My not-so-fond memories of
passing through Jones Bridge was always associated with grinding traffic, that I
never appreciated the bridge’s neo-classical design by architect Juan M.
Arellano, nor the three arches resting on the two piers.
First constructed in 1920 spanning the Pasig River to connect Binondo
district to Padre Burgos Avenue in Ermita, the bridge has undergone numerous
reconstruction. The most tedious of them all was in the aftermath of the
Liberation of Manila during the tail end of WWII. Another restoration was done
in 1998 but still, the bridge remained an afterthought to most pedestrians. It
was only in 2019 when Manila Mayor Isko Moreno injected 20 Million pesos for a
redevelopment of the Jones Bridge.
The outcome became a hit on
social media as the former darkly-lit bridge became a picture teeming of 50's
film-noir vibe—thanks to the beaux-arts-styled lamp posts installed on both
sides of the bridge. Apart from a new paint job and the lamp posts, there were
also other fine details added—or were returned—to the revamped look Jones
Bridge.
La Madre Filipina Sculptures
Originally, the Jones Bridge had
four statues positioned on the four plinths of the bridge standing as the 'guard of the bridge", These
sculptures were called La Madre Filipina. Each statue symbolizes the journey of
the Philippines from a US colony to gaining independence. Of the original four
statues, one was destroyed during WWII and the other three were relocated to
save them from the ruins of the war.
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| Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons |
The statues were called Gratitude, Democracy, Progress and Justice. Democracy was the one destroyed
during the war and was replicated during the 2019 redevelopment of the Jones
Bridge. Gratitude, which was transferred to Rizal Park following World War II,
was returned to its original location in 2019.
The other two La Madre Filipinas
are still at the location where they were transferred. The Justice and Progress
statues can be seen guarding the entrance of the Court of Appeals. There were
plans for these two statues to be returned to bridge soon.
Neo-Classical Bridge with a Touch of Beaux-Arts
The man tasked to lead the
make-over the Jones Bridge was Jose Acuzar, the owner of Las Casas Filipinas de
Acuzar. As a controversial figure among the heritage circle (because of his method of uprooting old and
historic houses from their original locations and transferring it to Las
Casas), Acuzar designed the beaux-arts lamp posts that now adorn the both
sides of the Jones Bridge.
Not only it illuminated the bridge and waving off
all prior fears of walking over it at night, it also gave the bridge a
cinematic appearance that proved to be a hit on social media.
Inconspicuous no more
For the younger generation, the
Jones Bridge’s significance may have been lost due to several factors such as
the toxic hurried lifestyle in the city. How many of us who pass by this bridge in the past never for a moment took a second look at it? It took
a high-profile redevelopment project before we noticed it again: it’s history,
architecture and symbolism.
As the night unfolded past dinner
time, I still saw scores of people taking pictures on the bridge. Some
motorists even stopped their cars in the middle, so they could
get off and snap some images. As I walked to the other end in search of a good
perspective to frame a photograph, I marveled at the other details of the bridge.
The dolphin structures, its arching shape and even the reflection of it over
the murky waters of the Pasig River.
It was like a scene straight from
a cinematographer’ dream. Even the Post Office Building provides a perfect
background to the captivating new look of the Jones Bridge. How I wish we could
preserve more historical structures in Manila, so more people will not only be enticed
to capture it for postings on their social media accounts but also to study the
many historical anecdotes that are ingrained to each heritage edifices.
