This year, I chose to visit Fort Santiago or Fuerza de Santiago, a defense fortress which is a part of Intramuros ("within the walls"), a place where several Filipinos were imprisoned during the Spanish Colonial Period and the World War II.
It is one of the most historical sites in Manila. It even held in its walls for sometime our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal a few days before his execution.
Entrance of the Fort surrounded by moats
Let's start this journey!! :)
A strip of souvenir shops inside the fort
A tunnel named "Baluartillo De San Francisco Javier" leading to "Reducto De San Francisco Javier"
End of "Baluartillo De San Francisco Javier" tunnel
You can hire these "kalesa's" to take you on a tour inside Intramuros, but I'd prefer to walk and savor the streets and views.
Rizal Shrine
A collection of our hero's memorabilia
My passion for history started when I was a child. I always loved listening to patriotic stories of heroes fighting for the freedom of my country. It was a battle of decades and decades. And now, here we are, free as birds, free to say anything we want, do what we want without the fear of being behind bars.
A view of the river from inside the walls
An oversized bust statue of our national hero, my favorite Filipino hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. He might be small in person, but he's got the brains of a giant. His foresight and will futuristic, he lived through history :)
A little window opening bordered by thick walls. There's always a quaint corner in every place, showing history at a deeper level, another time machine.
Furnitures used by Rizal himself
more memorabilia
Had I been born a day later, I would share the same birth date as him. I guess that's another reason why he's my favorite hero.
A sample manuscript of his revolutionary novel "Noli Me Tangere",
translated as "Touch Me Not" in English and "Huwag Mo Akong Salingin" in Tagalog. This novel opened the eyes of Filipinos in its time. It exposed how the Spaniards and the "holy men" used the Church to take advantage of Filipinos and a lot more. This was the start of our desire for freedom and exercise our rights being Filipinos.
This book is well celebrated in my country. It is read during the last few years of high school, together with its sequel, El Filibusterismo (The Reign of the Greed). It would always remind us of how hard it was to live in the time of the Spaniards and why we would never live in fear ever again.
A wall bearing the last farewell of Rizal, " Mi Ultimo Adios". This is also the last poem written by our hero, written before his execution in December 30, 1896. His love affair was for his country, writing love stories so she could free herself from hostile Spaniards who held her tight and left her ignorant so she'd always look at the world as taught.
The Spanish Barracks
Meet my companion for the day and my future trips, Ian Javier
The Philippine Flag standing tall in front of the Fort
Thank you. I had a wonderful time :)
The next photos are other famous sites in Intramuros.
Manila Cathedral
At a souvenir shop in front of the fort
I'll be back to see more of the walled city when I have the time. Thank you again for reading my blog. 'till next time :)
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