Binondo Chinatown is a district in Manila that was important to the Spanish Colonial Government. Chinese businesses and trade were located in Binondo Chinatown. The old ports of Manila North Harbor and District of Tondo were likewise connected to Binondo. Because of this, the colonial government established a bridge that spanned the Pasig River to connect Intramuros and Binondo. That bridge was named as Puente Grande and then renamed as Puente de España.
Unfortunately, Puente de España was damaged during the floods that occurred on September 1914. The burden of replacing the damaged bridge fell into the hands of the American Colonial Government. The American authorities commissioned Juan Arellano, who was also the designer of the Manila Central Post Office, to design a new bridge which will be placed one block downriver from the original location of Puente de España.
Jones Bridge suffered the same fate of the Manila Central Post Office. Bombs damaged the bridge during the Second World War.
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| Jones Bridge |
It was said the Jones Bridge was Juan Arellano's masterpiece. It was an arch bridge with ornate designs following the neoclassical style of architecture. The entrance to bridge has pillars with statues at the top.
The entrance to Jones Bridge is now occupied by lion statues.
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The lion statues of Jones bridge is a pair. One is a male and the other a female. This one, located on the west side of the bridge, is a male lion statue. I know its "sex" because the male organ was present. The same goes for the Chinese lioness statue located on the east side of the bridge.
The remaining part of the bridge is bare. It seems like that the Philippine government didn't have funds to return Jones Bridge to its former glory. That is understandable. The Philippines is still reeling from the destruction brought by the War.
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| Pasig River and MacArthur Bridge as viewed from Jones Bridge. |
I always wonder who this Jones is whenever I pass along this bridge. Sometimes I think that this bridge was named after Tom Jones, who is very popular in the Philippines due to his “Sex Bomb” song.
Alas, I was wrong. Jones Bridge was named after Virginia Rep. William Jones. He was the author of the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916.
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| The area of Calle Escolta. |
Jones Bridge is the best way to reach Binondo Chinatown and Divisoria. Vehicles filled with goods always pass by this bridge. This bridge is also not spared of the traffic, especially during the rush hours.
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| The entrance to Binondo District. Can you see the Filipino - Chinese Friendship Arch? |
Its been a long time since I passed through this bridge. I am missing this place now especially the sunset:
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Historical information for this post came from Jones Bridge article in Wikipedia.
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