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[aamaely-blog]

A Historical Places in the Philippines

For this blog, I chose to write about the historical places here in the Philippines. I chose to visit one of the most popular historical place here in manila, the Fort Santiago and other historical sites around Fort Santiago. 

                                            “Fort Santiago”

The Fort Santiago is one of the most important historical sites in Manila. Fort Santiago is one of the oldest rampart in Manila. It was built in 1571, on the site of the native settlement of Raja Soliman. The original Fort was fenced with a structure of logs and earth during it’s early construction but Chinese pirate Limahong attacked and destroyed the Fort sometime in 1574. The fort was re-constructed and reinforced with the use of carved stones and mud cement between 1589 and 1592. Great earthquake destroyed most of the edifice in  1645, but the Spaniards again repaired and restored the Fort in 1658 to 1663. In 1762 to 1764, during the British occupation of the country, Fort Santiago was used as their headquarters. In 1778 when the Americans conquered the City,  they renovated Fort Santiago where it was converted as the U.S. Army Philippine Division Command Center. In 1942, when Japan occupied the Philippines, during World War 2, the Japanese Military used the Fort as their base where they imprisoned, tortured and executed hundreds of Filipino civilians and guerrillas. In 1945, the U.S. Liberation Forces came to Manila and battled the Japanese, damaging the Fort severely.

In 1946, it was used as depot of the US Transportation Corps before turnover to the Philippine Government. In 1950, the Philippine government formally declared the entire structure as a Shrine of Freedom. In 1951, the commissioned National Park Development Committee restored the Fort.  Finally, in 1992 the National Park Development Committee effected turn over of the Fort to the newly established Intramuros Administration.

                                    "Rajah Sulayman Theater"

Rajah Sulayman Theater (Dulaang Rajah Sulayman), is an open air theater under the grounds of Fort Santiago which was ruins of a former Spanish military barracks. It had served as a highly atmospheric setting for contemporary theater-in-the-round productions by PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association). It was designed and conceptualized by Guidote. It was named Rajah Sulayman in honor of the leader of the Mohammedan Malays who first inhabited the area.

                                             "The Dungeons"

This dungeon was used by the Japanese occupation force to imprison Allied POW's, resistance fighters and political prisoners. Many died during the occupation. The dungeons used to be the storage vaults and powder magazine of the Baluarte De Santa Barbara. In 1715, because of dampness called by the humid weather and the nearness of the vaults to the Pasig River, the Spaniards decided to build a new powder magazine on top of the Baluarte. In 1718, the vaults were converted into prison cells and storerooms when the Casella del Castellano (Fort Commander's residence) was built. 

                  “Dr. Jose Rizal’s Last Walk to Martyrdom”

Dr. José Rizal, the Philippine's national hero, was imprisoned in the fort before his execution in 1896; the site features, embedded onto the ground in bronze, his final footsteps representing the walk from his cell to the location of the actual execution.

To commemmorate the centenniel of Dr. Jose Rizal’s martyrdom, the National Centenniel Commission and the Departmenr of Tourisim have introduced Rizal’s shoeprints embedded in the pavement and placed markers in areas where he passed on his way to Bagumbayan from his cell in Fort Santiago. Marking his lastwalk to martyrdom, this centennial freedom trail memorialized his brave path to martyrdom in the early hours of December 30, 1896 and symbolizes the birth of the Filipino nation.

This Historic marker was unveiled on the twenty seventh day of December in the year of the Lord nineteen hundred ninety six during the incumbency of  HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT FIDEL V. RAMOS as a fitting tribute to the Filipino’s yearning for freedom.

                                 “Baluarte de Santa Barbara”

Named after the patron saint of artillerymen. Built in 1592 to protect the entrance to the Pasig River. Vaults and powder magazine added in 1599. Quarters of the artillerymen and the house of the commandant (Casa del Castellano) built in 1609. Renovation and reconstruction from 1729-1745, including building of the semi-circular platform (media naranja). 

