Escolta - The place to be and be seen

Milky Way, an American-style soda fountain, was the rave for collegialas in the fifties. Apart from the sumptuous banana split, ice-cream and soda floats it was conveniently located across Jones Bridge along the fashionable Escolta.

"It was the place to be and be seen... Cinemas, shoes, bags, and the latest couture, Escolta had it all," said Ana Mercedes, then a history major at the Assumption convent in Herran (now Pedro Gil).

More than the food and fashion of Escolta, she remembers watching Hollywood tearjerkers of the time, her uninterested boyfriend Tony in tow, at the Capitol Theatre. Tony, youngest son of a Negrense congressman, preferred Westerns and horror movies but always looked forward to dinner with Anamer at Wanam Chinese restaurant.

On one of his class-cutting escapades to Escolta, he rushed to catch the latest craze at Botica Boie department store - the country's first automatic sliding door. Those were the in the fifties, a time when "everyone just had about enough to eat," Magsaysay had just crushed the Huks, and the US Dollar was worth two (2) Pesos.

Back to the past - a vintage Toyota parked at the Ferry's Escolta station.

The art deco Capitol Theatre designed by Juan Nakpil (1935)
where premiere films catered to Manila's Beautiful People.

The Perez-Semanilla building an art deco masterpiece

of Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of painter Juan Luna.

The vintage Calvo building, named "Luisa's" in the olden days, housed a soda fountain and was one of the favorite haunts of Manila's Old Elite. It was designed by Architect Fernando Ocampo the same man behind the elegant Regina building and Manila City hall. It is now home to the Escolta Museum.

The Regina Building, showcase of the eclectic architectural style or a mixture of historical styles, stands as a proud reminder of the Escolta's former pomp and glory.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands building greets Ferry passengers as they disembark at the Escolta station.

The Santa Cruz Church, across the Estero de la Reina, is where the Escolta starts in the East.

The Escolta's riverside promenade gives pedestrians and motorists alike a view of the impressive neo-classical Post Office across the river.

The Manila Central Post Office

The Araneta-owned FEATI University near the Ayala bridge

*
Trivia - What is Manila's longest street?

Some would say Avenida Rizal or Azcarraga but the answer is, you guessed it, the Escolta - stretching 393 meters. Old-timers remember the Escolta started from the La Estrella del Norte luxury shop near Santa Cruz Church and ended at the La Puerta del Sol at the foot of Jones Bridge - from the North Star to the Sun's Gate.

*

What to do?

Though far from its glory days as the premiere financial and commercial district of the country, Escolta is still a charmer. The old guard still frequent the place and reminisce the good old days. The young go to either learn about Manila's heritage, visit friends at the Manila City College (housed in the old Philippine National Bank building) or grab good Chinese food. Small boutiques and salons still dot the street and the kalesas trot along every five minutes or so.

*

Where to?

Escolta is the jump off point for Manila's districts North of the Pasig River. Nick Joaquin in Manila, My Manila wrote:

"Binondo and its moneyed Calle Rosario was still the business hub of the city - and in fact of the nation - but during the Empire Days the bustle of business would gradually shift to Santa Cruz... The building of Santa Cruz Bridge and the coming of the trolleycars definitely established the city's center in the area bounded by Avenida Rizal, Plaza Goiti, the Escolta and Plaza Santa Cruz - an area that became known as 'downtown.'"

The Pasig River Ferry cruises by the impressive neo-classical Post Office.