A couple of months ago, I was bothered by politicians arguing about on changing the last lyrics of our national anthem, Lupang Hinirang. Few months before that, a lawyer filed a petition to change the name of the present Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Manila International Airport (MIA). Instead of focusing on grave issues on our motherland, if it is like these people pickpocket rubbish from a trash bin just to throw it back again. Appreciating historical names comes into this. Historical names are inscribed in different kinds of medium—drawings, songs, movies, poems, novels, pictures, and most importantly, maps.
Hundreds of street names in Manila are long ago replaced by names of politicians. Little did every Filipino know that every street and place name symbolizes a significant past and that ensembles the Filipino identity.
Hundreds of street names in Manila are long ago replaced by names of politicians. Little did every Filipino know that every street and place name symbolizes a significant past and that ensembles the Filipino identity.
The street of Paseo de Azcarraga in San Nicolas, Manila, was replaced by Recto Avenue owing to the late senator Claro M. Recto. The street name Paseo de Azcarraga was from the late Spanish Prime Minister, Marcelo Azcarraga Palmero. Eventually after a couple of years, the street was named after Claro M. Recto which was a prolific nationalist and a Filipino. However, residents within the area expressed resentment and argued that they don’t care whom the street was named after to, but they cared about the street itself.
Since the Spanish conquistadores set foot on the soil of the Manileños, they created versions of Plano de Manila—map of Manila—where street names persistently change depending on political trends. Major streets that were drawn in the Plano de Manila stood the same if it were to be compared to the map of modern Manila. Recto Avenue—ascended from Paseo de Azcarraga Street—is a circumferential road which means that it comprises the massive beltway of Manila. Thus, streets from the past laid the foundation of the Philippine road networks and also to national heritage and culture. Interestingly, people change street names as if it were like objects—sleeping into the night, one day you wake up in a different place.
Since the Spanish conquistadores set foot on the soil of the Manileños, they created versions of Plano de Manila—map of Manila—where street names persistently change depending on political trends. Major streets that were drawn in the Plano de Manila stood the same if it were to be compared to the map of modern Manila. Recto Avenue—ascended from Paseo de Azcarraga Street—is a circumferential road which means that it comprises the massive beltway of Manila. Thus, streets from the past laid the foundation of the Philippine road networks and also to national heritage and culture. Interestingly, people change street names as if it were like objects—sleeping into the night, one day you wake up in a different place.
The street of Calle Nueva in Malate, Manila, was replaced to A. Mabini Street owing to the late Filipino revolutionist Apolinario Mabini. The streets within Malate fringes nearly the coasts of Manila Bay that tempt foreigners and also locals.
In modern Manila, Malate is surrounded by adjoining hotels, bars, restaurants, and tourist spots such as art galleries and souvenir shops, which significantly swarmed the area with both foreigners and rich locals. Unfortunately, these refreshments tempted crimes within the area ranging from pickpocketing, robbery, and theft. In 2014, business groups in Ermita-Malate area launched a project on a neighbourhood crime-watch group which will enhance safety and security within the area. Moreover, not just criminals loom the area but also prostitutes. At night, women with micro-skirts and blouses gather up in Mabini Street to provide their “services” to foreigners and to locals.
These situations entail negative implications to people outside (residents) and inside (visitors) the street area. People inside the area have come to name their place anew according to what they experience—such as in Banawe Street in Quezon City where people name their street “Baklas Street” because stolen side mirrors of cars were taken there and were sold—and to outside people where they intensify the situation in the area by participating in those activities and to believe and internalize the “new” street alias.
Drawing a map of Malate and to show it both to the people inside and outside the area, a primary assumption would be they can immediately identify places of importance and influence to them.
In modern Manila, Malate is surrounded by adjoining hotels, bars, restaurants, and tourist spots such as art galleries and souvenir shops, which significantly swarmed the area with both foreigners and rich locals. Unfortunately, these refreshments tempted crimes within the area ranging from pickpocketing, robbery, and theft. In 2014, business groups in Ermita-Malate area launched a project on a neighbourhood crime-watch group which will enhance safety and security within the area. Moreover, not just criminals loom the area but also prostitutes. At night, women with micro-skirts and blouses gather up in Mabini Street to provide their “services” to foreigners and to locals.
These situations entail negative implications to people outside (residents) and inside (visitors) the street area. People inside the area have come to name their place anew according to what they experience—such as in Banawe Street in Quezon City where people name their street “Baklas Street” because stolen side mirrors of cars were taken there and were sold—and to outside people where they intensify the situation in the area by participating in those activities and to believe and internalize the “new” street alias.
Drawing a map of Malate and to show it both to the people inside and outside the area, a primary assumption would be they can immediately identify places of importance and influence to them.
The street of Calle de Palacio in Intramuros, Manila, was replaced to General Luna street owing to the late General Antonio Luna which was a prestige Philippine General during the Filipino-American war. Notably, out of numerous streets that comprise Intramuros, only the street Calle de Palacio was replaced and other streets stood unchanged until this very day.
On visiting Intramuros, the very first street one will encounter is Calle Palacio. Traversing the street, the nostalgic picturesque of Plaza Roma, Manila Cathedral, and the Bureau of Treasury, where the old Palacio de Gobernador once stood, astonish visitors. Basically, the whole street resembles centuries of colonial rule—with matching close-packed houses and buildings—and incessantly remind the Filipinos of their imprisonment. Because of this, many Filipino politicians tried to expel names of streets in Intramuros that are associated with Spanish colonialism. However, only the street of Calle Palacio was removed and the rest stood still because of the residents’ spirited resistance to revision.
