Plaza Moraga

Plaza Moraga is a public square in National Capital Region of Metro Manila, Philippines. It serves as a gateway to the town of Binondo — Manila's Chinatown.

Plaza Moraga
Public square
Plaza Moraga in 2013
Features	Chinatown Arch
Dedicated to	Fr. Fernando de Moraga
Owner	City of Manila
Location	Binondo, Manila, Philippines
Coordinates: 14°35′48″N 120°58′36″E

The Plaza - located through Jones Bridge at the west-end of Escolta Street^[1] and has the name under Fr. Fernando de Moraga - a Franciscan friar.

By the opinion of many historians, that - if it was not for the Franciscan friar's efforts, the Philippines would've turn out differently.^[2]

History

Plaza Moraga in early 1900's

Plaza Moraga came to develop in the past during the American colonization period where it has been the place of superb-restaurants, commercial-establishments and foreign-embassies.

One of the main familiar places to visit there's the Clarke's Cafe - established in the years of 1899, also has been known for their ice cream shops.^[2]

Fernando de Moraga

"The Venerable" Fernando de Moraga - born in one of the town's provinces of Salamanca, Spain.

Moraga has visited the Philippines and stayed there for a short while near Plaza Dilao, Paco then continued to some of the towns in the provinces of Bulacan and Laguna, in the past years - 1597 and appointed as a parish priest for Santa Ana - 1607

Also became the Local's Superior of the San Francisco Convent, some years after his duty in Santa Ana through Intramuros, He's had been elected as the Chapter president before being delegated to the General Chapter in Spain - 1616. He had reached Spain - 1619. He travelled on barefeet through Middle East, begging while evangelizing and baptizing along the way.^{[citation needed]}

1951 Singson Building (L. Del Castillo-A.S. Sindiong Architects now occupies the 1900 Cafe and Chocolate Factory)

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.^[2]

In recent years

Plaza Moraga has now become 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 Original Savory Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant known for their chicken. It succeeded the famed Savory Restaurant that was razed by fire in 2015.^[3] However, the famous ice cream parlor is already closed.

In June 2015, the world's largest Chinatown arch was built on the south side of Plaza Moraga at the entrance to Binondo from Jones Bridge in celebration of the city's 444th founding anniversary as well as the 40th anniversary of Philippines-China diplomatic ties. Funded as a gift from the city government of Guangzhou, it measures 63.8 feet (19.4 m) high and 74 feet (23 m) wide, higher than Washington, D.C. Chinatown's Friendship Archway.^[4]

External links

• Media related to Plaza Moraga at Wikimedia Commons