Escolta Street (lit: Escort) 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. Its definition as a historic financial district includes Escolta and other surrounding streets of Binondo and Santa Cruz. It currently carries one-way eastbound traffic towards Santa Cruz.
Escolta Street
Calle de la Escolta
Escolta Street, looking west from Plaza Santa Cruz.
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]
In Walter Robb's essay Main Street, he states, "The gates of the walled city were closed at sunset, when curfew rang from the towers of all its churches; they were not opened again until dawn. Low, massive, stone-arched, typically medieval as you see them today, these gates were all furnished out with ponderous drawbridges lowered and raised by rude capstans, with strong porcullises of square iron bars which settled into place as the drawbridges rose upright." After some individuals went missing "along the sandy path to the bridge," Robb continues, a delegation petitioned the governor to station a detachment of halberdiers "along the path as a guard until after the city gates were closed." "The governor assented, detailing a grizzled officer to arrange the escort, the escolta, in such a manner as to protect the path for a period of six months; and from this the winding path by the riverside got its name, la escolta, the escort, long before it was widened to the dignity of a street."[2]
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 tranvía 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.[3]
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 Charitotras comprarse un precioso paipay,y una carta encontró de Pepitoen su rocabay,¡Ay, que se le cai!Y en la carta le hablaba de amor¡Ay Jesús, qué calor, qué calor!
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.
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 was previously named Perez Samanillo Building.
A neo-classical and Renaissance building built as a wedding gift for the union of a Zobel daughter and a Peruvian count back in 1914. It was designed by Ramon Irureta-Goyena and Francisco Perez-Muñoz in the Beaux Arts Style.
Another fine example of beaux arts style architecture, it was built in 1938 by Edificio Calvo and designed by Fernando Ocampo. 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.
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 two muses done by Francesco Monti. The theater is now closed, its location serving as a venue for a few commercial establishments and restaurants.[4]
Gallery
Roman R. Santos Building
First United Building (former Perez-Samanillo Building)
Regina Building north façade viewed from the street
Street vendors in front of Regina Building at Escolta, Manila
escolta, street, escort, historic, east, west, street, located, downtown, district, binondo, manila, philippines, runs, parallel, pasig, river, from, plaza, santa, cruz, plaza, moraga, quintin, paredes, street, street, home, several, fine, examples, early, sky. Escolta Street lit Escort 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 Its definition as a historic financial district includes Escolta and other surrounding streets of Binondo and Santa Cruz It currently carries one way eastbound traffic towards Santa Cruz Escolta StreetCalle de la EscoltaEscolta Street looking west from Plaza Santa Cruz Length1 6 km 0 99 mi LocationManilaEast endN150 Plaza Santa Cruz in Santa CruzWest endPlaza Moraga and Quintin Paredes Street in BinondoConstructionCompletion1594 Contents 1 History 2 In music 3 Architectural establishments 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory Edit An 1899 view of Escolta 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 In Walter Robb s essay Main Street he states The gates of the walled city were closed at sunset when curfew rang from the towers of all its churches they were not opened again until dawn Low massive stone arched typically medieval as you see them today these gates were all furnished out with ponderous drawbridges lowered and raised by rude capstans with strong porcullises of square iron bars which settled into place as the drawbridges rose upright After some individuals went missing along the sandy path to the bridge Robb continues a delegation petitioned the governor to station a detachment of halberdiers along the path as a guard until after the city gates were closed The governor assented detailing a grizzled officer to arrange the escort the escolta in such a manner as to protect the path for a period of six months and from this the winding path by the riverside got its name la escolta the escort long before it was widened to the dignity of a street 2 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 3 In music EditThe 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 encontro de Pepito en su rocabay Ay que se le cai Y en la carta le hablaba de amor Ay Jesus que calor que calor Architectural establishments Edit Westward view of Escolta Street in 2014 Don Roman Santos BuildingA 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 First United BuildingOne 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 was previously named Perez Samanillo Building El Hogar Filipino BuildingA neo classical and Renaissance building built as a wedding gift for the union of a Zobel daughter and a Peruvian count back in 1914 It was designed by Ramon Irureta Goyena and Francisco Perez Munoz in the Beaux Arts Style Regina BuildingBuilt in 1934 this four storey building was designed in the neo classical style by Andres Luna de San Pedro Natividad BuildingA beaux arts style building that housed the Insurance Commission in the 1950s Burke BuildingNamed after philanthropist William J Burke the building is known as the location of the first elevator in Manila Calvo BuildingAnother fine example of beaux arts style architecture it was built in 1938 by Edificio Calvo and designed by Fernando Ocampo 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 TheaterDesigned 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 two muses done by Francesco Monti The theater is now closed its location serving as a venue for a few commercial establishments and restaurants 4 Gallery Edit Roman R Santos Building First United Building former Perez Samanillo Building Regina Building north facade viewed from the street Street vendors in front of Regina Building at Escolta Manila Natividad Building Burke Building Calvo Building beaux arts detailsSee also EditColon Street Calle RealReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Escolta Street A Walking Tour of Escolta Archived October 5 2013 at the Wayback Machine published by Businessweek accessed September 8 2013 Robb Walter 1939 Filipinos Manila Carmelo amp Bauermann pp 16 22 Binondo Back Story published by BusinessWorld accessed September 8 2013 Capitol Theater Cinema Treasures Retrieved September 14 2013 Coordinates 14 21 19 N 120 35 03 E 14 3553 N 120 5843 E 14 3553 120 5843 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Escolta Street amp oldid 1136605766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