The citadel of Santa Barbara is one of the original buildings of Fuerza de Santiago (Fort Santiago). It faces the infamous Pasig River and the rest of Manila. What amazed me with this building is that it was once a dungeon from the late 15th century to World War II. Below the railings are chambers with one common entrance. Coins are cluttered on the floor thrown by tourists for reasons that I'm not quite sure. It is currently under restoration so no one had the chance to see the interior. I doubt this is one of the despicable prisons in Philippine history, ceilings are low, no ventilation & of course the stone-cold accomodation for the inmates.

                                     “Shrine of Freedom”

This memorial cross known as the Shrine of Freedom marks the common grave of approximately 600 bodies of guerrillas and civilians found inside the powder magazine of Baluarte de Sta. Barbara.

                                        “Almacenes Reales”

This is the ruin of the Almacenes Reales or Royal Warehouse in the old walled city of Manila. It was built in the 1500's and was used to store goods that were unloaded from galleons on the Pasig River which runs right past Fort Santiago.

                                         “Manila Cathedral”

The Manila Cathedral is the eight structure to rise on this site, the earlier ones having been destroyed by earthquake, fire, or war (including an almost compete destruction during the Second World War).

In its first years (1571-1579), the site of the present-day Manila Cathedral was a parish church known as the Church of Manila and it was governed by the diocese of Mexico. In 1581 the first Manila Cathedral was built and consecrated on the site of the former Church of Manila. The materials used were nipa (palm used as thatch), wood and bamboo – readily available materials that were used in building houses at this time. In 1582,  this cathedral was damaged by a typhoon and in 1583 this cathedral was destroyed by fire just two years later.  The fire began during the funeral mass for a Governor General in the nearby San Agustin Church. The fire burnt that church, and later the Manila Cathedral, the bishop's residence, and many other buildings in Manila.

In 1591-1592 the second cathedral was then built on this site – this time of stone, but it too only lasted a few years when it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1600.

The third cathedral was then built. Construction (again in stone), was finally finished in 1614 (complete with three naves, seven chapels, and ten altars) but it was damaged and its structures weakened in an earthquake in 1621. Then the entire cathedral was destroyed in two massive earthquakes in late 1645.

A fourth cathedral was now built. Construction began in 1654 under Archbishop de Poblete and work continued until 1751. By the early 1700s the Cathedral fell into a dilapidated state (the hardwood flooring, wood arched ceiling, the roof, the retablos, the choir area, in fact everything except the walls were in a deplorable and often in a frankly dangerous condition) and it was decided that a complete restoration was required. Juan de Uguccioni , a Florentine architect and engineer, was engaged to partly demolish and then reconstruct the fifth Manila Cathedral. The British invasion of 1762 saw the looting of the gold and jewels kept in the Cathedral but the building itself suffered no damage. The earthquake of 1862 caused quite of damage, including to the front facade.

Sixth Cathedral (1858-63) Restoration of the Cathedral was undertaken, with the Baroque facade of Juan de Uguccioni being replaced by a Neoclassical facade. Seventh Cathedral (1879-1945) Huge earthquake of 1863 destroyed the Cathedral - also destroyed the nearby Ayuntamiento (City Hall), and the Palacio del Gobernador (Governor General’s Palace). New Manila Cathedral and finally inaugurated 16 years later in 1879. Architect: Serano.  Earthquake of 1880 - bell tower lost. Eighth Cathedral (1945-Present Day) Cathedral destroyed in heavy bombings during Battle of Manila in 1945. New Cathedral designed by Ocampo. Style, materials: (incl Carrara marble). Constructed in the period 1954-58. Inaugurated in 1958. Events: First Filipino cardinal Pope Paul VI Cardinal Sin Quadricentennial Pope John Paul II; Beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz

                                 “Baluarte De San Diego”

From 1586 to 1587, baluarte was built and designed by Jesuit priest Antonio Sedeñiom. It is one of the oldest stone rampart in Intramuros. Began as a circular fort called Nuestra Señora de Guia, renovated in 1593 to join the wall of the city. Fort fell in disrepair. Between 1653 and 1663, new Baluarte was completed. Resembling an ace of spades,it housed a foundry during the 18th century. In 1762,  Breach by British forces with cannon fire. Baluarte was restored after the British colonization, but damaged during the earthquake of 1863. In 1945,  it was then condemned during the Battle of Manila. Finally, the baluarte was restored from 1979 to 1992.