Manila CBD's: BINONDO

Binondo, in relation to the other CBD's of Manila

Binondo is the oldest CBD in Manila, & it is the only one not following an American-style grid (the streets of Ermita-Malate were designed by Daniel Burnham). It literally arose from the old Spanish commercial center.

Manila's Chinatown is considered the oldest in the world: the early Chinese migrants in Manila were confined by the Spaniards into a race-specific enclave originally called Parian way back in the 1500's. It is also considered the largest, not just a few streets, but now encompassing the whole district of Binondo & even parts of adjacent districts. It was originally the business center of Spanish and American Manila, but when the business elite transfered to Makati and the other American-style CBD's in the 1970's, it reinvented itself as a revitalized Chinatown during the Marcos years.

Despite destruction in the last WWII, there are still many interesting colonial structures left in Binondo, it being the major centerpiece downtown in Southeast Asia before the war when Manila was dubbed the "Queen City of the Pacific".  More and more skyscrapers sprout from the area, let's see if it can regain its glory days as the Philippine economy revs up into the future.


Binondo during Spanish times (left of river): Spanish walled city of Intramuros at lower right

During American times

Destruction during WWII

  

Chaco Buildingsurviving the war

Frankly, they should relocate the arch, it is blocking the Chaco Building. It should be placed at the bridge, or better yaet, just beyond the building.

Spanish walled city of Intramuros on the foreground