Pasig River Light
Encyclopedia
The Pasig River Light was the first lighthouse
erected in the Philippines
. It was then located on the north jetty
at the mouth of Pasig River
, marking the entrance to the river for vessels around Manila Bay
, looking to dock on the port
s along the banks of the river in Manila
.
and lit on September 1, 1846. From its location at the mouth of the historic river, which divides Manila
into two sections, it was a welcoming beacon
for over a century to all mariners of inter-island vessels when bringing their vessels up into the river for berthing along its busy wharves.
The lighthouse, which was known locally as Farola (Spanish
for "lighthouse") was one of the most conspicuous landmarks in the harbor of Manila in the early part of the 20th century. The building and later expansion of the Port of Manila
, south of the light station and subsequent land reclamation
s, has greatly altered the location of the lighthouse obscuring it from the wide expanse of Manila Bay.
The lighthouse was demolished in 1992 and was replaced with an architecturally simpler lighthouse with the new tower built on the foundation of the old one. The Philippine Coast Guard
Station of Manila is located adjacent to the lighthouse and the community that developed from the reclaimed lands is now known as "Parola" (Filipino
for "lighthouse").
The present tower is a white conical concrete structure with a height of 46 feet (14.02 m) and a focal plane of 43 feet (13.11 m). The old tower was taller at 49 feet (14.94 m). Lighthouses in the Philippines are maintained by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
erected in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It was then located on the north jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
at the mouth of Pasig River
Pasig River
The Pasig River is a river in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it is lined by Metro Manila on each side...
, marking the entrance to the river for vessels around Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
, looking to dock on the port
Inland port
The term inland port is used in two different but related ways to mean either a port on an inland waterway or an inland site carrying out some functions of a seaport.- As a port on an inland waterway :...
s along the banks of the river in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
.
History
A light station has been established on the site since 1642. The first lighthouse structure was erected by the ruling Spanish governmentHistory of the Philippines
The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted Samar on March 16, 1521 and landed on Homonhon Island southeast of Samar...
and lit on September 1, 1846. From its location at the mouth of the historic river, which divides Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
into two sections, it was a welcoming beacon
Beacon
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its airport beacon, or of...
for over a century to all mariners of inter-island vessels when bringing their vessels up into the river for berthing along its busy wharves.
The lighthouse, which was known locally as Farola (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for "lighthouse") was one of the most conspicuous landmarks in the harbor of Manila in the early part of the 20th century. The building and later expansion of the Port of Manila
Port of Manila
The Port of Manila is the largest seaport in the Philippines, and is the premier international shipping gateway to the country. It is located in the vicinity of Manila Bay.-Port Area:...
, south of the light station and subsequent land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
s, has greatly altered the location of the lighthouse obscuring it from the wide expanse of Manila Bay.
The lighthouse was demolished in 1992 and was replaced with an architecturally simpler lighthouse with the new tower built on the foundation of the old one. The Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines....
Station of Manila is located adjacent to the lighthouse and the community that developed from the reclaimed lands is now known as "Parola" (Filipino
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
for "lighthouse").
The present tower is a white conical concrete structure with a height of 46 feet (14.02 m) and a focal plane of 43 feet (13.11 m). The old tower was taller at 49 feet (14.94 m). Lighthouses in the Philippines are maintained by the Philippine Coast Guard.
External links
- Images of the new lighthouse from Backpacking Philippines and Asia.
- New Pasig River Light (LS NH Entrance) at the Philippine Coast Guard Web Site