Plaza Lacson

Plaza Lacson
Public square
Plaza Lacson as seen from Carriedo LRT Station. The center of the plaza is dominated by a statue of Arsenio Lacson, made in the 1970s by sculptor Eduardo Castrillo
Dedicated to:	Arsenio Lacson
Owner:	City of Manila
Location:	Plaza Santa Cruz Street, Santa Cruz Manila, Philippines
Coordinates: 14°35′56″N 120°58′51″E / 14.59889°N 120.98083°E / 14.59889; 120.98083Coordinates: 14°35′56″N 120°58′51″E / 14.59889°N 120.98083°E / 14.59889; 120.98083

Plaza Lacson, also known by its old name, Plaza (de) Goiti, is a public square in Santa Cruz, Manila. It is bounded by Plaza Santa Cruz and Escolta Street to the west, Carlos Palanca Street (formerly Echague Street) to the south, and Carriedo Street to the east. Although the plaza is not considered the center of Santa Cruz, as it is located behind the Santa Cruz Church rather than in front of it, the plaza is considered to be one of the most important squares in Manila.

Originally named after Martin de Goiti, who founded the City of Manila in 1571, it was renamed by Mayor Lito Atienza in 2003 after Arsenio Lacson, who previously served as mayor of Manila from 1952 to 1962.

Prior to World War II, Plaza Lacson was considered the heart of Manila, and constituted part of the city's downtown area, which also included Plaza Santa Cruz, Rizal Avenue and Escolta Street. Commercial activity shifted to here from Binondo in large part due to infrastructure improvements made during the American colonial period to improve access to the northern half of the city, which were centered on the plaza. These included the completion of the Santa Cruz Bridge in 1902, and the opening of the Manila tram system a few years later, which had its central terminal at the plaza. The area around the plaza was largely commercial, with bars and restaurants that catered largely to American servicemen either visiting or stationed in the Philippines, complementing the luxury stores along Escolta and the theaters around Plaza Santa Cruz.

On June 21, 1919, the Philippines' first transport-related terrorist attack took place at the plaza, when a bomb hidden inside a parcel was lit by a Meralco mechanic as a tram was about to enter the Plaza Goiti station. Though discovered by the conductor, thus avoiding passenger casualties, the bomb killed a thirteen-year-old newsboy and injured eight other pedestrians after the conductor threw the bomb onto the street. The attack, which culminated five weeks after some 600 Meralco employees affiliated with the Congreso Obrero de Filipinas went on strike, not only derailed tram operations until mid-July, but also indirectly led to the 1920 Manila massacre, which led to the deaths of 11 people, including six policemen.