta sa Pasig River. Ang lagusan ng ilog na ito ay bumabagtas sa “Calle Azcarraga” (Now know as Claro M. Recto Avenue) at palabas ng Pasig River sa may Binondo. Kaya mas lalong kilala ang lugar na ito na Trozo Manila noong panahon ng mga Kastila.

(Estero in Binondo)

Kung noong bata pa ako, nakakakita pa ako ng mga punong kawayan at mga lumalangoy na maliliit na isda at mga bibe/ducks sa ilog na ito, sad to say, hindi na trozo o mga ducks ang mga lumulutang dito ngayon, hindi na din mga punong kawayan ang nakatanim sa paligid nito, kungdi mga basura at mga nagkalat na squatters.

(Old interior of San Jose De Trozo - 1994)

This was the old interior of San Jose De Trozo church. Isa ito sa mga alaala ng aking pagiging banal. Imagine, once in my life, I served the Lord. Naks! Proud ako jan. Kung tatanungin nyo kung nasan ako jan sa picture na yan, ako yung nasa may dulong right. Hanapin nyo nalang ako jan.

My Hometown Manila

I can still remember the time when I was still a kid, the time when we’re still living somewhere in the boundary of Sta. Cruz and Binondo in Manila, inside the China Town.

(San Jose De Trozo Church - Sept. 2008)

Some of the landmarks in my hometown are San Jose De Trozo Church in Masangkay street, Hope Christian High School, St. Stephen’s High School, and the Metropolitan Hospital (Now known as Metropolitan Medical Center). Date back in 1903, the original location of the St. Lukes Medical Center was here in Trozo. It had training school for girls, an Episcopal church (now St. Stephen’s Church), a dispensary, and a hospital, having an initial number of eight beds.

(Metropolitan Medical Center)

Officially, my hometown belongs to the district of Sta Cruz Manila. I can still remember when I was a kid, madami pa akong nakikitang mga lumang bahay sa area namin. Not just “lumang bahay” but with the designs of old-manila house structures with full details of birandas, windows, and façade. Nagsimula silang maglaho nitong 1990s. Most of those structures were eventually converted into modern high-rise condominium buildings.

(An old house in La Torre corner Masangkay - Sept. 2008)

Honestly, with the conversion of those old structured houses, natuwa ako dahil naging mabilis yung pagunlad ng lugar namin. But now, I just realized na hindi na pala pwedeng ibalik ang nakaraan. Sadly, that’s the consequences that we have to accept. Kaya dadaanin ko nalang lahat sa pictures.