Pandacan Archives - Page 2 of 3

roaming the streets: Pandacan’s Jesus and Otis

August 3, 2014June 23, 2012 by The Urban Roamer

No other thoroughfares have long defined the district of Pandacan in Manila than the twin streets of Jesus and the former Otis, now known as Paz M. Guanzon. Divided by Quirino Avenue, these two streets are actually part of a single road networks that serves to connect Pandacan to the nearby districts of the city.

Named after the patron of the district, the Holy Child, Jesus is one of the districts oldest thoroughfares where many of the district’s landmarks are located. Apart from what have been written previously, along this road can be found a city government’s housing project called the Residencias de Manila and across it the charity organization ran by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, Caritas Manila. If you are one those looking for affordable goods like clothing, household items, etc. Caritas Manila’s office is one place to go to on some occasions since they hold “garage sales” of sorts for various goods.

The heritage of Pandacan (Part 3 of the Pandacan series)

August 3, 2014June 7, 2012 by The Urban Roamer

For a district with a 300-year old history as Pandacan, it should come as no surprise to see Pandacan figure prominently in our history in one way or another or to see fragments of its old history surviving in the midst of the many changes this place has faced.

If there’s one foremost claim Pandacan can make in our history, it would most likely being the birthplace and hometown of one of the champions of the Filipino secularization movement in the Catholic Church and eventual martyr, Father Jacinto Zamora. Not only was he honored by having not just one street after him, a park was also built on the approximate site where he was born.

Pandacan: the land of arts and depots (Part 2)

August 3, 2014May 31, 2012 by The Urban Roamer

One little-known fact about Pandacan is that it has been dubbed the “Little Italy” and “Little Venice” partly because of its topography being surrounded by a river and esteros or creeks and also because of it being the center of arts and culture especially during the 19th-early 20th century. In fact, Pandacan was known as the cradle of Italian operas in the country as this district was the center of opera and orchestral music performance in and around Manila, and perhaps the country as well.

One of the foremost figures of music based in Pandacan is Ladislao Bonus, who is also known as “the father of the Philippine Opera.” He was able to establish the first Philippine opera company in Pandacan in 1887, was part of the Manila Cathedral and Marikina orchestras among others, and has written musical scores for a number of zarzuelas as well. Today, a memorial to him exists along a street named after one of the first members of his opera company, Teodora San Luis.

Pandacan: the land of arts and depots (Part 1)

August 3, 2014May 22, 2012 by The Urban Roamer

Not many people know this but May 30 this year is an important milestone being celebrated in a certain part of Manila, in a district they call Pandacan. What makes this date this year special is that it marks the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Pandacan. Thus, this series is dedicated to this storied district.

Located along the southern banks of the Pasig River across the districts of San Miguel and Santa Mesa lies the district known to many as Pandacan. Glancing from its name one might think it may have come from the Tagalog root word “pandak” or “short person” thus giving the perception that it may have called as such because the place was inhabited by short people. But the truth is actually farther than that. In fact, originally the place was not called Pandacan but “Pandanan,” a place where the edible pandan trees used to thrive. Somehow its name got corrupted over time and we now get the name we call it today.

Being located along the banks of the river, and considering the early Filipinos in Manila being dependent on the river, it is but natural that one would see a thriving community in what is now Pandacan before the arrival of the Spaniards. But apart from the river, the early Pandacan folk also relied on the rich land as well; farming was also an important source of living. As the nearby Kingdom of Maynilad soon fell to Spanish control, the community of Pandacan followed as well, first as part of the greater community of Sampaloc which was established on the northern banks but eventually became a suburb on its own on May 30, 1712.