Intramuros - Compiled Threads

[dancethingy]

I love this place, i think it has an amazing potential to be the hottest tourist spot in the country. I hope they do right with this place in terms of development.


Ladies and Gents, Intramuros
so romantic

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020421.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020418.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020437.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020439.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020441.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020436.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020433.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020433.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020426.jpg

Manila Cathedral
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020462.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020461.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020456.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020451.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020442.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020479.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020475.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020473.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020495.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020491.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020488.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020487.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020486.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020482.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020480.jpg

[manileño]

it was the most beautiful city in the Far East before WWII.

What we're seeing today is actually just 10%(?) of the whole structure before it was razed to the ground during World War 2.

Any new structures(replicas) being built? rebuilt? what's new in Intramuros? i never been there in a couple of years?

[tigidig14]

gr8 stuff, dance and knowing ur from chi-town ;)
gr8 things will happen to good pimps

[dancethingy]

hehehehe, thanks tig, shucks. :) :)

@ manileno, nothing much is really going up in Intramuros, it's a good and bad thing. It's a good thing because nothing shitty has come up and it's bad because they can do real good with the place. Nevertheless, the department of tourism has taken over intramuros and they hold many tourist conventions there representing provinces throughout the country. Most of the structures have been preserved very very well and are now museums, shops, and restaurants. They have several bandshells there that allow some low key concerts. I think the revitilization of Intramuros would do Manila lots of good. I actually took a tour of one of the houses in Intramuros, it was amazing. Just amazing to see the inside fully preserved. Even the spices in the kitchen of this house was still there waiting to be used.

When i was there last month, i felt i tinge of sadness for the place and for our people in general. It maybe because our past so glorious is often ignored and under utilized in rallying the citizens or maybe its because of the placards around intramuros showing pictures of glorious structures that once stood in a pile of rubble that lay before me. Those damned Japanese fucked things up. I think if any reconstructing were to happen, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. They owe us our national heritage, God knows we didn't do shit to their national heritage places.

[marites4]

I love those antique houses too. Does anybody know if there are any plans to remove the squatters in intramuros. It's a shame to have squatters in sucha beautiful place.

[manileño]

hehehehe, thanks tig, shucks. :) :)

@ manileno, nothing much is really going up in Intramuros, it's a good and bad thing. It's a good thing because nothing shitty has come up and it's bad because they can do real good with the place. Nevertheless, the department of tourism has taken over intramuros and they hold many tourist conventions there representing provinces throughout the country. Most of the structures have been preserved very very well and are now museums, shops, and restaurants. They have several bandshells there that allow some low key concerts. I think the revitilization of Intramuros would do Manila lots of good. I actually took a tour of one of the houses in Intramuros, it was amazing. Just amazing to see the inside fully preserved. Even the spices in the kitchen of this house was still there waiting to be used.

When i was there last month, i felt i tinge of sadness for the place and for our people in general. It maybe because our past so glorious is often ignored and under utilized in rallying the citizens or maybe its because of the placards around intramuros showing pictures of glorious structures that once stood in a pile of rubble that lay before me. Those damned Japanese fucked things up. I think if any reconstructing were to happen, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. They owe us our national heritage, God knows we didn't do shit to their national heritage places.



i see. from what i read, the Americans were the ones who actually razed Intramuros to the ground. It was the "Liberation of Manila". The Americans were in their final stages of the campaign to drive away the Japanese (after the 2 atomic bombs) and they did open fire to most structures in Manila and Intramuros not minding if it was a Japanese or a native that gets hit).

I read from somewhere that Gen. Douglas MacArthur even apologized to Sergio Osmena for the devastation of Manila (Intramuros) saying something like "Now that the city lays in ruin, you can pursue a national rebuilding/re-awakening without these monuments that may blind you in your search for your true national identity. You can start all over Again."

[Lili]

Thank you for the sharing the wonderful pictures Ben. There is one picture there with just a shell of the building. What is that building?

Is it only the Japanese to be blamed for the destruction of Intramuros? Didn't the US also bombed Manila? So sad, our cultural heritage had to be a casualty of the war between these nations. tsk. tsk.

(I see Manileno already responded to my query. Gracias.)

[dancethingy]

Thanks Manileno. Thanks for clearing that up. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, the Americans are doing the same thing to Iraq's national heritage. The damage there is even more sinful because they are destroying structures that were present at the cradle of civilization. They really &%^* up in Iraq. I think they also ^%&$ up here in the Philippines, but hey.