It is important to note that Filipinos value street names, for concern not on the person that was named after the street but on the emotional attachment for the name because of familiarity and belongingness. Why do politicians meddle more with changing street names than solving the countries’ most pressing issues?
On visiting Intramuros, the very first street one will encounter is Calle Palacio. Traversing the street, the nostalgic picturesque of Plaza Roma, Manila Cathedral, and the Bureau of Treasury, where the old Palacio de Gobernador once stood, astonish visitors. Basically, the whole street resembles centuries of colonial rule—with matching close-packed houses and buildings—and incessantly remind the Filipinos of their imprisonment. Because of this, many Filipino politicians tried to expel names of streets in Intramuros that are associated with Spanish colonialism. However, only the street of Calle Palacio was removed and the rest stood still because of the residents’ spirited resistance to revision.
It is important to note that Filipinos value street names, for concern not on the person that was named after the street but on the emotional attachment for the name because of familiarity and belongingness. Why do politicians meddle more with changing street names than solving the countries’ most pressing issues?
The name of the area Bagumbayan in Malate, Manila, was eventually replaced to Luneta that was spearheaded by correspondents during Spanish rule. The area was named Luneta because it was derived from the word “Luna” meaning moon-shaped. Here the late Filipino hero Jose Rizal was executed and served to intensify Filipino revolutionist movements and uprisings against the abusive Spanish rulers.
Originally, the slope of Bagumbayan is flat making trees visible sprouting from the soil. Like in a map, tree and infrastructure elevations are not visible but vegetation and urbanization help illuminate these figures. In a two-dimensional map, with several characteristics are unseen and hidden, imposes negative effects on the user of the map due to misleading information. In the case of Torre de Manila, that obviously violated laws on Filipino natural heritage sites, the massive condominium is not visible in a two-dimensional map and can push map users to forget the notorious actions of destroying and distorting heritage sites.
Strikingly in common discourse and in social media, left and right comments about the Torre de Manila incident pointed and guided the discourse about renaming Luneta park into Torre de Manila park, which is utmost peculiar. Renaming will also come from societal trends, not only on political and cultural mishaps.
Originally, the slope of Bagumbayan is flat making trees visible sprouting from the soil. Like in a map, tree and infrastructure elevations are not visible but vegetation and urbanization help illuminate these figures. In a two-dimensional map, with several characteristics are unseen and hidden, imposes negative effects on the user of the map due to misleading information. In the case of Torre de Manila, that obviously violated laws on Filipino natural heritage sites, the massive condominium is not visible in a two-dimensional map and can push map users to forget the notorious actions of destroying and distorting heritage sites.
Strikingly in common discourse and in social media, left and right comments about the Torre de Manila incident pointed and guided the discourse about renaming Luneta park into Torre de Manila park, which is utmost peculiar. Renaming will also come from societal trends, not only on political and cultural mishaps.
The area of Barrio de Looban in Paco, Manila, was replaced to a Barangay 671 in a district division. Usage of the word “Looban” is now found in Sampaloc and not on Paco. Interestingly, the area of Paco and Sampaloc are not far from each other but rather relatively near. As to the law of Waldo Tobler or commonly known as the first law of geography, “everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things.”
In Barrio de Looban, present are fine needle workers in a convent supervised by both nuns and priests. These workers are mostly women and in their youth, which makes them a significant question during the Spanish colonial rule. Moreover, pieces of narratives regarding the workers diminished because the name “Barrio de Looban” was replaced and forgotten by many.
The term “Looban” is eternally inscribed, however, to stories such as the short story of Pedro Dandan entitled May Buhay sa Looban. The story tells of how a young boy that lived from Looban and how he enjoyed their place well. Basically, the story talks about remembering home, love to the place, and to appreciate the things that are most significant to one’s heart.
We can see the essentiality of place names to the Filipino culture. It is the Filipino people who needs remembering and appreciation, and one way of maintaining such gratitude is to preserve place names—street names. We need to focus more on helping our culture flourish instead of destroying and creating new ones. No Filipino shall determine the future of our natural heritage, because the Filipino identity does not embody only a single person but all the people, dead and the living. Therefore, we must strive for consciousness and awareness.
In Barrio de Looban, present are fine needle workers in a convent supervised by both nuns and priests. These workers are mostly women and in their youth, which makes them a significant question during the Spanish colonial rule. Moreover, pieces of narratives regarding the workers diminished because the name “Barrio de Looban” was replaced and forgotten by many.
The term “Looban” is eternally inscribed, however, to stories such as the short story of Pedro Dandan entitled May Buhay sa Looban. The story tells of how a young boy that lived from Looban and how he enjoyed their place well. Basically, the story talks about remembering home, love to the place, and to appreciate the things that are most significant to one’s heart.
We can see the essentiality of place names to the Filipino culture. It is the Filipino people who needs remembering and appreciation, and one way of maintaining such gratitude is to preserve place names—street names. We need to focus more on helping our culture flourish instead of destroying and creating new ones. No Filipino shall determine the future of our natural heritage, because the Filipino identity does not embody only a single person but all the people, dead and the living. Therefore, we must strive for consciousness and awareness.