Introduction

This blog will travel you around Binondo Manila, Philippines. This blog will also give you some information about the historical places and how life goes on in Binondo from the past and up to the present time. This blog is done by group 1, students from Universidad De Manila. Enjoy your blog travel in Binondo.

 

The name "Binondo" is a toponym derived from the archaic spelling of the Tagalog term "binondoc" (modern orthography: binundók), or mountainous, referring to Binondo's originally hilly terrain.

History

 Binondo is a district in Manila and is referred to as the city's Chinatown and its influence extends beyond to the places of Quiapo, Santa Cruz, San Nicolas. It is the oldest Chinatown in the world, established in the 1594 by the Spaniards as a settlement near Intramuros but across the Pasig River for Catholic Chinese, it was positioned so that colonial rulers could keep a close eye on their migrant subjects. It was already a hub of Chinese commerce even before the Spanish colonial period. Binondo is the center of commerce and trade of Manila, where all types of business run by Filipino-Chinese thrive.

Bridge of Binondoc in Manila, early 19th century. Original caption: Pont de Binondoc à Manille. From Aventures d'un Gentilhomme Breton aux iles Philippines (1855) by Paul de la Gironière.

Founded in 1594, Binondo was created by Spanish Governor Luis Pérez Dasmariñas as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants (the Spanish called the Chinese sangleys) who converted to Catholicism. It was across the river from the walled city of Intramuros, where the Spaniards resided. Originally it was intended to replace the Parian near Intramuros, where the Chinese were first confined. The Spanish gave a land grant for Binondo to a group of Chinese merchants and artisans in perpetuity, tax-free and with limited self-governing privileges.

 During the brief British occupation of Manila, between 1762 and 1764, Binondo was bombarded on several occasions and some of its structures destroyed. Many Spanish, Mestizos, Chinese and natives were killed and brought into prisons indiscriminately.

Manila burns as the Battle for Manila

The Escolta, the 'Broadway of Manila' (circa 1899)

Before World War II, Binondo was the centre of a banking and financial community which included insurance companies, commercial banks and other financial institutions from Britain and the United States. These banks were located mostly along Escólta, which used to be called the "Wall Street of the Philippines".

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.

Heritage Places

The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch

Old Friendship Arch

The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch that can be seen downtown solidifies a special relationship and serves a bold reminder of the history between the two races.

The New Friendship Arch

Binondo Church

Past and Present of Binondo Church

Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Spanish: Parroquia Basílica de San Lorenzo Ruiz y Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario), is located in the District of Binondo, Manila fronting Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, in the Philippines. This church was founded by Dominican priests in 1596 to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity. The original building was destroyed in 1762 by British bombardment. A new granite church was completed on the same site in 1852 however it was greatly damaged during the Second World War, with only the western façade and the octagonal belfry surviving.

Inside Binondo Church

Ceiling of Binondo Church

Lucky Chinatown Mall

Present Picture of Lucky Chinatown Mall

Lucky Chinatown Mall is located at Reina Regenta Street, Binondo, Manila, Philippines.It is the former site of Jose Abad Santos and Raja Soliman High Schools. Its opening date was August 15, 2012. It contains over 100 stores carrying local and international brands catering the affluent customers in the asia such as the wealthy Chinese-Filipino.


                     A true heaven for lovers of recreation, Lucky Chinatown offers five levels of world class dining, shopping and entertainment. indulging guests are four upscale movie theatres equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a cinema with Emperor Twins seats.
                    Completing the Lucky Chinatown experience is the Chinatown Walk, reliving Binondo’s glorious past and showcasing an exciting street concept that revives the famed old Chinatown.

Chinatown in Binondo

Most countries have their own Chinese Communities, though it is in the Philippines that you will find the oldest Chinatown in the world

Chinatown Arch

Carvajal Street Alley in Chinatown

Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, may not be the cleanest, most pleasant place in the Philippines, but visitors usually leave happy, having found the best that the Filipino-Chinese community can offer.
As a digger of cheap but worthwhile buys, I tend to frequent Chinatown in Binondo, Manila. Of course, there’s the challenge of balancing price and quality, considering most of the products here are genuine fakes. Still, it is a good place to be familiar with because of the bargain prices.

 Regular retailers, including bookstores and gift shops in malls, acquire most of their merchandise from Binondo, Manila. Chinatown is just walking distance away from Divisoria malls, 168 Mall, 11/88 Mall and 999 Mall — shopping paradise to people looking for the lowest prices.
When in Chinatown, it would be good to know that the most important street is Ongpin Street. Ongpin is home to many restaurants, hotels and shops selling goods from China.
On nearby streets are office supply stores, furniture stores, electrical supply stores, jewelry stores, and other types of shops. School and office supply stores, for instance, sell at prices that are less than half of tag prices at National Bookstore.

