MANILA: QUEEN CITY OF THE PACIFIC

A Reaction Paper
GEC105 A7-3 Readings in Philippine History

Submitted to:

Prof. Rey Luis Montesclaros, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of History
College of Arts and Social Sciences
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
Andres Bonifacio Avenue, Tibanga, Iligan City

Submitted By:

Fabiano M. Barcenal, Jr.

BS Metallurgical Engineering – I

Submission Date and Time:

April 5, 2021
4:30PM to 6:00PM, Philippine Standard Time
 SUMMARY

“Manila, capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, rises on

the shore of the bay, into which the Spaniards sailed in 1570; and where in 1898,

Admiral Dewey achieved one of the greatest naval victories in history — the

Battle of Manila Bay. As headquarters for American commercial interests in the

Orient, Manila has been transformed from a sleepy Spanish town into a modern

city. Inter-island ships serving the archipelago of some 7,000 islands, berth along

a cave of the Pasig River that flows to the center of the city. From the sterns, fly

both the American and Philippines flags for the Commonwealth government is

still under the protection and advise of the United States.

Much of the local trading is carried on in “kaskos”, flat-bottom boats which are

poled through the many canals and waterways of Manila. Each “kasko” has its

family, whose life is spent beneath its thatched roof of bamboo or palm, veritable

water gypsies in a climate that is kind to all.

Manila is really three cities in one: Old Tondo, home of the Philippine masses;

modern Manila, born of American development; and Intramuros, walled city of

the Spaniards.

The last, built on the south shore at the mouth of the Pasig River, is surrounded

by two and a half miles of wall, which begun in 1590 worked for centuries

bulwarks against invasion. The moat encircling the wall was filled in for sanitary

reasons by the Americans, and is today a drill ground, a recreation area and a

golf course. The walls and bastions are excellently preserved and have withstood
even earthquakes which at times, laid ruin the old city. In the bastion of the Royal

Gate is Manila’s famous aquarium. The Parian Gates is the most notable of the

city’s five, which until 1852, were all closed at night. Within the walls, little has

changed since the Spanish rule. The main shopping street, Calle Real, chiefly

catering to tourists, presents a picture of busy activity and colorful traffic. The

projecting balconies and grilled windows are reminders of old Spain. The

Franciscan church, more than 200 years old, is one of the many places of

worship within walled Manila, for the Spaniards converted the Filipinos into the

only Christian peoples in the Orient, long before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth

Rock. A bodice with huge sleeves of cloth made from pineapple plant and a long

skirt, the train of which is tucked into the front of the belt, is the typical dress of

the Filipino women. Facing quiet McKinley Square is the Cathedral, built in

Byzantine style a little more than 60 years ago, added to other cathedrals

destroyed by earthquakes.

On the north shore of the Pasig River is Tondo, the oldest and most densely

populated quarter. Here the masses live, and here also is the modern business

area of the city. In this section are the greatest contrasts. Fine, skyscraper office

buildings and banks, among crumbling, thick-walled ancient structures. Broad,

straight streets, and narrow, crooked ones. Canals teeming with boat activity,

and paved streets with modern traffic. Traffic in all parts of Tondo is heavy and

difficult to control. With swiftly moving autos abreast “caromatas”, the two-

wheeled native conveyances drawn by active Philippine ponies. The oldest and

still the main business street of Manila is the famed Escolta, a congested narrow
thoroughfare, five blocks long, which parallels the river, between Plaza Moriaga

and Plaza Goiti. On it, stays most of the fine shops and department stores of the

city. Another important thoroughfare is Rizal Avenue, named in the memory of

the great hero-martyr, Dr. Jose Rizal, who was executed by the Spaniards in

1896, two years before the coming of the Americans. There are many arcaded

sidewalks in Manila. For although sunstroke in unknown, it is more pleasant and

cooler to keep in the shade during the heat of the day. Each section of the city

has its market, where practically everything used by the Filipinos can be

purchased. In the Yangco Market, a bazaar devoted exclusively to Filipino

products, almost every locally-made article can be secured. The two-wheeled

“caromata” and “caritela” are the principal conveyances of the Filipinos. These

carriages accommodate two and six persons, respectively. Little straw protectors

are placed on the wheel when the passenger mounts or descends. The

Philippine beast of burden is the “carabao”. There are more than two and a

quarter million of these patient, hard-working animals in the islands. And their

slow pace is appreciated by their easy-going masters. In addition to modern

motor transportation, the horse-drawn bus still holds an important place.

