Saturday, December 29, 2012

Rizal Day 2012

December 30. Rizal Day.

Today marks the 116th death anniv. of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. And the 100th anniv. of the transfer of his remains from Paco Park to Luneta.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal legacy continues and may it never be forgotten.


Rizal Monument, Manila.
(c) Bikoy

Retrato Filipinas #18

Happy Holidays from the Quezons!


Source


"The 1937 Christmas card of President and Mrs. Manuel L. Quezon. Though it’s not very visible, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of the Philippines is stamped on the letterhead."

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Retrato Filipinas #17

Christmas postcard from 1905
Pinoy Kollektor Collection 2011

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

Nostalgia Filipinas

Friday, December 21, 2012

Retrato Filipinas #16

The Anda Monument, late 19th or 20th century.
John T. Pilot's photostream

Retrato Filipinas #15

Paulo Alcazaren's Facebook
An old postcard from the 1920s showing a very clean and blue Pasig River and the newly built Jones Bridge. Also on the right side, the old Colegio de San Juan de Letran can be seen within the walls of Intramuros.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Con Amor Reconstruido: The Anda Monument

Con amor reconstruido: Anda Monument
John T. Pilot's photostream

One of Manila's most underrated and sometimes forgotten monuments stands just outside the historic walls of Intramuros, overlooking Fort Santiago. A monument built as a form of gratitude to a Spanish governor-general who fought against the invading British forces. 


1920
palaisip.blogspot.com
1898
popartmachine
Anda Monument with Manila Cathedral's dome in the background.
skyscrapercity

The Anda Monument is dedicated to the 41st Spanish governor-general (1770 - 1776) Simon de Anda y Salazar. On October 6, 1762, Manila was occupied by the British as part of the Seven Years' War, a feud between the British and the French. France's string of losses became a concern for the Spaniards, stating that France's continual loss could be a threat to Spain's own interests. Great Britain declared war on Spain earlier that year. 

A postcard showing the Anda Monument from the Pasig River c 1910.
delcampe.net
Anda Monument with the bustling Pasig River and Fort Santiago.
delcampe.net
skyscrapercity

On October 4, 1762, the then Lieutenant Governor Simon de Anda fled with important government documents and half of his treasury to Bacolor, Pampanga. He set up a government in exile there while Manila and Cavite were occupied by the British. He and his troops were successful in confining the British forces in Manila. On February 10, 1763, the Treaty of Paris was officially signed ending the Seven Years' War. The British forces surrendered Manila back to Simon de Anda in Plaza Sta. Cruz in Manila. The British left the islands on April 1764. He went back to Spain and in 1770, he was sent back to the Philippines because he was appointed governor-general.

Notice that the star on top wasn't installed yet.
Life Photo Archive
circa 1901
Beyond Forgetting's photostream
Anda Monument was often photographed alongside Fort Santiago. Manila Cathedral can be seen at a distance.
skyscrapercity

Erected in 1871 through the efforts of then governor-general Carlos Maria de la Torre, the marble monument was originally near the mouth of the Pasig River. The monument greeted travelers coming in and out of the river. It was moved to its current location in the 60s in the center of the Anda Circle when construction of the Del Pan Bridge (Roxas Bridge today) started.

circa 1900s
skyscrapercity
Anda Monument from Paseo de Maria Cristina (Bonifacio Drive), late 19th century
John T. Pilot's photostream
1902
skyscrapercity

Simon de Anda's legacy is still pretty evident all over the contry. Statues, monuments, roads, and even some towns/cities are named after him.

An aerial view of the monument's vicinity.
dennis_raymondm22's photostream

Like many other historical and heritage treasures we have today, the Anda Monument is neglected and ignored. It survived the war but like many other historical sites in the country, neglect and ignorance lead to its further deterioration. I hope the government and the locals would do something to save this monument. It is still here and there is still hope. Let's not take it for granted.