The Luneta Hotel along Teodoro M. Kalaw St. corner Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) faces Manila Bay.

Luneta Hotel was built in 1918 and was considered one of the few remaining French inspired architecture in Manila that stood the test of time. The National Historical Institute already declared Luneta Hotel as a National Historical Landmark.

Currently, Luneta Hotel is an abandoned building and the soroundings was converted into a parking space for rent.

According to some online forums, Luneta hotel is now being managed by PAGCOR and rumored to be transformed as Manila’s newest Casino.

TRIVIA:

During the Japanese Occupation in Manila, Walter Dempster Jr. also known as Walterina Markova ; popularly known for his movie Comfort Gay portrayed by Dolphy, experienced Japanese Soldiers Brutality in this hotel.

Luneta Hotel before the World War II

1950’s photo of Carriedo in Manila

Carriedo now: The american inspired building was occupied by Prudential bank a couple of years ago but now its being occupied by a popular chain of supermarket. The commercial center on the left side was now occupied by Plaza Fair and Philtrust on the right side. Obviously the we cannot see the “Light Rail Transit” on the photo (LOL)

When American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II, hundreds of surplus jeeps were sold or given to local Filipinos. Locals stripped down the jeeps to accommodate several passengers, added metal roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with vibrant colors and bright chrome plating and hood ornaments.

The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and creative way to reestablish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually destroyed during World War II. Recognizing the widespread use of these vehicles, the Philippine government began to place restrictions on their use. Drivers now must have specialized driver’s license, regular routes, and reasonably fixed fares.

Manufacturers

Although the original jeepneys were simply refurbished military jeeps (Willys), modern jeepneys are now produced by independently owned workshops and factories within the Philippines. In the central Philippine island of Cebu, the bulk of jeepneys are built from second-hand Japanese trucks, originally intended for hauling cargo rather than passengers. These are euphemistically known as “surplus” trucks.

Recently the jeepney industry has faced threats to its survival in its current form. Most of the larger builders have either gone bankrupt or have switched to manufacturing other products. Currently there are 2 classes of jeepney builders in the Philippines. The backyard builders produce 1-5 vehicles a month, source their die stamped pieces from one of the larger manufacturers, and work with used engines and chassis from salvage yards (usually the Isuzu 4BA series diesel engines or the Mitsubishi Fuso 4D30 diesel engines–a shift from the Isuzu C240 engine that powered early jeepneys). The second type of manufacturer is the large volume manufacturer. They have 2 sub groups: the PUJ (Public Utility Jeep) and the large volume metal-stamping companies that supply parts as well as complete vehicles.

The jeepney builders in the past were mostly concentrated in Cebu City, Las Piñas City and Cavite; however, with the recent slowdown of sales, many of the smaller builders have gone out of business. The largest manufacturer of owner-type jeeps in the Philippines is David Motors Inc. in Quezon City, located on the north side of Metro Manila. The largest manufacturer of vintage style army jeepneys is MD Juan.

Passenger jeepneys are also facing increasing restrictions and regulations for pollution controls, as they increase amounts of traffic and consume lots of fuel. A recent study published in a Metro Manila newspaper compared the fuel use of a 16-passenger jeepney to a 54-passenger air-conditioned bus and found that the fuel consumption for both was the same. With major roads clogged by empty jeepneys cruising for fares, there is intense pressure to remove them from the streets of Metro Manila and other cities.

The cost for a new jeepney will also rise due to the increased costs of raw materials like steel and the need to use new engines to power their vehicles. The supply of remanufactured used engines is slowly dropping as wear and age take their toll and the number of factories that rebuild engines diminishes.

The jeepney businesses in the Philippines are struggling to compete with imported used vehicles, and many manufacturers are moving to build more modern-looking jeepneys such as Hummer lookalikes and oversized Toyota van-style passenger jeepneys with Toyota headlights, hoods and bumpers. The jeepney industry has evolved more quickly in the past 2 years than it has in the past 50 and the chromey, loud, boisterous icon is soon to be a vehicle of the past.

Other manufacturers/marks include Mega (which also produces the Lanceta line of jeepneys, in Lipa City), Malaguena (whose factory in Cavite was the site of one of the very first Yield Stops of The Amazing Race), LGS Motors, Morales, Hebron, Marinel (jeepney makers based in Rizal Province which is popular for their ”patok” (popular) jeepneys which are equipped with high-powered sound system, aggressive fonts, and their speed) and Sarao (which is the most famous and based in Las Pinas City), and Armak (one of the largest). Another manufacturer PBJ motors manufactured jeepneys in Pampanga using techniques derived from Sarao motors.

Already in production is a jeepney the size of a small bus and is equipped with state-of-the-art vehicle technology (brand-new engine and drivetrain) and Thermo-King-brand airconditioning intended for buses.
Source: Wikipedia (text) www.skyscrapercity.com (photos)

Kennon Road in Benguet: Photo Source РGeographical Work in the Philippines, by Warren Du Pr̩ Smith The Geographical Journal 1909

Kennon Road Today

Source : http://www.svvs.org/

The torogan is a masterpiece of Filipino craftsmanship. Carved on the torogan wooden posts is the niyaga, a stylized mythical snake design that can be found in many Muslim artworks. Each design was different, and varied in detail and the degree of complexity. The whole structure was put together without using a single nail. Instead, the wooden beams are skillfully interlocked together and the building has remained standing for almost 265 years. The lumber was hauled to the construction site by carabaos using bamboo sleds over a distance of some twenty kilometers.
Time and the elements have conspired to weaken the structure of this historical edifice. Forty-five years ago, the condition of the torogan has forced the Sultan’s family to take up residence elsewhere. Its roof and floors were crumbling to pieces, though both local and foreign visitors continued to visit the torogan for its intricately carved wooden posts.

In 1995, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, which develops cultural policy and supports culture and arts activities through technical and financial assistance, gave a grant to the people of Marawi to restore the torogan located in the Sultanate of Dayawan, some four kilometers away from Marawi City. The restoration of the torogan is a major contribution towards the strengthening of the Marawi culture and “serves as the most visible symbol of the dynamism of the Maranao heritage.” Kiram Acampong, a leading Maranaw carver, was tasked with the responsibility of repairing the panolongs or carved extended beams and recreating the lost or destroyed carvings, while Dr. Abdullah Madale of the Mindanao State University coordinated the restoration work

The torogan is a symbol of a time when houses were more than just dwelling places, but a powerful symbol of the community’s identity. The careful carvings on the massive posts represented the artistry of a people with a vigorous culture whose art permeated all aspects of their life. Today, the torogan is flanked by “modern” houses that are built along the tradition of pre-fabricated suburbia. These homes are more compact, more economical, and without the charming carvings that give the torogan its unique individuality and transform it into a work of art.

Photo Credits: FilipinoHeritage.com