Things are done and over, let's focus on what we have left; NOW AND THE FUTURE.

[drfeelgood17]

Thanks Dancethingy - at last we have a thread for Intramuros! Great idea! :)


Quote: I read from somewhere that Gen. Douglas MacArthur even apologized to Sergio Osmena for the devastation of Manila (Intramuros) saying something like "Now that the city lays in ruin, you can pursue a national rebuilding/re-awakening without these monuments that may blind you in your search for your true national identity. You can start all over Again."

If MacArthur really said this, then maybe it's time Filipinos stop worshipping him as a hero. I don't see the Japanese worshipping the pilots of the Enola Gay (the plane that dropped the first A-bomb on Hiroshima)....

[drfeelgood17]

On a more positive note, it looks like Mayor Atienza has done a lot of good work recently! I hope he keeps up the momemtum.

[Culiat]

at last a seperate thread for Intramuros! :)

[Culiat]

gr8 pictures dancethingy!

[kalabaw]

Thank you for the sharing the wonderful pictures Ben. There is one picture there with just a shell of the building. What is that building?



I forgot the name of the building. I initially thought it was the Ayuntamiento, but when I googled it, I found out that Ayuntamiento was the ruined building near Plaza Roma. Oh well, all I know is that the building was supposed to be a museum. Restoration started during the Ramos administration but I don't what happened next.

My university was inside the Intramuros. Whenever I have free time back in college, I always stroll around the streets of Intramuros. I think the Gral. Luna, especially the cobbled-stone portion of the San Agustin Church (from Sta. Potenciana to Real Streets) and the Sta. Lucia Streets are the best. You can really feel you're being transported back in time. Buildings in those streets were restored to resemble Spanish-era architecture.

When I graduated back in 2002, Mr. Atienza already started his (grandiose, if I may say) plans for Intramuros. After a year, when I went back to get some documents from the university, General Luna street was very beautiful, maybe because that was the time that they're preparing for the arrival of the Spanish King or Queen (or is the Prime Minister?). There were also some instances when restaurants close the streets for some al fresco dinner!!!

Btw, do you know that there's a hotel inside Intramuros? I just don't know if people really check-in there.

[Hawayano]

I forgot the name of the building. I initially thought it was the Ayuntamiento, but when I googled it, I found out that Ayuntamiento was the ruined building near Plaza Roma. Oh well, all I know is that the building was supposed to be a museum. Restoration started during the Ramos administration but I don't what happened next.

My university was inside the Intramuros. Whenever I have free time back in college, I always stroll around the streets of Intramuros. I think the Gral. Luna, especially the cobbled-stone portion of the San Agustin Church (from Sta. Potenciana to Real Streets) and the Sta. Lucia Streets are the best. You can really feel you're being transported back in time. Buildings in those streets were restored to resemble Spanish-era architecture.

When I graduated back in 2002, Mr. Atienza already started his (grandiose, if I may say) plans for Intramuros. After a year, when I went back to get some documents from the university, General Luna street was very beautiful, maybe because that was the time that they're preparing for the arrival of the Spanish King or Queen (or is the Prime Minister?). There were also some instances when restaurants close the streets for some al fresco dinner!!!

Btw, do you know that there's a hotel inside Intramuros? I just don't know if people really check-in there.


That shell is the former Intendencia building, kalabaw. After the war it was shortly used by the Central Bank (don't ask me what they used it for, though), But if you wanna go back to Spanish times, it was the customs house or Aduana . The parcel where it stands was, up until the American times, walled in as the baluarte or bulwark that even had its own two gates to the Pasig. Does anyone know what agency has jurisdiction over it now? They really should restore/rehabilitate it!

[Lili]

^ Thanks for that information Hawayano. You are a veritable treasure trove of information. :)

What about the squatters living inside Intramuros? Is there anybody in the forum who know if there plans to relocate them?

[Culiat]

If the Intendencia was used by the Central Bank, is it the building at the reverse side of the P100 bill (aside from the current central bank buildings)?

[dancethingy]

what does tendencia look like. I may have the pics for it. Actually i have tons more pics.


I also have pic of Fort Santiago, which is inside Intramuros i think. I'll post that tomorrow. I'm also going back there on a date. :) :) so i'll take more pics

[dancethingy]

Ate Marites, the informal settlers are still there and as much as i want to sympathize with them, the city really needs to get them out of there and help them out. They can revitalize the place and even hire them as tourist guides or street maintenance workers.

