San Nicolas Fire Station (Calle Madrid, San Nicolas)
While most areas of nearby Intramuros, Tondo, and Binondo were destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945, the core area of San Nicolas was spared and remained relatively intact. Thus preserved was a great multitude of structures from the Spanish colonial period, many of which were bahay na bato type architecture ranging from residential houses to foundries, commercial houses, and warehouses. Sadly, due to lack of protection from the government, as well as a lack of appreciation, many of these houses are now being destroyed at an alarming rate in the past 30 years. What was spared from a cataclysmic battle is now disappearing in the face of aggressive “development”.
As such, efforts are underway from heritage advocates to protect, preserve, properly develop, and promote this unique piece of Manila’s urban landscape heritage.
As a way of educating the public, here are some heritage structures from the district of San Nicolas.
Text: Jeremiah Inocencio, Diego Torres
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