THROWBACK: What was EDSA corner Ortigas like without the flyovers?

We’re all too familiar with this bustling roadway that’s always packed with private and public utility vehicles.

Located in the heart of Metro Manila, the corner of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Ortigas Avenue is a major four-way intersection connecting the cities to parts of Quezon City, San Juan, and more. But aside from the often-used intersection, it also features the EDSA–Ortigas Interchange or the Ortigas Flyover.

It cost 400 million pesos and was built in 1991 as one of the significant infrastructure projects of then-Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. Coming in from opposite ends along EDSA, this interchange sits at the boundary between Mandaluyong and Quezon City.

Those from Makati on the northbound side of EDSA could use this to go towards Greenhills, San Juan, and Quezon City. On the southbound lane of EDSA, those going to Pasig and parts of Cainta could use this without dealing with the Ortigas-EDSA intersection.

While everyone knows what it looks like nowadays, one cannot help but wonder and question what it was like before the towering flyovers were built.

Travel back in time

Since my memory can only go so far as the eighties, the only structures on the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue were the iconic Tropical Hut restaurant. Beside it was a row of commercial establishments with a  bank, Mercury Drug, and others.

They are gone now, while a huge hole currently occupies this spot. I also remember it had access to Florida Street, which leads to Connecticut Street, where two popular gas stations were located across one another. This was a common bus stop back in the day, more popularly known as “Gate 5”.

On the other side of Tropical Hut was a market or a row of commercial spaces. This is where the Blas F. Ople Building, or Philippine Overseas and Employment Administration (POEA), now stands.

Across the street is the corner of EDSA and Ortigas, going towards Valle Verde and Pasig City. Beside it used to be a huge grass-covered lot with a football field. But in 1990, the said lot became the location of the first Robinsons Galleria Mal. This corner is also now where the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace Church, or EDSA Shrine, with the Virgin Mary sculpture known as the “Our Lady of EDSA,” can also be found.

Built-in 1989 to commemorate the People Power Revolution, the historical shrine is the site of two peaceful demonstrations that toppled Presidents Ferdinand Marcos (1986) and Joseph Estrada (2001).

Crossing over on the other side of Galleria was, and still is, the Corinthian Gardens private subdivision. However, there are now commercial buildings lined along Ortigas Avenue.

For the sake of progress?

Before the flyovers were built, the EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue intersection was one of the largest, spanning the entire stretch of EDSA. Left turns were allowed on every corner until the elevated flyovers took over. It was nice to look at, and it was large and wide enough that there were also pedestrian crossings along EDSA on all sides.

Imagine having stoplights and intersections along EDSA. In fact, before reaching Ortigas, there was even a stoplight intersection along Corinthian Road corner EDSA.

Indeed it was a different time back then. From the EDSA Ortigas intersection, one could see the Meralco Building that still stands today and the PHILCOMCEN Building, which was home to many radio stations.

That was a simple time when there were hardly any tall structures in that area, and malls were still unheard of. Plus, fewer cars and public utility vehicles were going around.

Traffic? Of course, there was, but this only occurred during rush hour and heavy downpours. But that was incomparable to what we usually experience today simply because of the sheer volume of vehicles passing this route daily. Such is the price of progress. 

Do you wish our roads and landscapes were preserved? Or do you prefer to savor the supposed benefits these mega-structures offer now?