[marites4]

I agree dancethingy they just need to relocate them. It's for their own good too. One thing i like also are the calesas in intramuros.

[sugarboy]

Play a Round With History in Manila
Thomas E. King

http://www.emanila.com/mediaeast/images/slide4a.jpg

Shortly after 10 AM on May 21, 1571 the calm of a Manila morning was broken by the sound of artillery heralding the first arrival of foreign forces.

The construction of a towering 4.5 km long stone wall and invincible bulwarks surrounded by a wide moat soon followed for a bastion that was to securely contain the seat of Spanish sovereignty in the Orient for over 300 years.

The exploits of those who lived, worked and indeed died within the old walled city known as Intramuros can only be hinted at in legend and song. The solid stone wall still stands, however, as a tangible testament to the extent of a once-vast Spanish empire.

While golfers recognise the heritage of the encircled colonial quarter, they also acknowledge that the moss-covered obstacle is as much of a hazard to a perfect game today as it has been ever since the establishment of the 9 hole Municipal golf Links just outside the walls in area dubbed the 'Sunken Garden'.

This was when land was first reclaimed from the most to create a course with considerable character on land reclaimed form the moat surrounding the enclave in the early 1930s.

Rebuilt after comprehensive damage during World War 11, expanded to 18 holes that snake almost the entire way around the ancient but somewhat reconstructed wall, Club Intramuros 2000, as it is now officially known, is not only one of the most historic golf grounds in Asia, it is also one of the continent's most unusual courses.

For starters, the par 66, 4125 yard course is the shortest of the numerous 18 hole layouts in capital.

Its compact nature has a distinct advantage because it's possible to play a round with history in well under two hours. If you are staying at the nearby Holiday Inn you can literally walk to the course for an early morning start, be finished and changed and ready for breakfast back at the hotel by 8 AM, and still make your first business meeting or conference session an hour later.

Golf has been a way of life in Manila for well over 110 years as the game was first introduced to city society in 1886 by British working for the Manila Railway Company. They built 3 hole course in paddy fields south of the walled Intramuros. By 1901 there was a 9 hole course adjoining the railway station. This was the beginning of the Manila Golf Club.

Ninety something years ago many aspects of life in the capital were quite different. For golfers it was a time when they used golf clubs with wooden shafts, called three iron "cleeks" and referred to seven irons as "mashies". Nine irons were known as "niblicks". Regardless of the era or the environment, the object of the game has always been the same: to break par.

At Club Intramuros this isn't the easiest thing to do. Studded with numerous lagoons and various other water hazards, all eager to 'swallow' golf balls, and haunted by the ever present wall which is every ready to reflect them, many golfers find the course very hard to play, especially for the first time as they are forced to shoot precisely along its tight, flat fairways and confront a few one-off peculiarities.

A good example is the par 4,337 yard 4th, which is considered by many players to be course's most difficult hole. Instead of just one wall to contend with the formidable 4th has stone on two sides. There's the high wall of Intramuros to the left plus the inconvenience of one of the walls of a former ammunition warehouse to the right. The first shot must be arrow straight from the tee and down the narrow channel between the two structures. The second must have enough power to cross a lagoon yet to be controlled enough to reach the elevated green yet avoid its four surrounding bunkers. The difficulty of the 4th hole is compensated by the ease of the 6th. This flat - except for its large highly elevated green - 152 - yard hole has recorded the most hole in ones.

Another hole of distinction is the 164 yard 10th. The signature hole of Club Intramuros features its green on an attractive, manmade island.

Beauty has a price, thought, as this, the first hole of the back nine, is the second most difficult on the course.

Further down the back nine is the nerve racking 15th, a par 3, 276 yard stretch. The reason for its notoriety is because its green is sandwiched between two big bunkers while to right of the fairway is a large lagoon.

And at the 18th, just when you think about relaxing, this 158 yard hole has stands of well matured trees on both sides of its very narrow fairway.

As well there's a wall of the Guadalupe Shrine and four bunkers guarding the elevated green that must be avoided to even come close to achieving a par 3.

This then is the golf scenario that greets golfers today. While the setting may be well over 60 years old the 'icing' on the course is relatively new as Club Intramuros was closed in mid 1996 for a total 'facelift'.

International golf architect and consultant, Andy Dye, closely supervised the redesign of the course in a makeover that also called for the debut of additional facilities including an environment sensitive clubhouse and the installation of an irrigation system using recycled water. Even before its reopening Dye said it was his best effort to date.

