Necessity leads to the constructions of
bridges. It had a huge effect on civilization as it made travel, communication
and trading possible and more convenient. It was a huge leap for humanity.
The first bridges built were not of steel
and concrete. The Igorots of the Cordillera built bridges using logs and vines
woven together to cross ravines and rivers. The Samals and Tausugs of Mindanao,
who lived in houses built above water, connected communities using bridges made
of tied bamboo.
When the Spanish came to the Philippines in
1521, they brought with them European and Renaissance ideas in construction and
architecture. The arrival of the Spanish colonizers introduced modern
construction because there was no structure made of stone found or was
erected by the natives prior to 1565.
Since then, bridges made of steel replaced
those made of masonry. During the last quarter of the twentieth century, the
Department of Public Works and Highways undertook a massive rebuilding program
on most of the antiquated bridges. But, it was only undertaken because of the
increase in traffic and not because of structural failure.
Bridge to Culture
The Puente Grande de España was the first
bridge built by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines. It was also the
first bridge to cross the Rio Pasig or Pasig River. It was replaced in 1875 by
the Puente de España, which is the predecessor of the Jones Bridge. It was the
third major bridge to be built across the Pasig River. It connects Intramuros
and Binondo, Manila.
The colonization of the Philippines is still evident until now. The Chinese people's purpose in the Philippines is for trading since they are known as business-minded people.They now populated Binondo, which is a Chinatown in Manila, Philippines, where the influences of the Chinese can be found.
There were a lot of countries that colonized the Philippines, including Spain, United States, and Japan. The Filipinos were easily influenced by them. Until now, the Filipinos are influenced easily by the emergence of K Pop or Korean Pop and others that can be seen in social media, and social media is highly-influencing specially to the young generation.
Dasmariñas Bridge is a small bridge along Dasmariñas street
crossing Estero de la Reina. It is also in Binondo, Manila.
Bridge to Faith
The
second bridge opened to cross the Pasig River is the Puente Colgante. It was
the first suspension bridge, not only in the Philippines but in Southeast Asia,
and probably the first toll bridge of its kind in the Philippines. It was
replaced in 1920s by the Quiapo Bridge, which was later renamed as Quezon
Bridge. It connects Quiapo and Intramuros, Manila.
One of the influences of the Spanish colonization is religion. The predominant religion in the Philippines is Roman Catholicism. The Quiapo Church is the shrine of the Black Nazarene. The famous Feast of the Black Nazarene is always celebrated with the procession of thousands of devotees from Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo church and usually crosses the Quezon Bridge.
The Quezon Bridge also serves as a place to stay for homeless people. It cannot be denied that poverty has been a major problem for the Philippines.
Bridge to Change
The Puente de la Convalecencia was the
fourth bridge to be built across the Pasig River. It was completed in 1880 and
it is now known as the Ayala Bridge. It connects San Miguel and Paco, Manila.
Concordia College which was located in Paco, Manila is an all-girls school. Nowadays, women are given their own rights. The passage of the Reproductive Health Bill is a proof that women's rights and struggle against gender oppression is moving forward.
Bridge to Economy
Puente
de Santa Cruz was the fifth bridge opened to cross the Pasig River. It was
originally begun during the Spanish colonial period and was subsequently
completed during the American Period. It is now known as the MacArthur Bridge and
it connects Santa Cruz and Ermita, Manila.
The MacArthur Bridge leads to Escolta, which once was Manila's premier commercial location. Escolta used to be the city's center of power and finance. Beautiful architecture can also be found there. It is now being revived to attract people and business, especially call centers.
Call centers have been a common career in the Philippines nowadays. Fresh graduates tend to land on call center jobs while waiting for better opportunities. This shows that there are a lot of underemployed workers in the Philippines.
Bridge to Transformation
Puente
Durmiente is the only bridge in Intramuros that has a name and it leads to
Bagumbayan, which is now Luneta.
Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta, is where Dr. Jose Rizal was executed which lead to the Philippine Revolution.
On August 26, 2013, National Heroes Day, there will be a "Million People March" set in Luneta to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or commonly called "pork barrel". This was sparked when the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam broke out.
Bridge to Power
Nagtahan
Bridge connects Sampaloc and Pandacan. It is one of the widest bridges that
cross the Pasig River. It is now named as the Mabini Bridge.
The Nagtahan Bridge leads to the Malacañang grounds. President Aquino is now facing the people's outrage on the pork barrel scam.
According to Bobby Tuazon, director for policy studies of People Empowerment in Governance, the abolition of the pork barrel would require a tough political decision by both the Malacañang and the Congress.
Bridge to the "House of Sin"
Sevilla Bridge is
along P. Sanchez street in San Juan. It connects Sta. Mesa and Mandaluyong.
It leads to the Archbishop's Palace in Mandaluyong where Jaime Cardinal Sin used to reside. Cardinal Sin was a charismatic and influential leader who played an important role in the People Power Revolution during the Marcos regime. His surname was used in humor and he even has his own pun wherein he welcomes his guests in his former residence with a "Welcome to the house of Sin".
Bridge to Modernization
Modern-day bridges are called flyover. While old bridges cross over a body of water, flyovers cross over roads and railways making new ways for transportation.
Flyovers also help to diffuse the density of traffic. These modern-day bridges are necessary innovations for the increasing population resulting to the increase in traffic.
Bridges are part of a country's history. They are representations of civilization, development, and progress. But, progress comes with responsibility, responsibility for intelligence and modernization, because the fast-changing progress can make people forget the values that their ancestors taught them. People should always be in harmony with nature.
SOURCES:
Noche, M. M. L. dC. (2011). Puentes de España en las Filipinas = The Spanish Colonial Bridges in the Philippines. España, Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House.
Bello, W. (2012, December 28). Women's rights: Turning point in India, triumph in Manila. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://opinion.inquirer.net/43579/
Villalon, A. F. (2013, April 28). An Escolta walking tour. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/100997/an-escolta-walking-tour#ixzz2cxwCnIzW
Badoy, G. (2013, August 19). 'Million People March' set at Luneta against pork barrel scam. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/469217/
Burgonio, TJ (2013, August 18). Aquino challenged to show political will, scrap pork barrel. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/468435/
