The Philippines Today

El 82 (El Ochenta y Dos) was a store that was established by Chinese merchant and nationalist Roman Ongpin in 1883, a year after the devastating 1882 cholera epidemic that hit Manila. The store first opened along Calle Rosario, selling art supplies, and later provided support to the Philippine Revolution of 1896. A brand new … Read more

The Hospital de San Gabriel was established by Dominican friars in 1587 to serve as a hospital for Manila’s Chinese community. I originally stood in Intramuros near the site of today’s Baluarte de San Gabriel, before relocating to Binondo north of the Pasig River in the 1590s. The hospital was also instrumental in converting thousands … Read more

Old Plaza Cervantes  The plaza was originally an open space located north of the Hospital de San Gabriel, hence its old name, Plaza de San Gabriel. In the 19th century, talisay trees were planted in the middle of the plaza. A fountain and a monument to the printer Tomas Pinpin were also built in the … Read more

The Hotel de Oriente was a first-class hotel that opened its doors in 1889. It was owned by Don Manuel Perez Marqueti, with the hotel being designed by Spanish architect Juan Jose Huervas y Arizmendi. It featured 83 rooms and had stables for 25 horses. Dr. Jose Rizal stayed in the hotel in June 1892, … Read more

At the corner of Plaza Moraga and Plaza Cervantes stands the old Insular Life Building. When it was completed in 1931, the Insular Life Building was one of the tallest structures in Manila. The building soon became a landmark of Downtown Manila, whose corner tower and cupola became Iconic due to the eagle statue proudly … Read more