Time Travel : Touring around Fort Santiago
March 11, 2016 |
| Fort Santiago's main entrance. |
It was raining when we visited the place so we asked "mamang kotsero" (cab driver) to drop us off at the Fort Santiago entrance. There were few modern establishments built in the area but the old Filipino-Spanish cultures and structures were still very visible. We also spotted many "guardia civil" (this is what the guards are called during Spanish era) along the road.
Intramuros (Spanish term for "within the walls) or also known as "Walled City" is one of the oldest and history-rich place in the Philippines. It was the original city of Manila and the center of the government, religion and military during the Spanish regime. Located at the southern part of Pasig River, the walls covered an area of 64 hectares of land that served as a protection and defense against any possible foreign invasions.
First stop in our itinerary was Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago or Fuerto de Santiago is a citadel first built by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a spanish conquistador and founder of the city of Manila. This mighty fortress located at the mouth of Pasig River, served as the first line of defense of the then newly established city of Manila. Today, it is one of the top tourist spot in the Philippines housing a beautiful and relaxing park with benches and picnic tables, Jose Rizal shrine and a museum dedicated to our national hero (this is where Dr. Jose Rizal spent his last days before he was executed through a firing squad on December 30, 1896).
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| one of the two fountains located in the middle of the park |
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| Lovely Doves that'll make you feel like you're in Milan (haha). My friend is really seizing the moment with the birds |
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| a statue of the late President Osmena and Gen. Douglas MacArthur |
These shoe prints embedded in the pavement greeted me as I entered the gate of Fort Santiago. I followed the shoe prints and it led me to a cell where Gat Jose Rizal was held during his imprisonment. These markings were placed in the area where he passed on his way to Bagumbayan from his cell in Fort Santiago marking his last walk to martyrdom. (I wasn't able to take a picture of the cell with a statue of Gat Jose Rizal standing behind the bars)
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| A statue of Dr. Jose Rizal |
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| Postigo De La Nuestra Senora Del Soledad ( Postern of our Lady of Solitude) |
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| Ruins of an old military barracks. |
This cross marks the final resting place of approximately 600 Filipinos and Americans who died during the World War II. Their remains were found in a nearby dungeon and the cause of death were said to be suffocation and starvation.
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| An over sized head statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, with me as a photo bomber haha |
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| Dr. Jose Rizal's book, Noli Me Tangere |
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| Dr. Jose Rizal's book, El Filibusterismo |
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| Dining table used by the Rizal family |
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| Dr. Jose Rizal's suit jacket. Cute huh? Indeed our national hero is a small guy but with a very big and brave mind and soul |
My time travel was indeed full of fascination, learning, fun and amazement. For a couple of hours I got to see and experience how life was back then. We were colonized by the Spaniards for 300 years and I can't imagine how hard it was for our forefathers to be a slave in our own land. Thanks to those who gave their lives and fought for our freedom.
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| Selfie with the Guardia Sibil |
Will be posting a travel guide soon as to how to go to Intramuros, entrance fees and hours of operations.
Thank you for virtually travelling to the past with me!
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