Bonifacio Drive
Bonifacio Drive is a road running for approximately in a north-south direction between Intramuros and Port Area in Manila, Philippines. The boulevard is also designated as Radial Road 1 (R-1) of Manila's arterial road network, National Route 120 (N120) of the Philippine highway network and an auxiliary route of Asian Highway 26 (AH26). The boulevard is named for national hero Andrés Bonifacio, the "Supremo" of the Katipunan and thus the father of the 1896 Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire. Another street in Manila is also named Bonifacio Drive. It is located at the Tutuban Center  shopping complex in Tondo. History. The road was previously called Malecon Drive during the American period. During Spanish rule, it was known simply as Malecón (Spanish for waterfront esplanade) which the road was prior to the reclamation of South Harbor (Port Area) during the late 19th century. It was also known alternatively as Paseo de María Cristina, after the then Queen of Spain Maria Cristina, or Paseo de Santa Lucia. It was later renamed to Calle A. Bonifacio. It used to connect Luneta Park to the southern bank of Pasig River, where the Anda Monument was previously located. After World  War II, the monument was transferred to its present site at the road's intersection with Calle Aduana, which was converted into a present-day roundabout called Anda Circle. In 1975, Roxas Bridge (also known as Del Pan Bridge and in the present-day as Mel Lopez Bridge) was built to connect Bonifacio Drive to the northern parts of Manila across Pasig River. In 2019, Bonifacio Drive's section from Anda Circle to Roxas Bridge was transferred to the newly-renamed Mel Lopez Boulevard by virtue of Republic Act No. 11280. Route description. Bonifacio Drive is the northern extension of  Roxas Boulevard from Padre Burgos Avenue and Katigbak Parkway in Rizal Park to Anda Circle. At the traffic circle, it intersects Andrés Soriano Avenue (formerly "Calle Aduana"), the main road to Intramuros, and Roberto Oca Street, a road to Port Area. North of the traffic circle, Bonifacio Drive continues as Mel Lopez Boulevard heading into North Harbor and the districts of San Nicolas and Tondo via Roxas Bridge (also known as Del Pan Bridge and Mel Lopez Bridge) over the Pasig River. Landmarks. Establishments along Bonifacio Drive include the Manila Hotel, the Department of Public Works and Highways headquarters, Philippine  Ports Authority headquarters, the Port Area office of National Power Corporation (which once housed the MMDA Workers' Inn), and the Santa Lucia Gate. Located on the east of the entire stretch of the road is the Club Intramuros Golf Course.