A Trip To Binondo : Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz
I was with my mom when we arrived in Binondo and we are set to wait for my brother who will be coming from his work in Makati. After the mass, we decided to wait for him in Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz. It is actually a very small plaza located on the center Binondo.
The plaza has been there ever since and much like the Binondo Church, this place also has a huge historical significance. Before earning the name of Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, it was once called the Plaza De Binondo. The name was later changed to Plaza Carlos IV after Charles IV of Spain and eventually changed its name again to Plaza Calderón de la Barca (often shortened to Plaza Calderón), after the famous Spanish playwright. In September 12, 1981 by the virtue of Batas Pambansa, the plaza was renamed and this time, it is for the honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint.The plaza has an ellipse shape with a fountain on each end. The plaza is paved with granite tiles and multicolored interlocking concrete bricks, similar to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo.
The fountain near the Binondo ChurchThe identical fountain on the other side. Aside from the huge trees and fountains, you will also encounter some notable historical markers on the plaza and some of them are already centuries old.One of the most notable markers here is the statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz which was repositioned last 2005 so the statue will face the Binondo Church. Behind the statue of Lorenzo Ruiz is a memorial to Chinese Filipino victims of World War II erected in 1995 by the Confederation of Filipino Chinese Veterans. On the other end, you’ll find an obelisk built in memory of Tomas Pinpin, the first Filipino printer. It was built in 1916 in Plaza Cervanted and was moved to Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in 1979.Near the plaza, you’ll find some calesa that can tour you around Binondo. I actually want to give it a try but capacity of the calesa is not good enough for the four of us so we took a Tricycle ride to Seng Guan Temple instead. But before the Seng Guan, we decided to search for a small chapel in Camba St first.
Next Stop : Nuestra Señora De Soledad De Manila Parish
Check Out The Rest of My Binondo Trip Here
Binondo Church │Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz│Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad De Manila Parish │Cafe Mezzanine │Seng Guan Temple│Lion and Dragon Dances │Lucky China Town │Cosplayers In Binondo│Sto Cristo De Longos De Binondo│Dong Bei Dumplings │Shanghai Fried Siopao│Kuang Kong Temple│Sta Cruz Parish Church │Sincerity Restaurant │Ho-Land & Eng Bee Tin
It’s really nice to visit Binondo since it really has the old Manila vibe in it.
Nice photos. I can’t remember the last time i went to binondo. Hoping to see it cleaner on my next visit.
wow, I would always visit the place each time I’m in Manila…I just didn’t have the time to see and take photos of the Binondo church
Binondo seems a nice place to have a trip,I like that calesa especially.You did great photography here in your article as well.