Travel

First Power Plant in Manila: La Electricista in Calle Hidalgo Manila’s first power plant was the La Electricista Power Station. Located in Quiapo, along with Calle San Sebastian (Calle Hidalgo today), coal power provided Manila with electricity starting in 1894. The powerplant was operated by the La Electricista Company, which was established in 1892. The … Read more

First Railway Station in Manila Manila’s first railway station was the tutuban station, located along Calle Azcarraga (C.M. Recro Avenue today). The station was built in 1887 as part of the construction of the British-operated Manila-Dagupan Railway Line, the first train line in Luzon. The station was built in the bahay na bato style, featuring … Read more

The First Railway System in Manila: Tranvias de Filipinas The first railway system in Manila was the streetcar or tranvia system, which opened its first lines in 1883. The tranvia was a rail-based mass transit system with rails built in the middle of the streets. The first streetcars were horse-drawn tranvias. The system was operated … Read more

Manila’s first modern railway was built in 1984. Known as the Metrorail at the time, the elevated urban railway line was the city’s first modern rapid transit system. The original stretched from Baclaran in the South all the way north to Monumento in Caloocan. Many of its stations served the city of Manila itself, such … Read more

The first modern skyscraper of Manila was the Picache Building located in Quiapo’s Plaza Miranda. It was builtin 1962. Designed by the architect Angel Nakpil, the building rose to 12 stories rising high over the Manila skyline, paving the way for taller constructions in the city (for better or worse). The Picache Building was built … Read more