TeamManila Hitlist: Let’s Talk About Escolta
Downtown in Manila is a historic street that’s home to the finest and oldest buildings in our country. Derived from the Spanish word “escoltar” meaning “to escort,”, Escolta was established in 1954 as a centre for Chinese, European, and Latin American trades.
The barters may be gone but Escolta remains to be busy with the attractions it can offer to locals and tourists alike. No doubt, Escolta is becoming a hip destination for weekend afternoons. That’s why in this TeamManila Hitlist, we’ve compiled three main reasons why you should take a stroll in this contemporary yet cultural area in the midst of Manila.
1. The Architecture
The first and foremost reason is to dive in heritage through the century-old buildings constructed there – the neoclassical Don Roman Santos Building which is famous for its facade and the First United Building, designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro (Juan Luna’s son) can be seen near the Sta. Cruz Church. Down the alley is the Capitol Theater by Juan Nakpil and the BPI Escolta building by Jose Maria Zaragoza who are both National Artists for Architecture. And of course the century-old El Hogar which survived the World War II and is still standing as backdrop to the Pasig River. Old but beautiful, these buildings tell a lot about our country’s history.
The El Hogar. Photo c/o thefilipinas.blogspot.com
2. The Art
Right in the middle of Escolta is the Calvo Building built in 1938. Formerly a tramway stop-over, the Calvo Building is now a museum of various Old Manila memorabilia. From vintage bottle collections, old movie posters, and an OPM library, the Calvo Museum is a sweet treat for the art-hungry.
Aside from the Calvo Museum, another must-go in Escolta is the Escolta Saturday Market organized by 98B Collaboratory in FUB. Held monthly, this event gathers local artists and crafters to exhibit and sell their works. Score a rare vinyl record, a handmade totebag, or a cute accessory here.
The Escolta Museum located at the Calvo Building. Photo c/o eazy360 at lomography.com
3. The Food
Cheap and delicious, a range of restaurants occupy Escolta which stretches until Binondo. Chinese restaurants like UNO and Crown Prince are a hit during weekends just like The Original Savory Restaurant that has been operating for more than 50 years. An outlet of Polland Hopia is also efficiently located for an instant hopia fix. Street food like kwek-kwek and siomai are also scattered around the area.
Prepare your cameras and take on a cultural trip to Escolta. Bring the whole barkada and learn more about our country in an inexpensive but pleasant way. It’s the best way to contribute to the revival of Old Manila so plan that visit today.
The Original Chicken Savory Restaurant. Photo c/o lougopal.com.
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