The Pasig River is spanned by four bridges. Jones Bridge, surmounted by

Filipino figures is the newest. The graceful arch stands on the site of the old

bridge of Spain. The spacious and dignified Post Office overlooks the river and

faces upon the Plaza Lawton where the Burgos Drive begins. The Burgos Drive,

a magnificent wide boulevard follows part of the sunken garden of the old city

moat. Near its middle stand the superb Legislative Building, completed in 1926 at
a cost of two million dollars. Today, it is the seat of the new Commonwealth

Government. In front of it, over the course laid out around the walls of old Manila,

modern Manila plays golf. A residential section where many beautiful homes and

the best hotels are situated is Ermita. The famous Manila Hotel, overlooking the

bay is one of the finest air-conditioned hotels in the tropics. In Ermita are also the

buildings of the University of the Philippines, a government institution which

embraces wide fields of learning and offers excellent educational opportunities to

all. Contrasting greatly with the narrow, irregular streets of Spain’s Manila are

the wide, well-paved boulevards of the American city. Great shade tree over arch

many of the avenues; and palms or colorful, flowering trees line other arches.

Dewey Boulevard, the pride of Manila, is built upon reclaimed land along the

shores of the bay, an idea location for many of the residences of which the city

boasts. Among them is that of the American high commissioner. The spacious

house with its gardens and patio is often the scene of social splendor. Situated

on the north bank of the Pasig River are the executive offices and home of the

President of the Philippine Commonwealth. In a mansion built as the suburban

residence for Spanish Governors, a Philippine chief executive now directs the

whole government of this island Commonwealth, an archipelago fast changing

from a dreary Spanish colony into a modern, agricultural, industrial and

independent country.”
 REACTION & REFLECTION

The Philippines saw its Golden Age in the 1930s. Manila, like Shanghai, survived

the ravages of the Great Depression and thrived. With rising nationalism and the

possibility of independence came patriotism, and Filipinos wanted to compete and

demonstrate it to the rest of the world. Dressed to the nines, both men and women. The

Philippines' affluent community flourished. Manila had a well-known cafe scene.

Infrastructure schemes in the Commonwealth were opulent and opulent. It was the

pinnacle of Philippine culture.

This was the Philippines' golden age, when it was Asia's second wealthiest and

most influential country after Japan, and as compared to its Asian neighbors, the

Philippines was a Westernized country during those years. Also soldiers from the

Philippines were sent to Korea to assist in military operations and to help the nation

prosper. Also, because of the architecture of the houses, churches, and bridges, as well

as the way Filipinos lived their lives at the time, Manila was dubbed the "Paris of Asia"

during this period.

Because of its elegant and ornate houses, trendy shops and fancy restaurants,

vast parks and gardens, and large boulevards along Manila Bay and the Pasig River,

Manila was dubbed "The Paris of the East" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

(Paris is situated along the banks of the River Seine). Thanks to Daniel Burnham, who

was tasked with creating a new Manila concept (old Manila was the Spanish walled city

of Intramuros). When World War II broke out, however, Manila was heavily bombed by

American and Japanese armies, and when the war ended, Manila was the world's

second most destroyed capital, behind Warsaw. Fortunately, Warsaw was able to
rebuild the city and restore the majority of its historical structures, but in Manila, those

that were destroyed were never rebuilt, those that were heavily damaged were never

restored to their former glory, and those that could not be saved were completely

demolished.

The Philippines was still an American colony at the time. The Philippines was

under Commonwealth of the United States the same time with Guam Puerto Rico and

Cuba. All four countries were sold to United States after the Spanish-American War. Did

you note that there were two flags flying on the flagpole at the start of the movie, with

the US flag flying above the Philippine flag? During morning flag ceremonies,

elementary Filipino students used to sing the US national anthem "Star Spangled

Banner" first, followed by the Philippine national anthem. Although the Philippines had

some autonomy and self-rule (with its own President, Legislature, and Court system),

the United States was still in charge. The Commonwealth government was its name.

After World War II, the Philippines gained full independence from the United States in

1946. After WWII, in the 1950s and early 1960s, the Philippines was Asia's most

progressive nation, second only to Japan. All went downhill from there due to politics

and misrule. However, the Philippines has recently begun to rise again, becoming one

of Asia's and the world's fastest growing economies in recent years.

1930: Queen of the Pacific

2021: Servant of Pacific

Everything was taken for granted. We were once a rich country, now we are just

enjoying its former glory through black and whites.