March 30, 1997 marked the reopening of Club Intramuros 2000 with the then President Fidel Ramos celebrating the ceremonial tee-off on a course that is also now fully flood lit for night play.

With fewer demands on his time these days and as an ardent golfer used to the Intramuros layout, the former President is now regularly able to take 'tee' after dark!.

(27 June 1998)

[dudz]

you really have covered the entire walled city, ben! great shots! i like the capiz windows and the balcony shots. and thank you for the thread:)

nice article @sugarboy. a good narrative tour of the golf course and its history. thanks:)

[Hawayano]

^ Thanks for that information Hawayano. You are a veritable treasure trove of information. :)

What about the squatters living inside Intramuros? Is there anybody in the forum who know if there plans to relocate them?


Thanks for the compliment, Lili! Anyway, I do agree that the homeless need to be relocated if the DOT really wants to make Intramuros a tourist-friendly destination in Manila (and the whole Phils., for that matter). I remember the last time we went walking along the top of the walls, we were kind of turned off by the presence of some suspicious-looking thugs who were just hanging out up there. Someone posted a picture somewhere in this forum that showed the congested cluster of shanties that spread roughly between the backside of the Cathedral all the way to the Lyceum. Can't imagine any wary overseas visitor wandering into those areas!

[dancethingy]

More pics More pic More pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@dudz, well my BF and I actually circled all of intramuros cause we got lost on our way to Fort Santiago, hehehehe. Good times Good times.


I think this is a bank in Intramuros
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020509.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020508.jpg

Around the tourist bandshells they have a replica of Banaue homeshttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020498.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020510.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020476.jpg

FORT SANTIAGO

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020522.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020523.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020525.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020521.jpg
More to come from my collection

[tigidig14]

u havent shown the midget horse yet

[manileño]

It's all about Sanago and Manilacath!


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/sanago.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/manilacath.jpg

[dancethingy]

oh yeah the midget horse, i forget where i posted those

[tigidig14]

^the last pics looks surreal, is that been photoshop

[manileño]

i got it online. im no photographer.. Yet. jeje :)

[manileño]

Intramuros is key to making Manila a truly global city.

I've seen a lot of other cities with awesome skylines and skyscrapers.. but they really are nothing. Anyone with spare glass, metal, cement can do these skycraps.

But 500 years of bricks, massive stones, intricate sculptures and carvings, these are what really makes a city A CITY. A Liveable city.

New York is boring without its Liberty Statue and Ellis Island structures, and very old bridges.

I hope Manila and all other Philippine cities think about Heritage and Art and OWN IDENTITY when manhattanizing our many old cities.

cos im more impressed with a decaying building in intramuros than a towering rectangle or a box shaped mall in Davao.

[manileño]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/ecj.jpg
Philippines.




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/ladies_nyt/davao5.jpg
Trash.

[Aragon]

what the heck is the seconcd picture

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/ladies_nyt/davao5.jpg[/IMG]
Trash.

Isn't this a Davao photo?

[sugarboy]

indeed that's a davao photo. the overpass is the one in front of victoria plaza mall

[c0kelitr0]

oh my god, The Manila Cathedral looks magnifico in this pic!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/manilacath.jpg

[sandrin]

The pictures I googled:

http://www.vancouverpcg.net/GalleyAlbum/images/Intramuros_jpg.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/ft-santiago/ft-santiago-1.gif

[Lili]

^^ Dreamy pics.

[bagel]

Why would you call Davao trash? Davao is one of the great Philippine cities.

[ryanr]

oh my god, The Manila Cathedral looks magnifico in this pic!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/manilacath.jpg

I know its absolutely stunning in that picture.:eek:

[manileño]

yea. it beats Europe. Haha!

i hope we have more fotos like this that show how beautiful Manila and the Philippines really are! Makati architecture is all good, but they don't really draw the crowd/tourists.

[dancethingy]

More of Manila Cathedral

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020459.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020458.jpg

Calesas
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020516.jpg

Midget horse as requested by tigs
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020515.jpg

[manileño]

i mean many buildings in the Philippines are trash.. i mean look at those rectangles. If they were to build short buildings in the provinces, they might as well copy Intramuros and go art-deco. Makes it more pleasant to look at, despite its size. That's what we're lacking in our cityscapes. Peace :)

[drfeelgood17]

[QUOTE=dancethingy]More pics More pic More pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@dudz, well my BF and I actually circled all of intramuros cause we got lost on our way to Fort Santiago, hehehehe. Good times Good times.


