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Recto Avenue just west of Rizal Avenue with the elevated Line 2

Claro M. Recto Avenue, more popularly known as simply Recto Avenue, is the principal commercial thoroughfare in north-central Manila, Philippines. It spans seven districts just north of the Pasig River in what is generally considered Manila's old downtown area.

Recto's western terminus is at an intersection with Mel Lopez Boulevard (Radial Road 10) at the district boundaries of Tondo and San Nicolas close to the Manila North Harbor. It runs northeast before curving to the east at Juan Luna Street and Estero de Binondo. It then passes through the Divisoria shopping area of Manila south of the Tutuban railway station until it curves southeast past the A. Rivera Street junction. East of Rizal Avenue and Santa Cruz district, Recto intersects with the streets of the University Belt area of Quiapo and Sampaloc before terminating at Legarda Street and Mendiola Street at the district boundaries of Quiapo and Sampaloc.

LRT Line 2 runs along its T. Alonzo–Legarda Street segment. It has a short extension into San Miguel and the gated Malacañang Palace compound as Mendiola Street.

History[edit]

Recto Avenue was developed by sections in various time periods during the course of Spanish rule. The main section leading to the coast in San Nicolas and Tondo from Binondo was named Paseo de Azcárraga, after the Spanish-Filipino Prime Minister, Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero.

In the Santa Cruz district, the road was divided into Calle General Izquierdo, Calle Paz and Calle Bilibid because of the three creeks (esteros) that ran through the district. In Sampaloc, the road was named Calle Iris which terminated at Calle Alix (now Legarda Street).[1] The name Paseo de Azcárraga was extended to include the full length of the street which was also called Paseo de Felipe at one point (after King Philip II of Spain). Finally, in 1961, the avenue was given its present name in honor of the Filipino senator, Claro Mayo Recto.[2]

On July 7, 1892, in a building numbered 72 Calle Azcárraga, at the intersection with Calle Sagunto (now Santo Cristo) in Tondo, Andres Bonifacio founded the revolutionary society named Katipunan.[3]

In the early 1900s, the avenue was a theater-and-restaurant row, with Teatro Libertad and Zorrilla Theatre attracting the well-dressed crowd to zarzuela shows and operas that ran on weekends.[4]

Transportation[edit]

Recto Avenue is a major stop on three lines of the Metro Manila Transit System.

  • Doroteo Jose station at Rizal Avenue served by Line 1.
  • Recto station at Rizal Avenue served by Line 2.
  • Tutuban railway station at Dagupan Street served by PNR.

The route is also served by several bus companies and jeepneys. Additional stations will be built along the road as part of the Line 2 west expansion project.[5]

Intersections[edit]

Recto Avenue corner Nicanor Reyes (Morayta) Street

The entire route will be located in Manila. 

Landmarks[edit]

Crowded Recto Avenue with 168 Shopping Mall in the background
University of the East main building on Recto Avenue
Shopping malls
  • 168 Shopping Mall
  • 999 Shopping Mall
  • D8 Mall (formerly Benisons Shopping Center)
  • Ever Malls Manila Plaza (closed)
  • Isetann Cinerama Recto
  • Lucky Chinatown
  • Odeon Terminal Mall
  • Tutuban Center
Universities and colleges
  • Access Computer College - Recto
  • Far Eastern University
  • Informatics College - Recto
  • Philippine College of Health Sciences
  • San Sebastian College – Recoletos
  • STI Colleges Recto
  • University of the East
Other notable buildings
  • Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila
  • Manila City Jail (Old Bilibid Prison)
  • Manila Grand Opera Hotel
  • Tutuban railway station

See also[edit]

  • List of renamed streets in Manila

References[edit]

  1. ^ Quodala, Schatzi (March 2, 2011). "Did you know? Recto Avenue". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 15, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. ^ Old Manila streets lose names to politicians Archived 2010-07-17 at the Wayback Machine published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer; accessed 2013-10-15.
  3. ^ "The Philippines, the land of palm and pine : an official guide and hand book (1912)". Manila Bureau of Print. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  4. ^ The Americanization of Manila, 1898-1921. University of the Philippines Press. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  5. ^ Taruc, Paolo (May 20, 2015). "NEDA approves P27.9 billion worth of projects". CNN Philippines. Retrieved August 1, 2019.

Coordinates: 14°36′17″N 120°58′39″E / 14.60472°N 120.97750°E / 14.60472; 120.97750