Bonifacio Drive

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Not to be confused with Bonifacio Avenue.
Bonifacio Drive
AH26 (N120) sign.svg
R-1
08449jfIntramuros Anda Circle Bonifacio Drive Port Area Manilafvf 44.jpg
Former name(s) Malecón
Malecon Drive
Paseo de María Cristina
Part of
Namesake Andrés Bonifacio
Maintained by Department of Public Works and Highways
Length 1 km (1 mi)
Approximate length (from Google Maps)
Location Manila
North end Anda Circle in Port Area and Intramuros
South end AH 26 (N120) (Roxas Boulevard) / (Padre Burgos Avenue) / Katigbak Parkway in Ermita and Intramuros

Bonifacio Drive is a road running for approximately 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) in a north-south direction between Intramuros and Port Area in Manila, Philippines. The boulevard is also designated as Radial Road 1 (R-1) of Manila's arterial road network, National Route 120 (N120) of the Philippine highway network and an auxiliary route of Asian Highway 26 (AH26).

The boulevard is named for national hero Andrés Bonifacio, the Supremo of the Katipunan and thus the father of the 1896 Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire.

Another street in Manila is also named Bonifacio Drive. It is located at the Tutuban Center shopping complex in Tondo.

History[]

The road was previously called Malecon Drive during the American period.[1] During Spanish rule, it was known simply as Malecón (Spanish for waterfront esplanade) which the road was prior to the reclamation of South Harbor (Port Area) during the late 19th century. It was also known alternatively as Paseo de María Cristina, after the then Queen of Spain Maria Cristina. It was later renamed to Calle A. Bonifacio.[2] It used to connect Luneta Park to the southern bank of Pasig River, where the Anda Monument was previously located. After World War II, the monument was transferred to its present site at the road's intersection with Calle Aduana, which was converted into a roundabout presently called Anda Circle.[3] In 1975, Roxas Bridge (also known as Del Pan Bridge and Mel Lopez Bridge) was built to connect Bonifacio Drive to the northern parts of Manila across Pasig River.[4]

In 2019, Bonifacio Drive's section from Anda Circle to Roxas Bridge was transferred to the newly-renamed Mel Lopez Boulevard by virtue of Republic Act No. 11280.[5][6]

Route description[]

Bonifacio Drive is the northern extension of Roxas Boulevard from Padre Burgos Avenue and Katigbak Parkway in Rizal Park to Anda Circle. At the traffic circle, it intersects Andrés Soriano Avenue (formerly Calle Aduana), the main road to Intramuros, and Roberto Oca Street, a road to Port Area. North of the traffic circle, Bonifacio Drive continues as Mel Lopez Boulevard heading into North Harbor and the districts of San Nicolas and Tondo via Roxas Bridge (also known as Del Pan Bridge and Mel Lopez Bridge) over the Pasig River.

Landmarks[]

The Department of Public Works and Highways head office along Bonifacio Drive

Establishments along Bonifacio Drive include the Manila Hotel, the Department of Public Works and Highways headquarters, Philippine Ports Authority headquarters, the Port Area office of National Power Corporation, and the Santa Lucia Gate. Located on the east of the entire stretch of the road is the Club Intramuros Golf Course.

References[]

  1. ^ A directory of charitable and social service organizations in the city of Manila. Archive.org. Retrieved December 6, 2013
  2. ^ Map of city of Manila and vicinity (Map). 1:10560. Manila?: Office of Dept. Engineer, Phil. Dept. 1919. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  3. ^ Alcazaren, Paulo (July 14, 2001). "Rotundas: Circles of Urban Life". Philstar. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  4. ^ "Detailed Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Balinbin, Arjay (May 20, 2019). "Road in Manila renamed to honor late sportsman and politician Mel Lopez". BusinessWorld. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Republic Act No. 11280 (12 April 2019), An Act Renaming the Portion of Radial Road 10 Traversing Bonifacio Drive at Anda Circle in Station Kilometer (STA KM) 1+100, up to Marala Bridge at the foot of Estero De Marala STA KM 6+445, All in the City of Manila as Mel Lopez Boulevard (PDF), retrieved January 27, 2021

Coordinates: 14°35′22″N 120°58′18″E / 14.58948°N 120.97171°E / 14.58948; 120.97171

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