I think this is a bank in Intramuros
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020509.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020508.jpg

This building is actually where the old Palacio del gobernador used to be.

[Animo]

Manila Intramuros banners

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnIntramBnrs3402.jpg

Manila intramuros restored building & cathedral

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnIntramBlgCath3402.jpg

Restored wood and stone Hispanic style building in Intramuros, Manila's walled city. On the left is Manila Cathedral

Despite war damage, it's not difficult to imagine how Intramuros must have looked during the Spanish era.

Manila Intramuros religious picture & shrine

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnIntramRlgPic3402.jpg

Religious picture and shrine on the side of a street in Intramuros, Manila's walled city.

[Animo]

Manila Intramuros derelict building

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnIntamDrlBlg3402.jpg

Derelict building inside Intramuros, the old walled city of Manila.

Intramuros was very badly damaged in World War 2 and has been partially reconstructed.

Manila Intramuros facade

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnIntramFcdA3402.jpg

Traditional facade in Manila's old walled city named Intramuros, literally 'inside the walls'.

Intramuros has been quite well restored, but it will never again look how it did before the outbreak of World War 2.

Manila Intramuros St Augustine's Church facade

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlIntrStAugCch3409.jpg

Spanish style church in Intramuros, the old town of Manila first founded by the Spanish in the 16th century.

[Animo]

Corregidor Philippines and United States flags with cannon

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpCorregBrks2Flags4430.jpg

Manila Fort Bonifacio entrance carvings

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlFortBonifGt4330.jpg

Manila University of Santo Tomas flower

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlPlpUstFlwr3410.jpg

[Animo]

Philippines Corregidor staff car of General Douglas McArthur

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpCorregMcArthCar4330.jpg

The car used by General Douglas McArthur during his tour of duty in the Philippines has ben set up as a museumpiece on the island of Corregidor, now a major visitor destination in the Philippines

The car which carried General McArthur all around the Philippines has now found its final resting place next to the remains of what was once the cinema in the American barracks.

Philippines Corregidor Island: Japanese statue

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpCorregShintoStat4331.jpg

Japanese-style Shinto statue at the Japanese memorial on the island of Corregidor, Philippines. The representation of a mother and three children commemorates the Japanese soldiers who died in action on the island of Corregidor during World War II.

Corredigor island is one of the most potent and memorable war-related historical sites in the world.

Philippines Manila City Hall Tower

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlCHallCanon5220.jpg

View of the tower of Manila City Hall from Intramuros, the old walled city, looking over an old canon.

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlCityHallTwr3409.jpg

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlCityHallTwr5216.jpg

The clock tower of Manila City Hall (built 1939) as seen from the east side of Intramuros, the walled city of Manila.

Manila City Hall is one of the best known symbols of Manila, but is not so well known around the world.

[Animo]

Philippines Corregidor Island: Ruins of Topside Barracks

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpCorregTopsdBrksDr4331.jpg

During the early 20th century a large number of American soldiers were based on Corregidor, the tiny but strategically important island which stands at the entrance to Manila Bay. After invasion by Japan in 1941, the island was re-taken by the Americans in 1944. Most of the buildings were severely damaged in the conflict and have been left as a memorial to war.

Find out more about Corregidor on the website of the Corregidor Historic Society http:// ***************

The abandoned US barracks on Corregidor Island are a potent reminder of the military presence of America in the Philippines, and of the destructiveness of war.

Manila UP Church of the Holy Sacrifice traditional chapel

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpUpCchTradChapel3424.jpg

Within the futuristic Church of the Holy Sacrifice is a chapel which features a traditional style bamboo interior and a portrait of the Madonna and child in a setting of the Philippines.

The Philippines is a striking combination of Spanish-style religious devotion with the crafts and traditions of south east Asia.

Manila University of Santo Tomas bird girl statue

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlUstBirdGirlStat3410.jpg

Sculpture of a winged female figure, part of a fountain in the garden at Manila University of Santo Tomas.

The architecture and character of this university built in the 19th century under Spanish rule has a very strong hispanic character.

[Animo]

Manila University of Santo Tomas Statue and Tower

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlUstStatTwr3410.jpg

Statue outside the main building of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. UST was founded in 1611 when the Philippines was part of the Spanish empire.

Manila University of Santo Tomas statue and clock

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlUstStatUClockZm3410.jpg

This statue stands outside the main building of the University of Santo Tomas in downtown Manila. The university was founded in 1611 when the Philippines was under Spanish rule. These buildings date from the 19th century.

