Intramuros: Then and Now

on Saturday, May 7, 2011

Before the Spanish

The site of Intramuros was originally a large and prosperous Malayan Muslim settlement named Maynilad. The name came from may nilad,
nilad being a water plant whose star-shaped flowers clustered in abundance along the low-lying riverbanks. The strategic location of

Maynilad, being on the Pasig River and the Manila Bay, made it an ideal location for the locals to trade crafts and produce with other
peoples of then pre-Hispanic Philippines and other Asian countries, especially with Chinese merchants. Maynilad was also the seat of power
for native chiefs that ruled the area before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil.

Spanish Rule

In 1565, Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi began to set foot on Maynilad. Legaspi and his men waged clashes with
the natives before they were able to finally establish themselves in the area and have a peace agreement with the local leaders, who, in
turn, turned over Maynilad to the Spanish. Citing the strategic economic, political and military importance of Manila, Legaspi promptly
declared Manila as the capital of the then new Spanish colony of the Philippines on June 24, 1571. The King of Spain, delighted at the new
conquest done by Legaspi and his men, awarded Manila a coat of arms and declared it Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad ("Distinguished and
ever loyal city"). Planning in the City of Manila was first manifested in the Spanish period plan for Intramuros, which was based on King
Philip II's Royal Ordinance issued on July 3, 1573 in San Lorenzo, Spain.

Intramuros served as the center of political, military and religious power of the Spaniards during the time that the Philippines was a colony
of Spain. Inside Intramuros were Roman Catholic churches, like the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church , and convents and
church-run schools, which were usually being run by religious orders such as the Dominicans, Augustinians and Franciscans; the Governor's
Palace, the official residence of the Spanish governor-general to the Philippines before it was officially moved to MalacaƱang Palace.
Malacanang Palace is the official residence of the president of the Philippines. The palace is located along the north bank of the
Pasig River in Manila. It is called Palasyo ng Malakanyang in Filipino, and is depicted on the verso (back) side of the 20-; and Fort
Santiago.
. A defence fortress built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Originally, it stoods the palisade of Rajah Soliman, chieftain of Maynilad.
Located at the mouth of the Pasig River, it was once the primer defence fort of the Spanish Empire in the Philippines. It was, the main
Spanish garrison in the archipelago where martyr Jose Rizal was once held by Spanish authorities. Only Spaniards were allowed inside
Intramuros; the natives and Chinese residents were only limited by the Spanish authorities to live outside the walls of Intramuros.

World War II

During World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority
of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough,
Intramuros was used by the Japan (Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of
islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south,

Hokkaido , Honshese as their garrison and prison and was severely damaged, along with most parts of Manila, during the Allied bombings
to liberate the city from Japanese occupation.

Present Day

At present, Intramuros is the only district of Manila where old Spanish-era influences were retained. Much of the development of present-
day Manila occurred outside the gates of Intramuros, leaving the old walls, streets and churches of Intramuros minimally untouched by
modernization. The old moats that surrounded Intramuros have been transformed into a golf course where locals and foreign nationals play
the sport. The garrison that was Fort Santiago is now a tourist spot where visitors could see how Manila was like during the Spanish Era. The
old cobblestone streets of Intramuros are now sites for cafes that cater to a variety of clientele and cultural presentations that feature native
Filipino heritage.

Popular Historical Sites

San Agustin Church and Museum
The only structure that survived WWII in Intramuros, the San Agustin Church is the oldest in the Philippines. It was built in the 16th century and is still in active use to this day. It also houses a museum that includes a collection of religious icons and treasures of old Manila.

Fort Santiago
This military fortification used to be the seat of government during the Spanish times. It is now designated as a shrine in honor of the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. It was in this fort where he was held before he faced the firing squad in nearby Luneta. In fact you can trace his final footsteps cast in brass at Fort Santiago.

Rizal Shrine
The building where Dr. Rizal was held has been converted into a museum that houses the national hero’s memorabilia. Among these are a piece of his vertebrae, the first draft of Noli Me Tangere and the original manuscript of Mi Ultimo Adios.

Manila Cathedral
The cathedral that is the current seat of the Manila Archbishop was reconstructed in 1951. The current Romanesque structure is the 6th church to be built on this site after a succession of earthquakes, fires and battles that destroyed the previous structures.

Casa Manila
A faithfully restored Spanish home that showcases the artifacts of a typical home in the Spanish times. It was a project of the former first lady Imelda Marcos.

Inside Intramuros are several historical sites that a visitor to the Philippines should not miss, the Manila Cathedral Church, the San Agustin Church, and Fort Santiago.

  • The Manila Cathedral, also known as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is the fifth stone church of the Philippines. It is literally a time narrative, from ruins and ravages to rising and restorations. Although it has been ruined and reconstructed several times, the church still remains as one of the tour highlights in any trip to Intramuros. When viewed from above, the Manila Cathedral appears as a giant cross.
  • The San Agustin church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Built in 1599, it was also destroyed and rebuilt several times. It is the first European stone church to be built in the Philippines, designed in Spanish architectural structure. The church also houses the remains of the Spanish rulers, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Juan de Salcedo and Martin de Goiti who are buried and laid to rest in a tomb, underneath the church. It is an immense structure of thick walls of Corinthian and Ionic design.
  • Fort Santiago used to be the seat of the colonial powers of both Spain and the U.S. It was also a dreaded prison under the Spanish regime and the scene of countless military police atrocities during the Japanes occupation. Here, too, Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, spent his last hours before his execution on Bagumbayan. (now Rizal Park).

For most Filipinos, Intramuros is not just an old city, it is living history. And although it may not have been preserved the way it should have rightfully been, Intramuros still is an important landmark in Philippine history.

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