Recto Avenue

Claro M. Recto Avenue, more popularly known as simply Recto, is the principal commercial thoroughfare in north-central Manila, Philippines. It spans six 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 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 and Sampaloc before terminating at Legarda Street and Mendiola Street at the district boundaries of and Sampaloc.

The LRTA's Line 2 runs along its T. Alonzo–Legarda Street segment. It has a short extension into San Miguel and towards Malacañang Palace compound as Mendiola Street.

History

What is known today as Recto Avenue was developed in sections during 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 of Spain, Marcelo Azcárraga.

In the Santa Cruz district, the road was divided into ''Calle General Izquierdo'', ''Calle Paz'' and ''Calle Bilibid'' after the Spanish Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutiérrez and the creeks (''esteros'') that ran through the district, respectively. In Sampaloc, the road was named ''Calle Iris'', which terminated at ''Calle Alix''/''Plaza Santa Ana'' (now Legarda Street). The name ''Paseo de Azcárraga'' was extended to include the full length of the street, which was, at one point, also called ''Paseo de Rey Felipe'' ''2°'' after King Philip II of Spain.

On July 7, 1892, at 72 Calle Azcárraga, at the intersection with Calle Sagunto (now Santo Cristo) in Tondo, Andrés Bonifacio founded the revolutionary society Katipunan.

In the early 1900s, Azcárraga was a theater-and-restaurant row, with Teatro Libertad and Zorrilla Theatre attracting the well-dressed crowd to shows and operas that ran on weekends. The section extending westward from Tutuban station used to be traversed by an old Manila Railroad branch leading to the Port of Manila. The section extending eastward from Calle Santo Cristo was traversed by the tranvía.

Originally terminating at Calle Angngalo (Angalo) on the former coastline of Manila in San Nicolas at the west, Azcárraga was extended into the new reclamation accommodated for the Manila North Harbor in the 20th century. There were also plans to extend Azcárraga eastward to Santa Mesa; however, this extension was never realized. In 1961, the avenue was given its current name in honor of Filipino senator Claro Mayo Recto.

Construction of the LRT Line 2 viaduct, initially traversing Recto Avenue's center island from T. Alonzo Street eastwards, began in 1997. Train operations on the Recto segment began in 2004.

Cultural references

Recto Avenue is infamous as a center of document forgery. Counterfeiters openly advertise their services, although the actual counterfeiting is done elsewhere. The forged documents they sell include IDs, receipts, driver's licenses, diplomas, employment references, theses, pilot's licenses, and seaman's certificates. Due to this, locals have sarcastically dubbed the area "Recto University". The mayors of Manila have ordered several police raids in the area; however, some police officers have reportedly accepted bribes from the counterfeiters.

Transportation

Recto Avenue is a major stop on three lines of the Metro Manila Transit System: Doroteo Jose station of LRTA Line 1 at Rizal Avenue, Recto station of LRTA Line 2 at Rizal Avenue, and Tutuban railway station of the Philippine National Railways at Dagupan Street.

Several bus companies and jeepneys also serve the route. As part of the Line 2 west expansion project, additional stations will be built along the road.

Intersections

Landmarks

;Shopping malls
* 168 Shopping Mall
* 999 Shopping Mall
* D8 Mall (formerly Benisons Shopping Center)
* 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

* List of renamed streets in Manila

References

{{coord, 14, 36, 17, N, 120, 58, 39, E, type:landmark, display=title

Streets in Manila
Shopping districts and streets in Metro Manila
Tondo, Manila
San Nicolas, Manila
Binondo
Santa Cruz, Manila
Quiapo, Manila
Sampaloc, Manila