Bridge of Isabel II

The Bridge of Isabel II is a historic bridge in the City of Imus in Cavite province, Philippines. The two-span stone arch bridge that was completed in 1857 was the site of the Battle of Imus, also known as the Battle of Imus River, on September 3, 1896 between the Filipino revolutionaries and the soldiers of the Spanish colonial government.

Location
The Bridge of Isabel II in Imus was the first permanent bridge constructed over the Imus River, one of the longest rivers in the province, near the border with then municipality of Bacoor. The two-lane bridge connects Salinas Street in Barangay Palico, the last barangay of Imus before Bacoor, to the poblacion (town center) of Imus.

The southern end of the bridge lands on General E. Topacio St. at the entrance to the former location of the Estate House of the Recollects, which then owned the Imus Estate (Hacienda de Imus), which covers the towns of Imus and Dasmariñas, and parts of Bacoor and Kawit. The estate house was the last stronghold of the Spaniards during the Battle of Imus in September 1896. The location is now the site of Cuartel or Camp Pantaleon Garcia, the Cavite headquarters of the Philippine National Police. Only the tall stone walls that surrounds the estate house is what remains of the former property.

Features
The two-lane Bridge of Isabel II was built with stone masonry. The bridge measures about 158 ft landing-to-landing with a width of about 24.5 ft.

In the middle of the bridge are sitting areas (where the historical markers are now placed) built during the construction of the bridge. The outline of the sitting areas when viewed from the top, follows the shape of the central pier of the bridge where the eastward pointed end points toward the source of the river thus deflecting the flow of the incoming water to prevent erosion. The center pier is about 40.5 ft long from the western tip to the point end. The width of the central pier and the sitting areas is about 16 ft.

History
The Bridge of Isabel II was constructed by the Augustinian Recollect fathers of Imus, headed by lay brother Matias Carbonell, also the overseer of the Hacienda de Imus (Imus Estate) of the Recollects. The road bridge was the first road that connects Imus to Manila through Bacoor. Construction of the bridge was started in 1856 during the governorship in Cavite of Col. Gabriel de Llamas and Governor-General Manuel Crespo.

The bridge was completed the following year in 1857. It was named after Queen Isabella II of Spain who was then the reigning monarch of Spain during the bridge's completion.

Battle of Imus
On September 3, 1896 during the Battle of Imus, the northern span of the bridge was dismantled by the Filipino revolutionaries as an offense tactic to combat the Spanish soldiers coming in from Manila. With the revolutionaries hidden behind trenches, the marching soldiers would not see the cut until they have traversed part of the span thus entrapping them. The tactic was a success resulting in the victory of the revolutionaries.

The broken span of the bridge was temporarily replaced by a wooden structure. It was later rebuilt during the American colonial period.

Recognition
After the completion of the bridge in 1857, a silver medal was awarded by Governor-General Ramon Montero, the successor of Manuel Crespo, to Matias Carbonell, the builder of the bridge.

In 1939, a historical marker was installed on the bridge by the Philippines Historical Committee, which is now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Renovation
The bridge was renovated during the mayorship of Ayong Maliksi (1988-1998). The cosmetic refurbishing was made possible through the joint efforts of the Pugad Lawin sa Imus, Association of the Barangay Captains of Imus, and the Cavite Historical Society-Imus Chapter headed by Cesar Virata.

With the town's adoption of the "Flag Capital" title, the stone rails were painted with the blue and red colors following their appearance on the Philippine flag, blue half above the red half. The flag colors alludes to Imus as the site where the present flag of the Philippines was first raised. The central sitting areas were repaired, painted and the wall tiled. A monument commemorating the Battle of Imus was erected between the bridge and the entrance to the Cuartel.

Viewing the bridge
The bridge is only visible from the deck of the bridge. There are no parks or public space where the side of the bridge and its stone arches can be viewed as the nearby land are private properties.