Veggie Stands along Chinatown

A Busy Afternoon in Chinatown 

Also Fruits Stands can be found

Manila Chinatown is known by various names reflecting its multiple functions and layers of meanings. To the tourists, it is known as Chinatown, a common reference to an area where there are a lot of Chinese or Chinese businesses. To the Filipinos, the area is known as Binondo. When the Filipino Chinese communicate among themselves, they refer to the area as “Chi Lai”, 市内, Hokkien term for inner city.

  Businesses in Chinatown cater to the dietary, cultural and religious needs of the Chinese population. Restaurants line the street offering a wide range of Chinese food while other shops offer the latest CD from Hong Kong and Taiwan, religious goods and festive goods that are in season.

As you stroll and enjoy the sights and signs of Chinatown, you know you have reached the boundaries when you see another Chinese Arch. At the southeastern end of Ongpin street, a fountain and the Santa Cruz Church faced the Chinese archway presenting an interesting contrast. 

Ongpin Street 

                         The history of  Ongpin Street dates back in the 1890’s. It is named after Don Roman Ongpin, a chinese businessman who gained fame for his financial support of the “katipunero” rebels during the successful uprising of 1896 against spain. Ongpin street has many restaurants and jewelry Shop. Men come for gifts guaranteed to provoke a smile from their loved ones and women wander Ongpin for the sheer vanity of being sorrounded by a lot of jewelry.

                     

\Certainly the “mutual benefit associations” and oldest Chinese temples are to be found mainly in Ongpin. The place is quite simply a living reminder of a minority, well and truly assimilated, that can come around any day and savour the authentic threads of heritage left behind on the mainland long ago.

Kuang Kong Temple

Building in Kipuja Street

"Inside the Temple

       


In the middle of Chinatown you can find a small Buddhist temple on the second floor of an ordinary looking building. The temple is along Kipuja Street.

The temple is dedicated to Kuang Kong. Known as the God of War, Kuang Kong is favored by Chinese businessmen. He is the patron of Martial Arts and Patron of Scholars (when seated/reading). He is protector of the innocent, the loyal, the compassionate and the kind. He is the powerful and honorable general who stood by the kingdom, though it cost him his life.

         Kuang Kung is also protector of Quan Yin, Goddess of Mercy.

Kuang Kong is depicted here with an open book and is behind glass.

The temple is open to the public. Tell the security guard that you want to visit the temple. Once inside the temple you can take three incense sticks and put them in the big vase you find at the entrance of the temple. Don’t forget to give a small donation! Sometimes there have group performance in this place everyday.

Where: in the heart of Binondo. The temple is hidden on the second-floor of an ordinary building on Kipuja Street.

(From Ongpin Street turn left into Fernandez Street then left again into Kipuja Street)

Seng Guan Temple

            Seng Guan Temple. It's not a long walk from Kuang Kong Temple (Narra St.) This is the biggest Buddhist Temple in China town. It also has an amazing architecture. It has many rooms for praying.

They offering there prayers:

1. After lighting three sticks of incense, Then sit on the red pew box facing the God (if the prayer is for business then offer your prayer to the right deity). While offering the prayer, Then wave the incense slowly and bow your head.

2. After that, put the incense in the incense pot and grab the two halves of red wooden moon-like shape. According to Chinese ritual, you should ask a question which is only answerable by "yes" or "no." I clasped the two woods then dropped it. If the two halves face each other it means your request will be granted and the answer is "yes," but if it face opposite to each other then it's a "no." You can pray again, and repeat again the ritual, though.

3. After that, you may know what would be your day end like by picking among the bundle of sticks with a number that will lead you to its corresponding statement, well it's written in Chinese characters so I didn't bother to ask mine.

El Hogar Filipino Building

El Hogar Filipino Building, also known simply as El Hogar, is an early skyscraper in Manila, Philippines. Built in 1914 and located at the corner of Juan Luna Street and Muelle dela Industría in the Binondo district, El Hogar Building was designed by Ramon Irureta-Goyena and Francisco Perez-Muñoz in the Beaux-Arts style. Its architecture reflects elements of Neoclassical and Renaissance styles. El Hogar Building was built as a wedding gift for the union of a Zobel de Ayala family daughter and a Peruvian count back in 1914. During its heyday, El Hogar Building housed the Sociedad El Hogar Filipino, a financing cooperative founded by Don Antonio Melian, and the offices of Smith Bell and Co.[1]

It survived World War II and a number of earthquakes and is one of two remaining American-era structures in the area facing the Pasig River. Right across Juan Luna Street, on its northern front, is another important edifice, the Pacific Commercial Company Building or commonly known as the First National City Bank Building which was built in 1922.


The value of the building is its architecture, which is a representation of American period design, materials, and construction method. El Hogar is a representation of the architecture of business establishments of that era. It also has a collective value as one of the significant structures within the historic Binondo district and Escolta Street, along the cultural landscape of the Pasig River.