Straddling between Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard and V. Mapa Street is a street with an interesting name: Old Sta. Mesa. Before the wisecrack questions are raised, yes it is old as it says it is. In fact, the area of Old Sta. Mesa is one of the oldest places in Manila’s geographic district of Santa Mesa, having served as the “poblacion” or town center of this suburb by the turn of the 20th century.
If it is true that the heart of a certain place illustrates the character of that place, then Old Sta. Mesa defines the evolution (or in this case, urbanization) of this once-sleepy community to a bustling little urban enclave. Perhaps one sad consequence of Santa Mesa’s “radical” transformation is the lack of heritage today of “old” Old Sta. Mesa. Save perhaps for this house, part of which has been transformed into a photo studio.
Nevertheless, it still forms part of the eclecticism of the street. Where else can you find a Catholic church, Protestant school, commercial establishments, and a line of motels all along one street?
We begin at the corner of Old Sta. Mesa St. and Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. is the Police Station 8 (popularly known as Presinto 8) of the Manila Police District, which serves Santa Mesa and nearby San Miguel communities. Right opposite the station is a line of stores found at a building that has become a landmark by itself: Stop & Shop. On the other side of the street is Super Mightee Mart (formerly Fernando’s Supermarket) one of the pioneer standalone supermarkets in the city before Puregold and SM SaveMore appeared on the scene.
First established in 1911, the Parish church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has long exclusively served the Catholic community of Santa Mesa. Right beside it is the Sacred Heart Catholic School, (known to oldtimers like me as the Sta. Mesa Parochial School) run by the Archdiocese of Manila.
Another lowkey landmark in the area is the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) center. For kids who grew up reading Pambata magazines and Gospel Komiks, the foundation is the brains behind those publications. They also are also known as one of the pioneers in development communication in the country, having been around since 1973.
A new commercial building complex
From Old Sta. Mesa, shown below is a view of Teresa St., more popularly known as the road that leads to the main campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Formerly an asphalted road like the rest of the streets here, it was soon paved with brick tiles as part of then Mayor Lito Atienza’s Buhayin Ang Maynila program. making the street sort of like a virtual extension of the PUP campus.
Gloria Dei Christian School, a Lutheran school found along Old Sta. Mesa St.
And of course, a tour of Old Sta. Mesa would not be complete without these landmarks that make Santa Mesa, especially on Valentine’s Day…
©2009 The Urban Roamer
13 Comments
rivergili
di ko malilimutan ang nakahilerang higanteng puno ng pino (pine trees) sa kahabaan ng Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. .. paglabas namin ng eskuwelahan…malamig na simoy ng hangin ang aming nalalangahap. kayang-kaya ng mga punong ito ang tindi ng polusyon noong araw…
tuwang-tuwa akong namumulot noon ng mga nahuhulog na ‘pine cones’ para sa christmas decor.
Wayne Moises
Sta. Mesa is a district full of middle class residents grocery stores trading post/PX street vendors & busy residents in Manila.
Wayne Moises
Sta. Mesa Shopping Center where Panacraft Store sells imported items like toys gifts decorated items & more from US Japan Canada Australia & Europe.
ahvic chinita koreana
ang galing nmn love it….
Wayne Moises
I love Manila capital of the Philippines the city of man & Casablanca of the Orient by international media in popular culture in TV films comics animation & media.
Happy
I lived in Bacood Sta Mesa for several years and was priviledged to have been neighbors with some of the popular cagers at that time.Crispa Redmanizers Bernard Fabiosa, who sadly after retiring from his career,was involved in a crime of passion that till now, im not quite convinced of his guilt.Anyway, another neighbor was Ading Fernando and his siter Dely atay atayan…along Arellano street naman sila together with Anne Villegas.I loved my Sta Mesa days.Went there last week and was saddened by the big change.Too crowded, polluted and the roads are made small by the number of cars parked along the street.So much for reminiscing.
Arnel Vasquez
Hi Sir! I am looking for a photo of the Stop and Shop grocery story that became a landmark in Sta. Mesa,Manila. Do you have any? Thanks!:)
The Urban Roamer
No I don’t. Sorry.
Ed
https://www.facebook.com/groups/184620051569129/permalink/947011938663266/
Wayne Moises
I went to Sta. Mesa where the Queens Supermarket my favorite shopping place for groceries for the family together with my Grandma Emily & Auntie Shirley when I was six years old at that time during childhood in the Philippines in the 1960’s era.
tagabacood
in front of the police station is a row of pubhouses with ladies awaiting drinks 😉
Len Marban
may sta. mesa shopping center pa ba? ano na sya ngayon?
Ed
https://www.facebook.com/groups/184620051569129/permalink/949453231752470/