Recto Avenue

Claro M. Recto Avenue, more popularly known as simply Recto, is the principal commercial thoroughfare in north-central Manila, Philippines. It spans six districts just north of the Pasig River in what is generally considered as Manila's old downtown area.

Recto's western terminus is at an intersection with Mel Lopez Boulevard (Radial Road 10) at the district boundaries of Tondo and San Nicolas close to the Manila North Harbor. It runs northeast before curving to the east at Juan Luna Street and Estero de Binondo. It then passes through the Divisoria shopping area of Manila south of the Tutuban railway station until it curves southeast past the A. Rivera Street junction. East of Rizal Avenue and Santa Cruz district, Recto intersects with the streets of the University Belt area of Quiapo and Sampaloc before terminating at Legarda Street and Mendiola Street at the district boundaries of Quiapo and Sampaloc.

The LRTA's Line 2 system runs along its T. Alonzo–Legarda Street segment. It has a short extension into San Miguel and towards Malacañang Palace compound as Mendiola Street.

History
Recto Avenue was developed by sections in various time periods during the course of Spanish rule. The main section leading to the coast in San Nicolas and Tondo from Binondo was named Paseo de Azcárraga, after the Spanish Filipino Prime Minister of Spain, Marcelo Azcárraga.

In the Santa Cruz district, the road was divided into Calle General Izquierdo, Calle Paz and Calle Bilibid after the Spanish Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutiérrez and the creeks (esteros) that ran through the district, respectively. In Sampaloc, the road was named Calle Iris, which terminated at Calle Alix/Plaza Santa Ana (now Legarda Street). The name Paseo de Azcárraga was extended to include the full length of the street, which was, at one point, also called Paseo de Rey Felipe 2° after King Philip II of Spain.

On July 7, 1892, in a building numbered 72 Calle Azcárraga, at the intersection with Calle Sagunto (now Santo Cristo) in Tondo, Andrés Bonifacio founded the revolutionary society named Katipunan.

In the early 1900s, Azcárraga was a theater-and-restaurant row, with Teatro Libertad and Zorrilla Theatre attracting the well-dressed crowd to zarzuela shows and operas that ran on weekends. The section extending westward from Tutuban station used to be traversed by an old Manila Railroad branch leading to the Port of Manila, while its section eastward from Calle Santo Cristo was traversed by the tranvía.

Originally terminating at Calle Angngalo (Angalo) on the former coastline of Manila in San Nicolas at the west, Azcárraga was extended into the new reclamation accommodated for the Manila North Harbor in the 20th century. There were also plans to extend Azcárraga eastward to Santa Mesa; however, this extension was never realized. In 1961, the avenue was given its present name in honor of Filipino senator Claro Mayo Recto.

In 1997, construction of the LRT Line 2 viaduct, which traverses initially along Recto Avenue's center island from T. Alonzo Street eastwards, began. Train operations on the Recto segment began in 2004.

Cultural references
Recto Avenue is infamous as a center of document forgery. Counterfeiters openly advertise their services, although the actual counterfeiting is done elsewhere. The forged documents they sell include IDs, receipts, driver's licenses, diplomas, employment references, theses, pilot's licenses, and seaman's certificates. Due to this, locals have sarcastically dubbed the area as "Recto University". The mayors of Manila have ordered several police raids on the area; however, some police officers reportedly accept bribes from the counterfeiters.

Transportation
Recto Avenue is a major stop on three lines of the Metro Manila Transit System.
 * Doroteo Jose station at Rizal Avenue served by LRTA Line 1.
 * Recto station at Rizal Avenue served by LRTA Line 2.
 * Tutuban railway station at Dagupan Street served by Philippine National Railways.

The route is also served by several bus companies and jeepneys. Additional stations will be built along the road as part of the Line 2 west expansion project.

Landmarks

 * Shopping malls
 * 168 Shopping Mall
 * 999 Shopping Mall
 * D8 Mall (formerly Benisons Shopping Center)
 * Isetann Cinerama Recto
 * Lucky Chinatown
 * Odeon Terminal Mall
 * Tutuban Center


 * Universities and colleges
 * Access Computer College - Recto
 * Far Eastern University
 * Informatics College - Recto
 * Philippine College of Health Sciences
 * San Sebastian College – Recoletos
 * STI Colleges Recto
 * University of the East


 * Other notable buildings
 * Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila
 * Manila City Jail (Old Bilibid Prison)
 * Manila Grand Opera Hotel
 * Tutuban railway station