One of the oldest streets in Manila, Escolta was created in 1594.

Its name was derived from the

Spanish word escoltar, meaning "to escort".[1] Escolta was known for its concentration of immigrant
merchants, mainly from Fujian, China, who came to make their fortune during the Manila-Acapulco
Galleon trade. The street was lined with shops and boutiques selling imported goods from
China, Europe and elsewhere in Latin America that arrived in the nearby port of San Nicolas. By the
late 19th century, Escolta flourished into a fashionable business district hosting the city's tallest
buildings as well as the Manila Stock Exchange. The shops were replaced by modern department
stores and an electric tram line known as tranvia plied the street. Escolta served as the city's primary
commercial district until its decline in the 1960s when the center of business gradually shifted
to Makati.

Avenida Rizal - was Main Street where the bazaars, movies, hotels, offices, restaurants
and banks thrived
Plaza Goiti – Business district, banks and finances; was the center of the city’s
transportation network –the tranvias. The tranvias were owned and operated by
Meralco. In 1904, the Manila Electric Co. acquired both the Compañía de los Tranvías
de Filipinas (a firm that operated public transportation and ran Manila’s horse-drawn
and steam-operated tramways), and added La Electricista. Construction on the electric
tramway began that same year
Escolta - The street was lined with shops and boutiques selling imported goods from
China, Europe and elsewhere in Latin America that arrived in the nearby port of San
Nicolas; catered to the upscale carriage trade
Plaza Santa Cruz – Plaza Sta. Cruz had the entertainment like bars and vaudeville.

The construction of the Santa Cruz Bridge and the coming of the Meralco trolley cars
definitely established the city’s center in the area bounded by Avenida Rizal, Plaza Goiti,
the Escolta and Plaza Santa Cruz –an area that became known as “downtown.”
 Plaza Goiti Tranvia terminal.

Plaza Goiti was the center of the city’s transportation network –the tranvias. The
tranvias were owned and operated by Meralco. In 1904, the Manila Electric Co. acquired
both the Compañía de los Tranvías de Filipinas (a firm that operated public
transportation and ran Manila’s horse-drawn and steam-operated tramways), and
added La Electricista. Construction on the electric tramway began that same
year. Meralco  operated a 52-mile , 170 fleet of streetcars from 1903 to World War II.
The equipment and tracks of the system was severely damaged during the war and had
to be removed.

The Escolta catered to the upscale carriage trade. Plaza Sta. Cruz had the entertainment
like bars and vaudeville. Avenida Rizal was Main Street where the bazaars, movies,
hotels, offices, restaurants and banks thrived. As you cross the Estero de la Reina from
the Escolta, you are faced with the ancient Santa Cruz Church.
 Santa Cruz church-1910

Plaza Goiti – mid 1930s

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