“La Hermita” once stood here a name that echoes through time. Today we stand in Ermita a district in Manila and that name “La Hermita” means “the hermitage” in Spanish. The district got its name from a hermitage. That hermitage housed an image of the Virgin Mary. She was known as Nuestra Señora de Guia Our Lady of Guidance.
Ermita’s story stretches back to the 16th century. It began as Lagyo a town near Manila. By the 17th century the Spanish re-christened it La Hermita. A Mexican hermit lived in the area. He built a hermitage that housed the image of Our Lady of Guidance. The hermit priest Juan Fernandez de Leon had come from Mexico.
Ermita Church has been rebuilt several times since the early 17th century. The church stands as a testament to faith and resilience.
In the 19th century Ermita slowly grew due to the development of the Luneta. Luneta was also called Bagumbayan and served as a promenade along Manila Bay. Father Federico Faura built the Manila Observatory here in the early 1890s.
Ermita developed a unique creole language based on Spanish. It was called Ermiteño. Sadly it disappeared after the devastation of World War II.
During the American era Ermita gained prominence. Daniel Burnham envisioned Ermita as the center of the Philippine government. He planned grand government buildings around Luneta Park.
Ermita became known as the university district. Several universities set up campuses here. American residents built establishments like the Army and Navy Club. Mansions lined the streets.
In February 1945 Ermita suffered greatly during the Battle of Manila. Much of the district was destroyed. An estimated 100000 Filipino civilians lost their lives.
After the war Ermita slowly transformed into a commercial area. The upper classes moved to other cities. Efforts were made to clean up Ermita’s image. Nightlife dwindled but later picked up again.
Today Ermita is a vibrant district with many attractions. Rizal Park is a prominent feature. It is one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines. Several museums call Ermita home. These include the National Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Anthropology. Ermita Church stands as a reminder of the district’s rich past. It is a place of faith and historical significance.