The Calle Rosario, though originally named after similar roads in Spain, was actually where numerous Chinese-Filipino shopkeepers did business. Manila was ruled by Spain for over 300 hundred years, and became an American colony in 1898. The Calle Rosario, though originally named after similar roads in Spain, was actually where numerous Chinese-Filipino shopkeepers did business. Manila was ruled by Spain for over 300 hundred years, and became an American colony in 1898.