The history of the Philippines has been shaped—in a significant part—by water. Here's what we've learnt from our visit to the historic water reservoir, the El Deposito in San Juan
There is a beautiful park in San Juan City that I often like to frequent. Surrounded by fire trees, the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine is a cornerstone of the local community. It is an aide-memoire of sorts, a reminder to the proud people of San Juan that it was in their very city where Filipinos first took a stand. Commemorating the "first major battle" of the Philippine Revolution against the Spaniards, the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine is a tribute to the brave Katipuneros who fought in 1896. Now immortalised through a sculpture made by Eduardo Castrillo, the battle remains in history as one of the most important, having also kindled the revolutionary spirit of the oppressed Filipino nation.
Mere metres away from this incredible monument is a lesser-known though equally important site: the El Deposito.
Previously eclipsed by history, the El Deposito was often overlooked until the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) began its cleanup in the late 2010s. Now, it is open to the public as a historical site and museum.
To understand the significance of El Deposito, one must first understand the importance of water. A basic necessity and an incredible resource, water continues to be the lifeblood of our archipelago. The first settlements in the Philippines were established around bodies of water: lakes, springs, rivers, and seas, much like most civilisations around the world. In Manila, the venerable Pasig River became the community's major artery, from which trade and commerce first became possible.
But with the advent of colonisation came the establishment of the pueblo, a township that allowed Spaniards more control over the Filipinos. With this came the problem of where to get water. Some families collected rainwater, and then boiled and filtered it down for purification. At the El Deposito museum, a replica of the Rizal family's water purification system (essentially two pots that allowed the family to boil and filter) is proudly on display. Cross-sections of filtration barrels—filled with charcoal and ash—can also be seen: a testimony to the struggle of the Filipino family for access to clean, potable water.
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