Ermita

Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city government and a large portion of the area's employment, business, and entertainment activities.
Private and government offices, museums, and universities thrive in Ermita. It is also home to famous tourist attractions and landmarks, notably the Rizal Park, the premier national park of the Philippines.
Originally, Ermita and its neighboring district Malate were posh neighborhoods for Manila's high society during the early 20th century where large, grandiose mansions once stood. Unfortunately, Ermita and its surroundings were heavily bombed and flattened during the Second World War after it became a battleground during the Manila Massacre. After the war, Ermita and its twin district, Malate, had undergone commercialization resulting in a shift from being a sprawling upscale suburb to a commercial district.
History.
Hispanic Era (1569-1898).
In pre-Hispanic times, it was originally known as "Lagyo" in Tagalog. This is reflected in the first record of the barangay in 1582:
"On the coast near Manila are Laguo, Malahat, Longalo, Palañac, Vakol, Minacaya, and Cavite. All these villages are in the neighborhood of Cavite, and belong to his Majesty, to whom they pay tribute."
Miguel de Loarca, Relacion de Yslas Filipinas (1582)
Lagyo was re-christened in the 17th century as "La Hermita", the Spanish word for "hermitage", after the fact that a Mexican hermit resided in the area and on this site was built a hermitage housing an image of the Virgin Mary known as the "Nuestra Señora de Guia" (Our Lady of Guidance). The hermitage has since evolved into Ermita Church, which has been rebuilt several times since the early 17th century. During the Spanish evacuation of Ternate, Indonesia, the 200 families of mixed Mexican-Filipino-Spanish and Papuan-Indonesian-Portuguese descent who had ruled over the Christianized Sultanate of Ternate and included their Sultan who converted, were relocated to Ternate, Cavite and Ermita, Manila.
By 19th Century, although still considered as an "arrabal" which refers to a "rural area", urban expansion had slowly reached the northern portion of the district mainly due to the development of the "Luneta" also called "Bagumbayan" as a promenade at the coast of the Manila Bay. The district also saw the construction of the Manila Observatory by Father Federico Faura during the early 1890s, and was once located on a street now renamed after Fr. Faura himself.
American & Commonwealth Era (1900 - 1944).
Ermita gained renewed prominence during the American & Commonwealth Era. As part of Daniel Burnham's City Beautiful Movement during the early 1900s, Ermita district alongside Intramuros' surrounding areas had undergone a drastic redevelopment from being the "outskirts" to urban districts.
Burnham envisioned the district especially in the northern portion to be the center of the Philippine Government, redeveloping Luneta into a grand park patterned after that of National Mall in Washington D.C.. Government buildings such as the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches were also planned to be located in the area. A proposed Philippine Capitol was also planned to be built at the eastern tip of Luneta Park but was never materialized.
It also became known as the university district, containing the campuses and dormitories of the Philippine Normal University, University of the Philippines, the Ateneo de Manila, Adamson University, the Assumption College and St. Paul College. The residential portion of Ermita was populated by American residents, who set up such establishments as the Army and Navy Club, and the University Club.
Aside from its universities, and leisure clubs; Ermita district, as well as its adjacent district, Malate which both happened to be facing the Manila Bay were once home to Manila's high society and were filled with large, gilded mansions. Manila's wealthiest families used to live in the twin suburbs.
Second World War (1942-1945).
In February 1945, during the 1945 Battle of Manila, Ermita was the scene of some of the most horrific massacres that occurred during the Second World War. The wife and four children of future President Elpidio Quirino were murdered in Ermita, as was Supreme Court Associate Justice Anacleto Diaz. Between 68% to 85% of Ermita was destroyed during the Battle of Manila, with an estimated total of 100,000 Filipino civilians killed in the city itself.
Post-war era (1946-present).
After the war, the district slowly transformed from a residential area into a commercial area as the upper classes moved to other cities such as Quezon City and Makati.
Ermita was rebuilt after the devastation of the war. University life remained vibrant therein. However, as decades passed, Ermita started earning a reputation as the red-light district of Manila. During the first term of Mayor Alfredo Lim, 1992-1998, an effort was made to "clean up" Ermita's image and reputation. However, a local city ordinance prohibiting the establishment of motels, lodging houses and other similar establishments, was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. As a result of the clean-up efforts, nightlife in the area dwindled though it later picked up with the help of the emergence of the nearby Malate district and the Roxas Boulevard revitalization efforts along Manila Bay.
Accessibility.
The district can be directly accessed by the main roads like the Roxas Boulevard, Padre Burgos Street, Taft Avenue and United Nations Avenue. The "Park N Ride" Lawton Bus Station, the city's main public transport hub, is located in the district along Padre Burgos Street.
The Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT-1) follows Taft Avenue and stops at three stations located in Ermita, Central Terminal Station, United Nations Station and Pedro Gil Station.
Economy.
Government offices.
Ermita is known as the civic center of Manila. The city government is housed in the Manila City Hall along Padre Burgos Street. The offices of the judicial department of the Philippine government is located in the district along Taft Avenue and Padre Faura Street. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Court of Appeals, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines are headquartered in this area.
Corporate offices.
Ermita is home of the country's major maritime and travel companies which can be found along Kalaw and U.N. Avenues. Philam Life Insurance Company is headquartered in its building along United Nations Avenue. The Daily Tribune has its publishing house in the area along Kalaw Avenue. Moldex Realty Inc., the largest real estate developer in the city, is headquartered in 1322 Golden Empire Tower, the tallest building in the City of Manila which is along Roxas Boulevard. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation is also headquartered along Roxas Boulevard.
Commercial centers.
Ermita is really a shopping destination for Manila's upper and middle-class families and for students studying in the University Belt. Robinsons Place Manila, Manila's largest shopping mall, is located in the district's tourist belt along Pedro Gil and Adriatico Streets. SM City Manila, on the other hand, is located in the district's civic center along Mayor Antonio Villegas Road. It is also home of the city's hotels, casinos and night clubs. And it is part of Manila's tourist belt along Roxas Boulevard with Malate.
Facilities.
Recreation.
Rizal Park, the widest open urban public park in the country and location of the monument to the national hero José Rizal, is a prominent feature of Ermita. This was the original site for Burnham's planned government center and capitol building. Other sites of interest in Ermita include:
Education.
A number of educational institutions are also found in Ermita, including:
Barangays.
Ermita is made up of 13 Barangays numbered 659, 659-A, 660, 660-A, 661, 663, 663-A, 664, 666, 667, 668, 669, and 670.