Plaza Moraga
| Plaza Moraga | |
|---|---|
| Public square | |
 Plaza Moraga is bounded by Quintin Paredes Street to the west and Escolta Street to the south |
|
| Features: | Chinatown Arch |
| Dedicated to: | Fr. Fernando de Moraga |
| Owner: | City of Manila |
| Location: | Binondo, Manila, Philippines |
Plaza Moraga is a public square in Manila, Philippines. Serving as the gateway to Manila's Chinatown of Binondo, the plaza is located at the foot of Jones Bridge (formerly Puente de España) in the west end of Escolta Street. It was named after a Franciscan friar, Fr. Fernando de Moraga and it is by the opinion of many, that were it not for him, the history of the Philippines would turn out differently from what it is now.
Plaza Moraga came to develop during the American colonization period. It was the place where you can find superb restaurants, commercial establishments and foreign embassies. One of the familiar places-to-visit here was the Clarke's Cafe which opened in 1899. They were known for selling ice cream.
The Venerable Fernando de Moraga was born in one of the towns in the province of Salamanca, Spain. In 1597, he visited the Philippines and stayed for a short period near Plaza Dilao in Paco and some of the towns in Bulacan and Laguna. In 1607, he was appointed as the parish priest of Santa Ana.
In Intramuros, he also became the local Superior of the San Francisco Convent some years after his duty in Santa Ana. He was elected as the Chapter president before being delegated to the General Chapter in Spain in 1616, He reached Spain in 1619 while traveling barefooted through the Middle East while begging, evangelizing and baptizing along the way.
Fr. Moraga has convinced the King, through his persuasion and knowledge on the colony to revoke the decree and keep the Philippines during that time when King Philip III of Spain had issued a decree that included surrendering the Philippines.
Plaza Moraga has now became a plaza occupied mostly by cars and a big parking space is designated on one of the corners. There are still commercial buildings surrounding the plaza including the Savory Restaurant, only one of the surviving establishment from its glory years and also known for their chicken but the famous ice cream parlor is already closed.
...
Wikipedia