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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-23/luneta-1899.avif" alt="Luneta Promenade in the late 1890s" loading="lazy" />
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(Luneta (Bagumbayan) Promenade in the late 1890s, Wikipedia)
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<h4>
Early History and Spanish Era
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Ermita traces its roots back to the early Spanish colonial period. The name "Ermita" comes from the Spanish word La Hermita (hermitage), referring to a small chapel or place of retreat. Legend has it that a hermit once lived in the area where a chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Guia (Our Lady of Guidance) was later built. The church, constructed in 1606, became a significant religious site for both the Spanish colonizers and the native population. Nuestra Señora de Guia is considered one of the oldest Marian images in the Philippines, and devotion to her continues to this day.
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<p>
During the Spanish period, Ermita was predominantly a quiet, rural district. Its proximity to <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3008/the-history-of-intramuros-the-walled-city-manila" class="news_link">Intramuros</a>, the seat of Spanish government and religious power, influenced its development. Wealthy Spaniards and prominent Filipino mestizos began to build homes in the area, making it a residential hub. 
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The History of Ermita, Manila: A Journey Through Time