Manila Then and Now

Manila, tagged as the "Pearl of the Orient", was the finest in the east before the second world war. Mixed cultures of Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, and American gave rise to this great city. However, this city that took centuries to rise would only take a few days to fall. After the Liberation of Manila in 1945, the city was never again as great as before - a sad reality.  

Through the preservation and reconstruction efforts of the government and some concerned individuals in the private sector, remnants of the great past can somehow still be seen at present times. The following (inspired by the skyscrapercity.com) are photos of pre-war and present day Manila. The old (pre-war) photos, taken from this site, are juxtaposed to its present day photo which I took yesterday.

Puerta Real, Intramuros, Manila

Then: Puerta Real, a gate exclusively used by the Spanish Governor-General during state occasions.
Now: A nonoperational gate in Intramuros, part of the Puerta Real Gardens

Anda Circle, South Harbor, Manila

Then: Anda Circle, dedicated to Governor-General Simon de Anda y Salazar, gateway to Manila's South harbor
Now: Anda Circle, still the gateway to Manila's South Harbor

Old Legislative Building, Ermita, Manila

Then: Old Legislative Building, home of the House of Representatives where various sessions were held.Old Jeepney also captured
Now: National Arts Gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines, houses Luna's "Spoliarium". A new Jeepney.

San Sebastian Church, Quiapo, Manila 

Then: San Sebastian Church, the only steel church in Asia.
Now: Still the only steel church in Asia, though it is slowly eaten by rust

Hidalgo Street, Quiapo, Manila

Then: Calle San Sebastian, old Spanish houses line the street from Quiapo Church to San Sebastian 
Now: R. Hidalgo Street, no more old Spanish houses

Binondo Church, Binondo, Manila

Then: Binondo Church seen from Blanco Bridge
Now: Still the old Binondo Church seen from Blanco Bridge but with more power lines

Bustillos Street, Sampaloc, Manila

Then: Calle Bustillos, a major road during the pre-war Manila, and the Church of St. Anthony
Now: J. Figueras Street, no more old houses, and the church had changed.

Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila

Then: Front door of the Manila Cathedral
Now: Front door of the reconstructed Manila Cathedral, though the statues are no longer the same

Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila

Then: Manila Cathedral, formerly the Kilometer Zero reference point in Manila (now in Flag Pole, Rizal Park)
Now: Reconstructed Manila Cathedral, with a tall belfry.

Plaza de Roma, Intramuros, Manila

Then: Plaza de Roma and the bronze statue of King Carlos IV of Spain
Now: Still the same plaza and statue

San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila

Then: Wood carved front door of San Agustin Church
Now: still the same wood carved front door of the oldest stone church in the Philippines

ECJ Building, Intramuros, Manila

Then: Casa Nueva or Provincial House of the Augustinian Order
Now: ECJ Building, a corporate building that reconstructed the old Casa Nueva's exterior.

Plaza Goiti, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Then: Plaza Goiti, with views of the back of Sta. Cruz Church and Meralco Tram waiting station.
Now: Plaza Lacson, a total different reconstructed plaza, church and surrounding buildings.

Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila

Then: Calle Escolta used to be the "Wall Street of Manila" before the outbreak of the second world war
Now: Escolta Street is still a prominent street in Binondo where hotels, restaurants and many other businesses are established.

Jones Bridge, Binondo, Manila

Then: Puente de España, the beautiful bridge comparable to those in Paris.
Now: Jones Bridge, a reconstructed bridge built on the ruins of the original bridge (bombed in 1945). No longerthe beautiful bridge.

Luneta Park, Ermita, Manila

Then: The Rizal Monument and a view of the Manila Hotel
Now: Still the same monument and hotel (but with a new building).

Plaza Moraga, Binondo, Manila

Then: Plaza Moraga with views of the Uy Chaco Building and old tram rails
Now: Plaza Moraga with views of the Philtrust Building (formerly Chaco Building) and Filipino-Chinese Arch of Friendship.

Plaza Moraga, Binondo, Manila

Then: Plaza Moraga viewed from Puente de España, Chaco building at the background
Now: Plaza Moraga viewed from Jone Bridge, Philtrust Building at the background

Manila Central Post Office, Ermita, Manila

Then: Manila Central Post Office viewed across the Pasig River
Now: still the same reconstructed building

El Hogar Building, Binondo, Manila

Then: El Hogar and Ayala Life Buildings, elegant buildings that survived the terror of World War 2.
Now: Still the same old buildings but had fallen into disrepair. 

Some were perfectly preserved, some had changed totally, and some arose from the same ground but with "so-so" reconstruction of the previous marvelous building. We're very unfortunate to lose most of Manila's architectural marvel but I guess we're lucky enough to still have some remnants from our majestic past. Visit this site, read the forum, learn from the history buffs, look at the old pictures, tour on your foot the new Manila, and rediscover the old Manila from this modern city.  

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Manila Landmarks Trilogy

10 Pieces of Something in Manila

Manila Then and Now

6 Misplaced Landmarks in Manila - A guest post on Journeying James

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