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Manila ＃1/2
1969
Manila, May 8~9, 1969
A few months after I left my post as an expatriate in Singapore, I had to go back to Japan for a few days to attend a family event.
I am still grateful to my company for allowing me to do so.
At that time, before 1977, there were no direct flights on the Tokyo ~ Singapore route at the time when the route was launched, and it took about 18 and a half hours from Haneda (Tokyo’s airport) via Hong Kong and Bangkok to arrive in Singapore.
Taking this opportunity, I planned to make a two-day, one-night trip via Manila and see the Philippines, which is geographically the closest country to Japan in Southeast Asia.
Manila International Airport (construction in Progress)
Manila International Airport nearing completion.
Photo by author, May 1969
Fort Santiago
It is a fortress located in the northernmost part of the citadel called Intramuros.
It was built and fortified in 1571 by a Spanish navigator and the then mayor.
Then later used by the Americans and as a prison camp by the Japanese army, and is the remains of a historic fortress with a long history of 450 years.
Photo by author, May 1969
This fortress is an architectural heritage that reminds us of the origins of Manila, but it is not well preserved, perhaps because of the Filipino people consider it a negative legacy.
Fort Santiago, Manila
Photo by author, May 1969
Manila Port District
Many cargo ships are docked and unloading cargo, but at a glance, the port infrastructure is not well developed, as shown in the photos below.
Port of Manila, Photo by author, May 1969
Port of Manila, Photo by author, May 1969
Port of Manila, Photo by author, May 1969
View of the seaside boulevard in Pasay, Manila
Although it faces the same Manila Bay, this area facing the southern coast is called the Pasay District.
The main street directly facing the coast was called Sunset Avenue, and was famous as a special place to watch the sunset over Manila Bay.
I made a reservation at a 5-star hotel, “Manila Sheraton” for the reason of researching international luxury hotels. This was about 10 years before foreign-affiliated hotels entered Tokyo.
Today, the front of Sunset Avenue in this photo has been reclaimed, and the view shown in the photo below has disappeared.
Stay at the Sheraton Hotel, located in a prime location on the shores of Sunset Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay.
Photo by author, May 1969
An amazing sight in Manila !
The scars from earthquake are terrible
While strolling through the streets of Manila, I came across a large building that had been damaged by the earthquake.
Photo by author, May 1969
A police officer is directing pedestrians away from the building.
Photo by author, May 1969
I could see the two-story school on the right side being overshadowed by the sloping building on the left.
Photo by author, May 1969
The concrete pillars on the first floor of the six-story building could not withstand the compressive load and all of them were destroyed.
Photo by author, May 1969
There is no temporary protective fence at the site of the earthquake disaster.
Ordinary people are walking in nearby as if nothing had happened.
Photo by author, May 1969
This building is almost completed and is in the state of pre-occupancy..
It is destined for total demolition. !!
Photo by author, May 1969
