Travel

First University in Manila: Universidad de San Ignacio The first college and university in Manila was the Universidad de San Ignacio. The Jesuits established the school as a seminary in 1590, known as the Colegio de Manila. The school was formally in 1595. In 1621, the college was authorized by Pope Gregory XV to confer … Read more

First River Crossing: Puente Grande The first bridge to span the Pasig River was the Puente Grande. Built between 1626 to 1630, the bridge connected the northern district of Binondo to Manila and Parian in the south. The bridge featured ten stone piers that supported a wooden deck. The wooden deck could be destroyed to … Read more

The first suspension bridge in Manila, Asia, and the first toll bridge in the Philippines was the Puente Colgante, built in 1852. Also known as the Puente de Claveria, the bridge connected Quiapo to Manila and Arroceros. It was Manila’s second bridge over the Pasig River. The bridge has masonry piers upon which a wooden … Read more

Rudist reef fragment in Camarines Sur Rudists, the ancient reef-builders If you are fascinated with the ocean and the life it supports, for today’s Discover Geology we feature an organism that once dominated the reef-building communities many millions of years ago. Reefs are marine structures that provide habitats for different types of marine life. The … Read more

MADAYAW is a friendly greeting derived from Mandaya and Mansaka words which mean “good”, “valuable” or “treasured”. It is also the word from which the Kadayawan Festival is also derived. “Madayaw na buntag!” T. “Magandang Umaga!”E. “Good morning!” In the Pre-colonial Philippines, it was believed that in the full moon or in the Dayaw or … Read more