Description of the attraction
Mendiola Street is a short but wide street in the San Miguel area of Manila. She got her name in honor of Enrique Mendiola, teacher, author of several books and member of the first Board of Trustees of the University of the Philippines. Part of the street is occupied by the Mendiola Bridge, also known as the Chino Roches Bridge. Mendiola Street itself begins at the intersection of Legarda Street and Claro Recto Avenue and ends at Jose Lorel Street, right in front of Malacanang Palace. Several colleges and universities are located on it, forming the so-called Manila University Belt.
Mendiola Street is famous for the fact that it was here, on this street, that protests against the government, sitting in the Malakanang Palace, took place and are still taking place, often turning into violent clashes. So, in January 1970, during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos, the so-called Battle of the Mendiola Bridge took place here, as a result of which four demonstrators were killed. In 1987, police dispersed a crowd of demonstrators opened fire on protesting peasants demanding land reform. 13 people were killed and hundreds were injured. Finally, in 2001, supporters of President Joseph Estrada, furious at his arrest and removal from office, marched down Mendiola Street, demanding his release. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and the police, which escalated into an attempt to storm Malakanang Palace. People began vandalizing shops and setting fire to private cars, causing millions of pesos in damage.
Thereafter, strict security measures were taken at Malakanang Palace, and it was decided to close half of the street from the gates of the College of the Holy Spirit and the College of Consolation in order to protect the government residence.
