Jones Bridge lamp posts remind us of city’s history

The beautiful ornately designed lamp posts now lining both sides of Jones Bridge have drawn admiration from all who have seen them these last few weeks. From a simple looking span connecting Binondo and Intramuros, Jones has suddenly gained new life with the black lamp posts, the latest changes in the city carried out by new Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, with a ₱20million donation from Chinese businessmen as it is next to a heritage site on the Pasig River.

Jones Bridge has not been as busy as Quezon Bridge in Quiapo or Nagtahan Bridge near Malacanang but it has a rich history that is now being recalled with the installation of the lamp posts. The original span was built in 1919, to replace the Puente Espana built by Spain in 1876. It was named after American legislator William Atkinson Jones, author of the Jones Law that gave the Philippines legislative autonomy from the US in 1916.

The construction of bridges early in the 20th century was part of a master plan of Daniel Burnham, who was inspired by the river Seine in Paris and the canals of Venice and saw the Pasig with a similar network of bridges. After the passage of the Jones Act, Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano took over and finished the design of Jones Bridge. It had three arches and two piers similar to the Pont Alexandre III in Paris. Four statues portraying motherhood and nationhood were placed on pedestals at each end of the bridge.

At the Battle of Manila in World War II in 1945, the Japanese bombed the bridge against advancing American troops from the north and one of the four statues was destroyed. Jones and Quezon bridges were quickly rebuilt after the war but the neo-classical designs were replaced with unadorned architecture. In 1998, Jones Bridge was partially restored by architect Conrad Onglao, commissioned by then First Lady Amelita Ramos.

This year, Mayor “Isko” announced plans for Jones Bridge, including the return of the three original sculptures of old, one of which is now at Rizal Park and two at the Court of Appeals building in Ermita. The fourth sculpture which was destroyed during the war will be replicated, using the archives of the National Library of the Philippines.

The old lamp posts were somewhat simpler but the new ones, designed by architect Jerry Acuzar, are similar enough to the originals to inspire visions of what Manila must have looked like in those early years before the war destroyed so much of the city.

At the start of his administration, the mayor said he is determined to restore Manila to its old preeminence as a city known around the world for its history as well as for its natural beauty. So much economic progress has moved to the other cities around Manila, but the city has 500 years of history that distinguishes it from all the others. The beautiful lamp posts now lining both sides of Jones Bridge are a reminder of that distinction.