Here stands the Santa Ana Barangay Hall a place possibly older than you think. Santa Ana sits along the Pasig River. It is one of Manila’s oldest communities.
Archeological digs show it existed before the Spanish arrived. It was once the center of the ancient Namayan community. In 1578 the Spaniards established a settlement. They named it Santa Ana de Sapa. This honored the area’s patron saint.
Santa Ana was once called the Forbes Park of Manila. Grand houses lined its streets. Wealthy and prominent families owned them.
The Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned is at Santa Ana’s heart. Franciscans established this Spanish-period Catholic Church in 1578. The stone church you see now was finished in 1725. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Abandoned. The church houses a revered image of its patron. It arrived from Spain in 1717.
The Baroque-style church uses adobe. The facade has three levels. Arched stained-glass windows adorn the second level. Images of St. Anne and St. Joachim flank the main door. They are on the first level. The belfry stands on the church’s right side. It dominates the skyline. An image of Our Lady of the Abandoned faces Plaza Calderon. It is by the parking lot.
Inside the church is grand and beautiful. The baptistry sits at the base of the belfry. It features a marble font. A painting of the Baptism of Jesus Christ is displayed. The three-level retablo is ornate and gold. Saints relevant to the community occupy the niches. The centerpiece is the image of Our Lady of the Abandoned. It has been under their care since 1717.
The church convent and courtyard house the Sta. Ana Site Museum. It holds artifacts excavated from the church’s courtyard. These include human remains and artifacts that pre-date the Spanish. This shows Santa Ana is one of Manila’s oldest communities. The museum became a National Cultural Treasure in 1973. This recognized Santa Ana’s historical significance.
The Camarin de la Virgen is another National Cultural Treasure. It is a small chapel behind the retablo. It dates back to 1725. Well-preserved religious paintings adorn its doors and ceilings. These Filipino-Spanish artworks are as old as the stone church.
Behind the Santa Ana Church is the Pozo de la Virgen. This small chapel features an image of Our Lady of the Abandoned. It also has a deep well. People believe its waters spring with miracles. The chapel is said to be as old as the church. It was built around the same time.
The well is integral to Santa Ana’s history. Sick people once visited it. They came from the town and surrounding areas. They drank the water believing it had healing powers. Ten stone steps lead down to the water chamber. A typhoid outbreak in 1920 closed it. The well re-opened for public viewing in 2011.
The Pozo de la Virgen shows the historical connection between Filipinos and Chinese. Chinese traders and immigrants found comfort in the image and chapel. It became their religious sanctuary. Residents with Chinese lineage often visit after the Taoist Temple. The temple is across the road. They continue their prayers there.
Across from the Pozo de la Virgen is the Pao Ong Hu Temple. This Taoist Temple holds historical and religious significance. Excavated Chinese ceramics show good relations between Chinese and Filipinos before the Spanish. The temple uniquely fuses Taoism Buddhism and Catholicism.
Felipe Calderon Plaza is at the center of Santa Ana’s bustling district. It is dedicated to Felipe Calderon. He was a Filipino lawyer and patriot. He wrote the Constitution of the First Philippine Republic. He died in June 1908. He was a prominent resident of this district. The linear park along Pedro Gil Street serves as a public park and plaza.
Savemore Supermarket along Pedro Gil has a unique feature. A glass-enclosed excavation site displays the foundations of a Spanish-period bahay-na-bato. Santa Ana was once the Forbes Park of Manila because of its beautiful houses. Remnants buried underneath the soil offer a glimpse of this past.
Santa Ana is the only Manila district with many well-preserved Spanish and American-period homes. These houses blend with urban development. Finding them on foot is an exciting experience.
Two popular houses are the Lichauco Heritage House and the Cojuangco-Ocampo House. They are referred to as the twin houses along the Pasig River. These ancestral houses are located along the riverbanks. The Lichauco Heritage House is one of two recognized heritage houses in Metro Manila.
Most ancestral homes were built during the American period. Santa Ana was spared from World War 2. This preserved these houses. The dela Merced-Panis Perez and Santo Romano ancestral houses along Plaza Hugo stand out with their unique architecture.