Perhaps one of the most famous ancient bridges is the Puente del Capricho, best known for its mention in the book El FIlibusterismo. Located in an unassuming forest area in Laguna, the bridge's Spanish name translates to "bridge of caprice". Today, locals know it as Tulay Pigi.

In fact, the bridge itself has a depressing history: it was built on the backs of indios, who manually built and shaped the bridge, under the cruelty of a Franciscan prayle (friar). Its original construction began in 1851 but was never finished due to faulty engineering. Though officials at the time had wanted it demolished, it remains at its site to this day and is an archaic reminder of the Spaniards' caprices, which forced Filipino labourers to build a bridge that was never quite finished. 

Meet the Puente Colgante: also known as the Puente de Claveria, this particular bridge was the first steel suspension bridge in Asia. It was a magnificent sight to behold during its time and connected the Manileño districts of Quiapo and Ermita all the way to locales across the Pasig River. Completed in 1852, the bridge had been commissioned by a man named Jose Joaquin de Ynchausti at a time when commercial activity flourished in Binondo. Sadly, it has since been replaced by the Manuel L Quezon Bridge. 

Read more: The History of Makati City: The Country's Major Financial Hub

You may know of the Jones Bridge already. Today, it stands proudly spanning through the Pasig River. But did you know that the Jones Bridge that stands today was not the original that was built in 1916? The original Jones Bridge was sadly destroyed during World War II. It had originally been a magnificent work of art, designed by architect Juan Arellano, who envisioned a bridge in neoclassical style, with fantastic sculptures called the La Madre. After this was destroyed in the war, the bridge was left, bare but usable. In 2019, the government allotted a budget to refurbish the bridge and added new lights, lamp posts, and even a few replicas of the La Madre. 

There's been some buzz about the San Juanico bridge lately. Though we can't say that it has entirely been forgotten, some people do seem to forget its history. Though it is a beautiful bridge, it did come at a cost. Built during the Marcos regime, it was originally dubbed "The Bridge of Love", and the structure was dedicated by the former president to his wife, Imelda. The Martial Law Museum has dubbed the San Juanico Bridge as an unnecessary project of the time, considering the fact that Leyte and Samar (which the bridge connects) were still relatively underdeveloped. The budget was a whopping $21.9 million dollars, which was a huge sum at the time. Its name is also a grim reminder of the troubles of the Martial Law period, as there is a popular torture method that was also named after the bridge.

Today, the San Juanico bridge is gearing up to be a popular tourist site, complete with a lights show schedule every weekend.

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