Binondo is claimed to be the oldest Chinatown in the world, established 5 centuries ago. The name is derived from Tagalog, referring to the district’s originally hilly terrain. As previous photos show in this thread, many esteros ( canals ) were constructed here in the Spanish colonial period.

After World War II, businesses tended to relocate to Makati.


This photo, from early last century, includes Binondo Church ( where hero of the Philippine Revolution Andres Bonifacio was married in 1895 ) :-