City of Manila Archives - Page 58 of 63

A journey to the abode of the Tamaraws

July 29, 2014June 3, 2010 by The Urban Roamer

No we will not be going to Mindoro for this one. (0therwise, this blog will not be called the Urban Roamer)

I am actually referring here to the Tamaraws as the team monicker of that university based in Manila’s University Belt known as the Far Eastern University or FEU for short.

Art-Deco influenced “FEU” mark at the campus gates

First of all though, let me disclose that I have never been a student, not even a cross-enrollee, of FEU, though I did entertain the possibility of studying there at one point. Nevertheless, the things I’ve heard about the rich heritage of the campus along Nicanor Reyes St. and Quezon Blvd. is something I wanted to check out for myself. So thanks again to my suki travel guide friend Lawrence Chan, I got the opportunity to see FEU and the heritage it treasures up close. (to students and alumni of other schools, don’t worry; I will feature or visit your school at some point in the future)

Meet the Met (again)

June 17, 2015May 17, 2010 by The Urban Roamer

This is not some grammatical anomaly there. I am referring here to the grand old dame of Philippine theaters: the one we affectionately call “The Met” or The Manila Metropolitan Theater.

Located near the foot of Quezon Bridge in the corner of old Arroceros, (now known as A. Villegas St.) this iconic landmark was built in an area that was once part of Manila’s first botanical garden in the late 1920’s and was opened on December 10, 1931. It is one of the few remaining structures in the metropolis that follows the architectural style known as Art Deco, one of the most popular architectural designs of the period. It was designed by Juan Arellano, who also happens to be the architect of the Manila Central Post Office and the Jones Bridge; the area where these works are located is known as the “Arellano Triangle.”

new landmarks rising in Santa Ana

March 29, 2018May 13, 2010 by The Urban Roamer

Folks as our Santa Ana series is about to close for now, (I will be roaming back there from time to time) I thought it would be interesting to share with you some new landmarks springing out in the area lately. All in the name of the district’s urbanization which is hopefully for the better rather than for the ruin of this historic district.

Inaugurated just last April 28 is the new Santa Ana Hospital, a district hospital built by the Manila City Government with the help of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation of Lucio Tan. Actually Lucio Tan happens to have owned the land the hospital was built on and gave the land as a donation to the city government for the hospital to be built. (with that I would rather not go into the controversies surrounding the building of the hospital vis-a-vis the Century Park Hotel sale) Originally the City Government (still getting the yellow fever madness) wanted to name the hospital after the late former President Corazon Aquino, just as it did in renaming the Lambingan Bridge found a kilometer or so away. But reportedly, the Tan Yan Kee Foundation was more keen in naming the hospital after Lucio Tan’s mother or father. So it seems both parties made a consensus to keep things simple so to speak.

reminiscing the Insular Ice Plant

July 29, 2014April 25, 2010 by The Urban Roamer

At this time when we in the metropolis are suffering from the effects of El Niño and temperatures reaching as to as high as almost 37 degrees Celsius, this urban roamer cannot help but look back at a time when there was such a thing as a literally cool spot in Manila where perhaps we can take refuge from all the heat. I’m referring to none other than the Insular Ice Plant.

05232010250 — the Insular Ice Plant (courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila)

Back in the days when refrigerators either were non-existent or not widely used yet, the Insular Ice Plant was one of the first buildings built by the Americans to keep the steak and beer fresh and cold. Designed by Edgar Bourne, it was a well-built building and it had a towering smokestack that was a landmark of sorts of Manila for many years, just near the southern end of the Puente de Colgante, then eventually the Quezon Bridge, right across the Post Office Building, Jones Bridge, and the Metropolitan Theater.