INTRAMUROS: The Walled City of Manila, Philippines

We had a quick cultural tour in Intramuros just last week and I just wanted to share my experience inside the Walled City. But before we start, let me give you a quick history of Intramuros:

Intramuros (latin for “within the walls”) is the oldest historical district center in a strategic location within Manila. It is also called the “Walled City”, while those district located outside the walls are called “Extramuros” (latin for “outside the walls”). Intramuros was previously known as Maynilad during the rule of Rajah Soliman. This is where people from various places come to trade goods. Unfortunately, the fort was destroyed by the fire when the Spaniards came to conquer the place. After the Spaniards made a peace pact with the councils of the Rajahs, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi declared that area (Manila) as the new capital of the Spanish Colony. The high walls were then constructed to protect the city from invaders and within those walls were roads, churches and schools where designs were based on medieval castles.

If only these walls could speak, we could have probably heard a lot of untold stories. Up to date, these high walls still stand majestically, along with the other original buildings that have already been reconstructed.

“WELCOME TO INTRAMUROS”

Note: I had to take this picture at night because this place is so busy during the day that I couldn’t even get a decent shot of it.

Who would have thought that a place like this actually exists in Manila? I felt like I went back in time upon entering the walls of Intramuros. I felt ecstatic seeing old buildings – like I was just there suspended within the Spanish era.

FIRST STOP: Casa Manila

Casa Manila is one of the grand houses located in one of the four original villages in Intramuros. It now serves as a museum with restaurants and a hotel, and this is what it looks like now:

My favorite place inside Casa Manila was the Casa Manila Patio. The whole place is just breathtaking that I felt like I could just stay there all day.

NEXT STOP: Manila Cathedral

“WALKING ALONG THE STREETS OF INTRAMUROS”

“THE MANILA CATHEDRAL”

Upon entering the Cathedral, I took in the vastness of it and felt calmness taking over every aspect of me. The ceilings were so high that I couldn’t help but admire every corner of it.

FINAL STOP: Fort Santiago

Now this is what I have been looking forward to seeing. Fort Santiago is the oldest Spanish fortress in the Philippines. Growing up, I always get to read about this place in almost every history book there is. Now, I finally get to see it in person.

Walking around Fort Santiago

“Oca Villamiel’s Children of War”

Oca Villamiel’s Children of War portrays the victims of tragedies. Inside these cages are dolls made out of scavenged toys from the Payatas dump site.

“The ruins of Rajah Sulayman Theater”

I was saddened upon seeing the pictures inside the jars. As written on the sign board, “The faces are representations of the countless lives lost as effect of wars and how fleeting history has become, subjecting it to neglect and revisionism.” That right there, along with the “Children of War”, broke my heart. I hope we would all learn from our history – taking into account all the sacrifices our ancestors made just for us to have a brighter and more comfortable future. May these previous wars serve as a lesson for all of us to unite and to believe in the concept of solidarity – that whatever it is we may all be facing, we can surpass them all… together. Philippines has such a rich history. I believe that if people just open their eyes to what our history has to offer, we would all be more inclined to become better versions of ourselves.