The Historic Streets of The City of Naga

As a young lad, I walked on iconic streets, some even date back to the Spanish Colonial Era. Streets, roads, and avenues that existed, when, The City of Naga, was then known as Nueva Caceres. Of course, some are still present and survived but with different names.

An example of this is Calle Via Gainza. In modern times, it is popularly known as Peñafrancia Avenue. This historic avenue had taken its name from the illustrious Bishop Francisco Gainza, O.P. — he led the See of Caceres from 1863–1879. Bishop Gainza, was the twenty fifth in the roster and deemed to be the most innovative among the Spanish bishops in the area.

It was a dusty road during the second quarter of the 19th century more or less. The road begins from the Peñafrancia Shrine, now the Barangay Peñafrancia, and ends at the San Francisco Church. Bishop Gainza spearheaded its improvements and turned it into a cobblestones-laden-street, adding an old-world-charm-appeal.

Moreover, Calle Via Gainza was developed further to join the western point of Calle Legaspi, now known as Panganiban Drive. Bishop Gainza’s master plan was a wide road, with three lanes; the middle lane was for pedestrians while the other two were for incoming and oncoming vehicles.

Another example is the famous Elias Angeles Street. It is the most significant road that runs through the veins of Naga’s City Center. It was built by Filipinos at the turning point of the 16th century under the Spanish Crown. Formerly known as Calle Real, it has developed from a colonial cobblestones-laden-road for pedestrians into the enterprise and historic heart of the city, with remnants from the 1898 Philippine Revolution. It is named after Tagalog Corporal Elias Angeles who together with Bicolano Corporal Felix Plazo, fought and won against Spanish soldiers on September 18, 1898.

Historical Civic Sites dotted this district. Several vanished and albeit adaptive-reuse landmarks remain along the street that witnessed chapters from the Spanish era through the 20th century; Casino Español District: seen at the point Elias Angeles and Arana Streets, this was an important edifice constructed from piedra china (Chinese granite) and hardwood that functioned as the esteemed social and leisure hub for the male Spanish members of high society. Casa Tribunal District: an original location of the “casa comun” during colonial times, that catered to travelers with free lodging and rooms ending in 1839, Additionally, the street gives accessible ways to historical areas such as the Naga Old Provincial Jail (built in 1826) and ancestral landmarks (e.g. an ancestral house that was converted into a resto called Asilo by Jimmy and Tang), establishing a pivotal role in preserving Naga City’s historical and cultural identity.

There is also a proliferation of Ancient Landmarks, the Northern Elias Angeles Street hosts three of the most religious and educational institutions across Bicolandia. A living testimony that stood the test of times for centuries; Universidad de Santa Isabel (formerly Colegio de Sta. Isabel) founded in 1868, the Holy Rosary Seminary founded in 1793 which is one of the oldest catholic schools in the Philippines, and, the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

Perhaps, best of all, these streets become alive during the annual September Fiesta in The City of Naga. The Peñafrancia Traslacion route in Naga City begins from the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine along Peñafrancia Avenue, traverses toward Elias Angeles Street, passes through Plaza Quince Martires and Plaza Rizal, then enters Porta Mariae and ends at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. A monumental four-kilometer foot procession observed yearly every second Friday of September. It officially opens the Grand Peñafrancia Festival. The voyadores, male devotees (who are barefoot) by the hundreds of thousands assist in the movement of both modernized andas of Inâ (Our Lady of Peñafrancia) and the Divino Rostro (Divine Face of Jesus) to the cathedral to begin a nine-day novena.

In contemporary times, many change, including names of everything. From buildings, bridges, roads, and, even people. But one important lesson remains, and that is its historic soul. Its identity. And, its story. When it is written about or documented, it becomes immortalized. We will not forget and it will be remembered for eternity. May you be inspired by The Holy Spirit and God Bless!