Here are the 20 facts about the “oldest” in the Philippines

*Oldest Steel Church*
Despite the discrepancies in the dates of its founding, the San Sebastian
Church is the only steel church in Asia built in the late 18th century. It
should have celebrated its centennial around 1991. Yet, it seems that not
even the Catholic administration paid any interest in its historical
significance or in the fact that it was *Alexander Gustave Eiffel* who
designed it.

*Oldest Restaurant*
New *Toho *Food Center (1888, 422 Tomas Pinpin Street, Binondo, Manila)
Five Chinese friends set this up in Binondo, Manila, where the restaurant
still stands, in a newer structure also on Tomas Pinpin (formerly *San
Jacinto*) Street which was built after a fire razed the wooden building back
in 1984. That explains the slight change in the name. It used to be called
the *Toho Antigua Panciteria.*

*Oldest Province*
*Aklan*, originally known as *Minuro it Akean, *is considered as the oldest
province in the country and believed to have been established as early as
1213 by settlers from Borneo. Its first ruler was *Datu Dinagandan.* In
1399,*Datu* *Kalantiaw* grabbed the throne. In 1433, *Kalantiaw III *formulated
a set of laws that is known today as the *Code of Kalantiaw.*
* *

*Oldest Town*
*Unisan, Quezon* could be the oldest town in the Philippines. The people of
*Unisan* claimed that their town is now 481 years old, having been
established in 1521, the same year that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the
Philippines. All other towns in the country were established not earlier
than 1565, when Spain formally occupied the Philippines as a colony.

A *Malayan queen *named *Ladya* reportedly founded *Calilayan,* the old
name of the town. In 1876, *Calilayan* was renamed *Unisan* which was
derived from the Latin word *uni-sancti*, meaning *"holy saint"*.
(Source: *Philippine
Daily Inquirer*)

*Oldest City*
Cebu City is considered as the oldest city in the country, as this was the
site of the earliest European settlement established by Spanish
conqueror *Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi* in 1565.

*Oldest Fort*
The first Spanish settlement in the country, *Villa del Santisimo Nombre de
Jesus*, was located inside *Fort San Pedro* in Cebu City. The fort’s
construction began in 1565.

*Oldest Street*
*Calle Colon* in *Cebu City* is considered as the oldest street in the
country. Named after explorer *Christopher Columbus, Calle Colon* was first
constructed in 1565 by men of *Miguel Lopez De Legazpi.*



*Oldest Stone Church*
The *Baclayon Church* in *Boho*l is considered as the oldest stone church
in the Philippines. But some historians disagree, claiming that San Agustin
Church in Manila deserves the title.
* Baclayon Church*

* *
*San Agustin Church*
Church historians claim that the cornerstones of San Agustin Church were
laid as early as 1571, 25 years before *Baclayon Church* was built in 1596.
But most people believe the title should be kept by the latter, since it is
situated in the island first occupied by the troops of *Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi,* the country’s first Spanish governor general.
*Bohol* was where a friendship was sealed with blood between *Chieftain
Rajah Sikatuna* and *Legazpi*. The event is known today as *”The Blood
Compact.” *

*Oldest Hospital*
The *San Lazaro Hospital* could be the oldest hospital in the country.
According to Pampango historian *Zoilo Galang*, *the San Lazaro
hospital*was established in 1578;
*Enfermeria de Naga*, 1583; and *Hospital de San Juan de Dios*, 1596.

*Oldest Church Bell*
The oldest church bell in the country is said to be the one found in
Camalaniugan, Cagayan. That bell was reportedly forged in 1595.

*Oldest Bridge*
The *Jones Bridge*, formerly known as *Puente de Espana*, was first built
in 1701. It was rebuilt by the Americans in 1916 and renamed after *Atkinson
Jones.*

*Oldest University*
The *University of San Carlos *(U.S.C.) in Cebu City is considered as the
oldest school in the country and in Asia. Formerly known as the *Colegio de
San Ildefonso*, it was founded by the Spanish Jesuits on August 1, 1595.
This makes the Cebu-based university older than the *University of Santo
Tomas* (1611) in Manila and* Harvard University* (1636) in the United
States.

*The old Semenario-Colegio de San Carlos de Cebu in Martires St. (now M.J.
Cuenco Avenue) near Plaza Independencia*

* San Carlos University*

University of Santo Tomas
The *University of Santo Tomas*, however, contests this title. Formerly
known as the *Colegio de Nuestra Señora Del Rosario,* U.S.T. was the first
school, which got a university status in 1645. U.S.C. became a university in
1948. UST also claimed that the original U.S.C. was closed in 1769 as a
result of the expulsion of the Jesuits. It reopened in 1783 under a new name
and ownership. But the USC officials stick to their claim. The university
observed its 400th foundation day on August 21, 1995. (I was in third year
high school at U.S.T. Education High School)

*Oldest Vocational School*
The *Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades* (DHVCAT) in*Bacolor,
Pampanga* is said to be the oldest vocational school in Asia. *Augustinian
Friar Juan Zita* and civic leader *Don Felino Gil *established the
vocational school on November 4, 1861.

*Oldest Company*
Ayala Corp., one of the largest conglomerates in the country, is also the
oldest existing company around. It was established in 1834 by sugar
barons *Domingo
Roxas* and *Antonio de Ayala.* It was later renamed as *Casa Ayala*, then as
*Ayala y Compania* and recently as Ayala Corp.

*Oldest Bank*
In 1881, *Domingo Roxas*, an ancestor of the *Ayala* family, became one of
the first directors of *Banco Español-Filipino De Isabel II,* which was
founded by virtue of a royal decree issued by *Queen Isabel II.* The bank
issued the country’s first currency notes the following year. Considered as
the first private commercial bank in the country, the bank came to be known
as the Bank of Philippine Islands in 1912. The oldest savings bank was *Monte
de Piedad*, which was established in 1882.

*Oldest Military Supply Shop*
The oldest military supply shop in the country was said to be *Alfredo
Roensch and Co.*

*Oldest Rizal Monument*
What can be considered as the oldest* * in the country is a 20-foot metal
structure standing at a park in *Daet, Camarines Norte*. Its construction
reportedly began on December 30, 1898 and was finished in February 1899. In
comparison, the *Rizal *monument at the former *Luneta *Park was built in
1912.

*Oldest Vice*
The earliest vice among native Filipinos, according to historians, was the
chewing of betel nut or *"nganga"*. It was said that Filipinos had been
chewing betel nut for 3,000 years.
Image Credit *Nganga (Betel Nut)*

*Oldest Insurance Firm*
Insular Life Insurance Company was established on November 26, 1910,
becoming the oldest insurance agency in the country.
Image Credit *Insular Life Insurance*

*Oldest Epics*
In a 1962 study, *E. Arsenio Manuel *said the country had at least 19
epics, which were passed to the present generation from our early ancestors
through oral chanting. Among these so-called ethno epics were 13 epics among
*pagan Filipinos*, 2 among *Christian Filipinos*, and 4 among *Muslim
Filipinos*. These included the *Ilocano epic Lam-ang, Manuvu’s Tuwaang,
Sulod’s Hinilawod and Maranaw’s Bantugan.*
SOURCE: Main sources of information include Zoilo Galang’s Encyclopedia of
the Philippines and Julio Silverio’s *Diksyunaryo ng mga Unang Pinoy.*