It is hard to find big open spaces in a city as big as Manila. More modern buildings keep sprouting all over the place, usually demolishing the old buildings that have been there for decades. Downtown Manila is a little different though, to some extent it has managed to keep what little space it has and at the same time keep most informal settlers away from it.
To say that this has been a perennial problem is an understatement. It would not be strange to see people staying under the bridge or beside a building still in use. In fact, in my visit to the Manila Central Post Office, there were some informal settlers at one of the gardens of the building. This is a problem that has challenged every single mayor of this city. There doesn’t seem to be any solution in sight as the issue has also been politicized.
Anyway, one of the more well known open spaces in Manila is Plaza Lawton or more commonly known as Liwasang Bonifacio. Plaza Lawton is located just across the Manila Central Post Office. It would appear that it was one part of a great open area with the Manila Central Post Office, the Manila City Hall and Intramuros bordering it. It has now since been crisscrossed by several major thoroughfares leading to the Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo districts.
Being such as open space, Plaza Lawton or Liwasang Bonifacio had always been the site of political rallies and demonstrations. During the days of Marcos and the presidents that followed, there have been numerous rallies staged here. These days it is now the site of a rather large fountain and with the statue of Andres Bonificio on one end. It is also one of the popular transit points for travellers where it is simply called Lawton.
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