When we talk about Fort Santiago these days, we often associate it with Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero as it was where he was imprisoned, tried, and where he would spend his final hours before his execution on December 30, 1896. While it is a distinction that deserves merit, this often overshadows to the actual importance of Fort Santiago. It was, first and foremost, the military headquarters for Spanish, British (during the 1762-64 occupation of Manila), American, and Japanese forces. As such, for a long while it held a very strategic importance as it was believed that gaining control of the fort provides one the greater advantage of…
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Fort Santiago in Flux – Part 1
What else can be said about Fort Santiago? It is one of the most famous historic tourist destinations in Manila, perhaps in the Philippines as well. It’s one of the first places tourists are taken in the city. And if one is asked about Manila, this is one of the first places that comes to mind. That should not come to surprise as Fort Santiago is considered to be the place where the city that we have come to know as Manila evolved from. After all, the fort was where the throne of the pre-Hispanic Kingdom of Maynilad was located, itself a fortified area (albeit made of bamboo and wood…
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Roaming San Agustin (Part 3: A Museum’s Treasures)
As much as there is a lot to see in the San Agustin Church itself, if one wants to immerse in the rich history of the church and that of the Augustinian Order in the Philippines, it is highly recommended to visit the San Agustin Museum. With so many artifacts in the museum’s collection that can be seen here, it is, for now at least, the most massive museum experience one can find within Intramuros. It provides a glimpse of how the religious life was like in Intramuros especially during the Spanish colonial period, back when Intramuros was known as the “little Vatican” of the east. (this was tackled here in…
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Roaming San Agustin (Part 2: The Church Premises)
Officially, San Agustin Church is known as the Immaculate Conception Parish of San Agustin (not to be confused with the Manila Cathedral which is known officially as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) as well as the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture (Nuestra Señora de Consolacion y Correa). The Our Lady of Consolation is a title given to Mary which is said to have originated from St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, whom the church and the order that built it were named after. In addition, the church also considers St. Paul as its patron; one can find his image at the church retablo. For a…
