Rizal Avenue
The proverbial “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” may have caused the eventual decline of this strip once agrind with bustling commerce.
Imelda Marcos’ original intention was to have a modern mass transit system — Light Rail Transit — to alleviate the gridlocks that paralyzed Manila’s main arteries, especially Rizal Avenue. Cursed with excessive delays, the project lingered for many years; leaving Rizal Avenue virtually impossible to traverse. Thus, many people were unable to continue patronizing the establishments on either side of it.
By the time the Light Rail Transit system was finished and began its regular operations, the fully air-conditioned SM shopping malls had sprouted throughout the metropolitan area and have earned the city shoppers’ return visits. Regrettably, many of Rizal Avenue’s emporiums had lost too many of their regular customers; left with no other option but to shut their doors for good.
It took Mayor Lito Atienza’s tireless efforts to once again infuse life into to this area through a series of revitalization projects. From Carriedo Street to Claro M. Recto Avenue, Rizal Avenue has now become a colorful pedestrian’s haven.
Subsequently, more shops reopened to serve the public and all the facades of the buildings along the avenue were repainted. The ornamentations selected by the mayor to adorn the pillars that hold the overhead railway system were inspired by those he had seen during his visit to Spain.
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andrea » September 23rd, 2006 at 4:49 pm
very wonderful photo.
Boy_Galis » August 14th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
I walked Rizal Avenue on July 17, 2011, from Carriedo until Doroteo Jose. After an absence of 24 years, it’s sad, sad, sad,… Avenida is wasted, decrepit, forlorn, and dangerous. All the familiar businesses like National Bookstore, Alemars, Goodwill Bookstore, movie houses, department stores,the eateries, are gone. Replaced by lots of cell phone shops, pirated dvds and software, knock off high end merchandise, owned by Muslims. Lots of short time motels too. Careful walking, you may accidentally step into some poor homeless soul sleeping. A few small children (age 2-3) filthy and walking butt naked. Several empty lots not completely demolished, with partial wall still standing. Reminiscent of a building that was recently bombed. Building facade and front are all dark and in need of a good scrubbing.
The picture above is nothing but pipe dreams