Escolta Street
Escolta Street is a historic east-west street located in the old downtown district of Binondo in Manila, Philippines. It runs parallel to the Pasig River, from Plaza Santa Cruz to Plaza Moraga and Quintin Paredes Street. The street is home to several fine examples of early skyscraper design in the Philippines. In Spanish, it is known as calle de la Escolta.
History
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 river 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.[2]
In music
The first known reference to "La Escolta", can be heard on the zarzuela "El pay-pay de Manila" Al volver de la Escolta Charito tras comprarse un precioso paipay, y una carta encontró de Pepito en su rocabay, ¡Ay, que se le cai! Y en la carta le hablaba de amor ¡Ay Jesús, qué calor, qué calor!
Architectural Establishments
- Don Roman Santos Building
- A neo-classical building fronting Plaza Goiti (Lacson) in the eastern end of Escolta Street. The building once housed the headquarters of Monte de Piedad and Prudential Bank before it was sold to Bank of the Philippine Islands.
- Perez Samanillo Building
- One of the few surviving examples of art deco architecture in Manila, it was the tallest building in Manila at the time of its completion in 1928. Designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro, the building is now known as First United Building.
- Regina Building
- Built in 1934, this four-storey building was designed in the neo-classical style by Andres Luna de San Pedro.
- Natividad Building
- A beaux arts style building that housed the Insurance Commission in the 1950s.
- Burke Building
- Named after philantropist, William J. Burke, the building is known as the location of the first elevator in Manila.
- Calvo Building
- Another fine example of beaux arts style architecture, it was built in 1938 by Edificio Calvo and designed by Fernando Campo. In 1950, the building was also the location of the first radio studio of DZBB-AM (a flagship AM radio station of GMA Network) until 1957 before the transferring of the DZBB studio in GMA Network Center (the current headquarters of GMA 7) along EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.
- Capitol Theater
- Designed by Juan Nakpil and built in the 1930s, this theater had a double balcony, which is a rare architectural design. The theater's facade has reliefs of 2 muses done by Francesco Monti. The theater is now closed, its location serving as a venue for a few commercial establishments and restaurants.[3]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Escolta Street. |
- ↑ A Walking Tour of Escolta published by Businessweek; accessed 8 September 2013
- ↑ Binondo Back Story published by BusinessWorld; accessed 8 September 2013
- ↑ "Capitol Theater". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
Coordinates: 14°21′19″N 120°35′03″E / 14.3553°N 120.5843°E
