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 company was engaged by the city government to provide modern electric street lights across the city, as well as supply private households and businesses with electricity.
In 1904, La Electricista was bought by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) Meralco utilized the powerplant to power the tranvia or streetcar system.
Meralco eventually built a new powerplant at Isla de Provisor.
The site of Electricista today is vacant, but plans are underway to build a condominium tower in its place.
Opened in 1892, the coal power plant in Quiapo provided Manila with its first supply of electricity which was primarily used for public lighting across the city. During the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896, one of the targets of the Katipunan revolutionaries was the seizure of the power plant which would then be shut down to turn off the lights of the city – a signal for forces outside the city to attack. The attack failed in San Juan, outside the city.
In 1903, the Manila Electric Company of Charles Swift bought the La Electricista power plant. He also bought the Tranvias de Filipinas which operated the horsedrawn trams or tranvias of Manila. Soon modern electric trams would be plying the streets of the city.
The Manila Electric Company, later the Manila Electric, Railway and Lighting Company or MERALCO, would build a bigger new powerplant in Ermita at the Isla de Provisor, replacing the old powerplant in Quiapo (which was located in a residential area).
The property was later bought by MLQU , which built a new structure on the site. This was later demolished when the property was bought by a condominium developer. A 30 story tower is set to be built on the site.
Special thanks to Peter Rallos of Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp. Lugar, Inc. (KKB) for providing us with the research for this area of Quiapo.
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