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Giant Fish in Pasig River

November 19, 2008

Last Saturday, October 25, I went to Jones Bridge in Binondo to take some shots and I was fortunate that I saw this giant “Imelda” fish that was just caught by the residents in the River.

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I never thought that this giant fish still exists in this polluted river.

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The fish was probably more than three feet long and weighing about 5 kilos. They sold the fish to the motorists for 75 to 100 pesos.

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Pasig River was considered biologically dead since 1990s and that fishing in the river is already nonviable. I uploaded this video for us to know that Pasig River is not yet totally dead… My purpose is just to let you know that the river needs our help…

Posted by manilahub at 9:41 am | permalink | comments[1]

Pasig River - The Tragic Story

October 31, 2008

From the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in the islands, he had heard of an important trading center on the island of Luzon. For the conquest of this region, he sent his general, Martin de Goiti, with Salcedo and a force of Spanish and native Visayan allies.

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(Pasig River - Old Photo)

This expedition found in the trading center, Manila, a crudely fortified town on the bank of the Pasig River near its entrance into Manila Bay, was the stronghold of the native chieftain, Rajah Soliman. On the opposite bank of the river, was the town of Tondo, under control of the chieftain Rajah Lacandula.

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(Pasig River and the Manila Bay - Old Photo)

Gradually expanding from its original confines, the city now includes many districts on both sides of the Pasig River. The residential and business sections of the city are connected by several large modern bridges.

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(Buffaloes Washing in Pasig River)

The Pasig river, which runs through the center of the city presents a fascinating scene, it is a striking panorama of native life, as here shops from all points of the northern and southern islands, load and unload their many products.

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There are also many canals or esteros emptying into this river. The strange and brilliantly colored “cascos” and the long and narrow “bancas” move slowly up and down the canals.

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The “casco” is a barge about 50 feet long and 18 feet wide. Its cargo is protected by large woven nipa covers.

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The old shore line, on the south side of the Pasig River, formerly close to the Walled City, has been extended by process of reclamation. Today this is known as the Port Area. Here one finds the docks, which is one the longest and most modern piers in the world during that time.

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(View From the Walled City)

North of Pasig river is the Escolta, which is Manila’s former broadway, and the wholesale and retail district. The Tondo and Binondo districts are also north of the Pasig and in these sections one finds the homes of the native and Chines tradesmen.

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(American Swimming)

Some of the more wealthy Spanish and Filipinos and a few Europeans still live in the once preferred residential section close to the Governor General’s Palace, popularly known as the Malacanan Palace.

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(Malacanan Palace - 1898 Photo)

Northeast of the Pasig river is the suburb of Sta Mesa, devoted almost entirely to the homes of Americans and Europians during those days.

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(Escolta and Pasig River - Oct 2008 Photo)

The increasing pollution in the river was first noticed in the 1930s when it was observed that fish migration from Laguna de Bay diminished.

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(Old Buildings in Binondo - Oct 2008 Photo)

People ceased using the river’s water for laundry in the 1960s and ferry transport declined. By the 1970s, the river started to give offensive smells and in the 1980s, fishing in the river became nonviable.

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(Jones Bridge - Oct 2008 Photo)

Pasig River has become very polluted and was considered biologically dead in the 1990s by ecologists due to the negligence and industrial development.

Posted by manilahub at 2:06 pm | permalink | comments[1]

Then & Now - McArthur Brg

This was a view towards the MacArthur bridge during 1920s. It was a parade, probably started from Luneta, to Escolta/Avenida in Sta Cruz. The building at the left shown in the old photo was the Hotel Metropole.

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(Sta Cruz Bridge - 1920s Photo)

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(Sta Cruz Bridge - Oct 2008 Photo)

I took this new photo last week, 80 years after that jovial parade that took place in that exact location.

Posted by manilahub at 2:05 pm | permalink | Add comment

Santa Cruz - McArthur Bridge

Since Manila was built on a river delta, its not surpising to find that the city is linked together by a network of bridges. Traffic finds means of crossing the Pasig River by four different historic century-old bridges.

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(MacArthur Bridge - Oct 2008 Photo)

The Santa Cruz Bridge (also known as McArthur Bridge) is youngest bridge that was constructed to cross Pasig River during the American regime.

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(MacArthur Bridge - Oct 2008 Photo)

Its construction has greatly relieved the congestion of traffic which a few years since was a source of annoyance and frequent danger in the crowded Escolta during that time.

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(Old Photo)

Originally a suspension bridge, the Santa Cruz Bridge was constructed by American engineers and was completed in 1902. The property of individuals who derived revenued from it by charging a small amount of toll for in order to cross the bridge.

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(1945 Photo)

During the liberation of Manila in 1945, old bridges in the area got heavy damages. However those bridges were reconstructed after the war.

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(McArthur Bridge - Oct 2008 Photo)

At present, the Manila city government is making several restorations to invigorate the beauty of these bridges by installing these bubbly street lights.

Posted by manilahub at 2:00 pm | permalink | comments[1]

Then & Now - Sta Cruz Estero

Estero de la Reina can be found in Calle de la Escolta in Sta Cruz. Other numerous esteros throughout the city are crossed at various points by more than 50 small bridges, most of these having been built since the Spanish colonial period. These are usually made of solid stone and of a substantial nature.

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(Estero - 1900 Photo)

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(Estero - Oct 2008 Photo)

The new buildings around the estero are from the left: the Regina Building; Perez-Samanillo Building; and the Sta Cruz Building. These modern art deco buildings were constructed during the American regime.

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