The William A. Jones Memorial Bridge, commonly known as Jones Bridge, is an arched girder bridge spanning the Pasig River in Manila. Named after U.S. legislator William Atkinson Jones, who played a crucial role in granting legislative autonomy to the Philippines through the Jones Law, the bridge was constructed in the 1910s to replace the historic Puente de España (Bridge of Spain). This bridge connects Quintin Paredes Road in the Binondo district to Padre Burgos Avenue in the Ermita district.
ABOVE: The black lamps that line the street contrast with, and illuminate, the colorful Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch—the gateway to Chinatown.
ABOVE: The black lamps that line the street contrast with, and illuminate, the colorful Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch—the gateway to Chinatown.
The initial construction of Jones Bridge was commissioned by the City Government of Manila in 1919, with the Philippine Bureau of Public Works completing the project in 1920. It was designed to replace the Puente de España, which had spanned the Pasig River since the Spanish colonial era and had been the site of several bridges since 1630. After the Puente de España collapsed due to heavy rains in September 1914, a temporary truss bridge was used while the new bridge was being built.
Jones Bridge was part of a grand plan by urban planner Daniel Burnham, who envisioned Manila’s rivers as key features, similar to the Seine River in Paris and the canals of Venice. Although Burnham’s plan was overseen by William E. Parsons, Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano finalized the bridge’s design following the passage of the Jones Act. Arellano, inspired by Haussmann’s renovation of Paris, designed the bridge with three arches supported by two heavy piers and adorned it with statues of boys on dolphins reminiscent of those on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris. Four statues, collectively known as La Madre Filipina (The Philippine Motherland), were created by sculptor Martinez and placed on concrete plinths at the bridge’s ends.
During World War II, the bridge was renamed Banzai Bridge by Japanese occupiers. The Japanese Army bombed the bridge as American troops advanced during the Battle of Manila, causing extensive damage and permanently destroying one of the four La Madre Filipina statues. A Bailey bridge was temporarily installed to maintain vehicle traffic while the main bridge was reconstructed.
Following World War II, the Philippine Bureau of Public Works and the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads undertook the reconstruction of Jones Bridge using large, deep steel girders. This reconstruction removed all original ornamentation and replaced the neoclassical design with a more utilitarian appearance. The remaining three La Madre Filipina statues were removed; one was relocated to Rizal Park, and the other two were placed at the Court of Appeals Main Building. The original plinths were demolished.
In 1998, as part of the Philippine Centennial Independence celebrations, a partial restoration was undertaken by architect Conrad Onglao, commissioned by then-First Lady Amelita Ramos. This restoration replaced the post-modern steel design with stone balustrades. Under Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, thematic lamp posts and illuminated steel girders were added, though these changes were met with mixed reactions. Additionally, two fu dogs were placed at the south side of the bridge, introducing a Chinese element that diverged from the original neoclassical design.
OLD PHOTO | The bridge as it looked before its renovation and transformation into what it is today. The spot has always been a favorite of tourists and photographers for sunset shoots.
OLD PHOTO | The bridge as it looked before its renovation and transformation into what it is today. The spot has always been a favorite of tourists and photographers for sunset shoots.
The major redevelopment of Jones Bridge in 2019, announced by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, aimed to restore the bridge to its near-original architecture. This included the return of the three surviving La Madre Filipina statues and the replication of the fourth statue, which had been destroyed during the war. Jose Acuzar, owner of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, was commissioned to design and build Beaux-Arts-style lamp posts similar to those on Paris’s Pont Alexandre III. The four plinths for the La Madre Filipina statues were reconstructed to serve as pedestals for the returning sculptures.
The La Madre Filipina statues, each representing different aspects of nationhood during the Philippines’ transition from a U.S. colony to independence, were carefully reinstated during the 2019 redevelopment. The Statue Gratitude, originally located at the southeast portion of the bridge, was relocated to Rizal Park after World War II and was eventually returned to its original location after 74 years. The Statue Democracy, which was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945, was replicated in 2019 using archival materials from the National Library of the Philippines and placed at the southwest corner of the bridge. The Statue Progress, situated on the northwest portion of the bridge and symbolizing labor, education, and power, had its replica installed in June 2021 alongside the Statue Justice. The original statue, located on the grounds of the Court of Appeals, was deemed too fragile for relocation. Similarly, the Statue Justice, found on the northeast side of the bridge and representing law, order, and equality, saw a replica installed in June 2021, while the original remained at the Court of Appeals due to its fragility.
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