Puente Grande - Manila’s First Great Bridge

A sprawling keep of islands separated by the Pasig River and her tributaries, a tour of Manila would not be complete without touching on the bridges that spanned the city; and first on this list is the aptly named Puente Grande.

Built in 1626 and opening in 1630, the Puente Grande was an almost necessary undertaking by what was then still a developing Spanish colony. It’s importance was in connecting the districts of Binondo to the capital.

One account by British politician and economist Sir John Bowring notes how extensively used the bridge was.

Binondo is really the most important and most opulent pueblo in the Philippines, and is the real commercial capital : two-thirds of the houses are substantially built of stone, brick and tiles, and about one-third are Indian wooden houses covered with the nipa palm. The place is full of business and activity. An average was lately taken of the carriages daily passing the principal thoroughfares. Over the Puente Grande (great bridge) their number was 1,256; through the largest square, Plaza de San Gabriel, 979; and through the main street, 915. On the Calzada, which is the great promenade of the capital, 499 carriages were counted. These accounted for the aristocracy of Manila. Sir Jonh Bowring

This account occurred in 1858, after the former governor of Hong Kong went on leave to mourn the death of his wife, it would be some time before the commercial district moved to Escolta, on the banks of the Pasig River (Escolta had become the commercial center during the time of the Americans). It should also be noted that the Calzada he mentions is the main street which is the street in front of the walled city crossing directly into the bridge. The Murillo Velarde Map (c. 1734) denotes these locations as well.

interestingly enough, the Murillo Velarde map accurately shows the Puente Grande with 10 spans.

It had served the populace for over two hundred years before finally being retired in 1863 resulting from a massive earthquake. Eventually reopening in 1875, where it was renamed Puente de Espana.

Puente de Espana was also eventually collapsed in 1914 after wear and tear left it beyond repair. The Jones Bridge was constructed in 1916 and opened to the public in 1921,