Hispanic era (1569–1898)

Luneta Promenade in the late 1890s

In pre-Hispanic times, the area of Ermita was originally known as Lagyo in Tagalog. This is reflected in the first record of the barangay in 1582:

On the coast near Manila are Laguo, Malahat, Longalo, Palañac, Vakol, Minacaya, and Cavite. All these villages are in the neighborhood of Cavite, and belong to his Majesty, to whom they pay tribute.

— Miguel de Loarca, Relacion de Yslas Filipinas (1582)^[2]

Lagyo was re-christened in the 17th century as La Hermita, Spanish for "the hermitage", after the fact that a Mexican hermit resided in the area and on this site was built a hermitage housing an image of the Virgin Mary known as the Nuestra Señora de Guia (Our Lady of Guidance). The hermit-priest's name was Juan Fernandez de Leon, who was a hermit in Mexico before relocating to Manila.^[3]

The hermitage has since evolved into Ermita Church, which has been rebuilt several times since the early 17th century.^[4] During the Spanish evacuation of Ternate in present-day Indonesia, the 200 families of mixed Mexican-Filipino-Spanish and Papuan-Indonesian-Portuguese descent who had ruled over the Christianized Sultanate of Ternate and included their sultan who converted, were relocated to Ternate, Cavite, and Ermita, Manila.^[5]

By the 19th century, although still considered as an "arrabal ", which refers to a rural area, urban expansion had slowly reached the northern portion of the district mainly due to the development of the Luneta, also called Bagumbayan, as a promenade at the coast of Manila Bay. The district also saw the construction of the Manila Observatory by Father Federico Faura during the early 1890s, and was once located on a street now renamed after Fr. Faura himself. Ermita then developed a creole language based on Spanish called Ermiteño, which eventually became extinct after the devastation of the Second World War, although it still has a surviving cousin language spoken in nearby Cavite.

American and Commonwealth era (1900–1944)

Burnham Plan of Manila, 1905

Ermita gained renewed prominence during the American and Commonwealth era. As part of Daniel Burnham's plans for Manila influenced by the City Beautiful movement during the early 1900s, Ermita alongside Intramuros' surrounding areas had undergone a drastic redevelopment from being the outskirts to urban districts. In 1901, with the chartering of the city of Manila,^[6] Ermita would be absorbed by the city of Manila when its borders were extended outside the walled Intramuros.

Burnham envisioned the district, especially in the northern portion, to be the center of the Philippine government, redeveloping Luneta into a grand park patterned after that of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Government buildings housing the legislative, executive and judicial branches were also planned to be located in the area. A proposed Philippine capitol was also planned to be built at the eastern tip of Luneta Park but never materialized.^[7]

Aerial view of Ermita District facing Manila Bay

It also became known as the university district, containing the campuses and dormitories of the Philippine Normal University,^[8] University of the Philippines, the Ateneo de Manila, Adamson University, the Assumption College and St. Paul College. The residential portion of Ermita was populated by American residents, who set up such establishments as the Army and Navy Club, and the University Club.^[9]

Aside from its universities, and leisure clubs; Ermita district, as well as its adjacent district, Malate, which both happened to be facing Manila Bay, were once home to Manila's high society and were filled with large, gilded mansions. Manila's wealthiest families used to live in the twin suburbs.

One notable structure also that was built was the Insular Ice Plant, which was designed by consulting architect, Edgar K. Bourne, who was also the head of the Bureau of Architecture in 1902 (under the Philippine Commission).

Second World War (1942–1945)

In February 1945, during the 1945 Battle of Manila, Ermita was the scene of some of the most horrific massacres that occurred during the Second World War. The wife and four children of future President Elpidio Quirino were murdered in Ermita, as was Supreme Court Associate Justice Anacleto Diaz. Between 68% and 85% of Ermita was destroyed during the Battle of Manila, with an estimated total of 100,000 Filipino civilians killed in the city itself.^[10]

Post-war era (1946–present)

After the war, the district slowly transformed from a residential area into a commercial area as the upper classes moved to other cities such as Quezon City and Makati.

Ermita was rebuilt after the devastation of the war. University life remained vibrant therein. However, as decades passed, Ermita started earning a reputation as the red-light district of Manila.^[11] During the first term of Mayor Alfredo Lim, 1992–1998, an effort was made to "clean up" Ermita's image and reputation. However, a local city ordinance prohibiting the establishment of motels, lodging houses and other similar establishments, was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.^[12] As a result of the clean-up efforts, nightlife in the area dwindled though it later picked up with the help of the emergence of the nearby Malate district and the Roxas Boulevard revitalization efforts along Manila Bay.

Recreation

Rizal Park, the widest open urban public park in the country and location of the monument to the national hero José Rizal, is a prominent feature of Ermita. This was the original site for Burnham's planned government center and capitol building. Other sites of interest in Ermita include:

• National Museum of Fine Arts
• National Museum of Anthropology
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Library of the Philippines
• National Archives of the Philippines
• Museo Pambata
• Insurance Commission
• Quirino Grandstand
• Manila Doctors Hospital
• Manila Ocean Park
• Liwasang Bonifacio
• Arroceros Forest Park
• Bonifacio Shrine
• Mehan Garden
• Metropolitan Theater
• Manila Hotel
• The Masonic Temple of Ermita
• Philippine Independent Church
• San Vicente de Paul Church
• Ermita Church
• Philippine General Hospital, the country's largest hospital
• Medical Center Manila

Education

Universidad de Manila, a local university funded by the Manila local government

A number of educational institutions are also found in Ermita, including:

• University of the Philippines Manila
• Adamson University
• Emilio Aguinaldo College
• Santa Isabel College Manila
• Philippine Normal University
• Technological University of the Philippines
• Universidad de Manila (formerly the City College of Manila)
• Manila Science High School
• Araullo High School