Back in its pre-World War II heyday, the street of Escolta was thronged by Manila’s finest gentlemen and wealthiest families. The place was home to the Philippines’ firsts: the first air-conditioned building, first elevator, first ice cream shop, and more.
The picturesque architecture that sits in Escolta withstood the ravages of time albeit dust settled on its rooftops. If you pass by the area today, locals could share a thing or two about its once-thriving culture.
The place boasts buildings where you can relieve the country’s past. It has the Don Roman Santos Building, a neoclassical establishment that housed the original offices for Monte de Piedad Savings Bank from 1894 to 1937; Regina Building, which was Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of Juan Luna; and First United Building, the Philippines’ tallest building in 1928.