Like many heritage locations in the Philippines, the UST campus is a remarkable mixture of Spanish-style architecture in a tropical south east Asian setting.

Manila UST old hospital facade

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlUstHospOldFacade3403.jpg

Hispanic style facade and entrance to University of Santo Tomas. The facade is painted pastel pink and white and dates from the 19th century.

In certain parts of Asia you get a kind of 'environmental disorientation' - Looking at the buildings you think you're in Spain or Latin America but actually you're on the other side of the world.

[renell]

some of those pics are going outside Intrams...

[Animo]

some of those pics are going outside Intrams...

I could find a thread that can be posted by those "other pictures" :cheers:
They look so nice and professionally done.

Manila statue of Jose Rizal in Rizal Park

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlRizalMonPk3402.jpg

Nighttime view of the floodlit statue of national hero Jose Rizal, situated in Rizal Park in downtown Manila.

Manila University of Santo Tomas main building and trees

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlUstMainBlg3404.jpg

Looking up the tree-lined central pathway leading to the main building of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

The historic UST campus is, I believe, a source of pride for UST graduates. For comparison, take a look at the campus of Trinity College Dublin (http://www.aidan.co.uk/search_results.php?keyword=TCD) where I studied Modern Languages (German and French) from 1976 to 1981.

[manileño]

speaking of CORREGIDOR, is it part of Metro Manila jurisdiction? (i heard it's not). But i think it should be, it's like Liberty, Ellis, Governor, Roosevelt, and Staten Islands to New York City.

[drfeelgood17]

speaking of CORREGIDOR, is it part of Metro Manila jurisdiction? (i heard it's not). But i think it should be, it's like Liberty, Ellis, Governor, Roosevelt, and Staten Islands to New York City.

No I don't think so, if I'm not mistaken it's part of Bataan.

[Animo]

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/PlpMnlCHallWallVw5220.jpg

View of Manila City Hall from the east side of Intramuros, the old walled city. We are looking over the landscaped gardens.

[manileño]

No I don't think so, if I'm not mistaken it's part of Bataan.

http://www.alltravelnetwork.com/philippines/travelinfo/images/corregidormap.jpg

I can imagine a Verrazano or Golden Gate for Manila in the future. hehe

[Animo]

http://www.alltravelnetwork.com/philippines/travelinfo/images/corregidormap.jpg

I can imagine a Verrazano or Golden Gate for Manila in the future. hehe

I posted something about El Faile in the "Then and Now" thread.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/manilafountain.jpg

The sight and sound of gushing water is a welcome respite from the balmy evening weather during a stroll in Intramuros

[Animo]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/050_50.jpg

Formerly the site of the Palacio del Gobernador, it now houses the offices of the Intramuros Administration

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/051_51.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/053_53.jpg

Details of the main entrance of the Cathedral

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/065_65.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/066_66.jpg

[Animo]

The cupola of the Cathedral

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/063_63.jpg

The nave and main altar bearing the image of the Immaculada Concepcion, after Miguel Lopez de Legaspi dedicated the city to that title of the Virgin

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/022_22.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/068_68.jpg

Monument to King Carlos IV.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/067_67.jpg

"Al Rey de Carlos IV en gratito al non beneficio de la vacuna los habitantes de Filipinas."

[Animo]

The Cathedral as seen from Plaza de Roma

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/073_73.jpg

[ashley12]

haha... just want to let you know...

i cried in INTRAMUROS...

[manileño]

The cupola of the Cathedral

Monument to King Carlos IV.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/067_67.jpg

"Al Rey de Carlos IV en gratito al non beneficio de la vacuna los habitantes de Filipinas."


"al non benefico"? = gratis?

To the King Carlos IV in gratitude to the free vaccination.
- people of the Philippines.

LOL interesting.

[drfeelgood17]

Great pics again Animo & Mr Manila - I wonder what the interior of the old Manila Cathedral looked like - it was probably much grander - the present want is quite austere.

[Lili]

Monument to King Carlos IV.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/067_67.jpg

"Al Rey de Carlos IV en gratito al non beneficio de la vacuna los habitantes de Filipinas."
^ I wonder what the vaccination was for? I remember reading an account in Orlando, Florida when the indigenous "indian" tribe there was decimated because of the diseases brought by the conquistadores to its area. They did not have immunity then.

[Animo]

http://www.words-sounds-images.com/images/Words/Carlos_600.jpg

In Manila, in far away Philippines. Carlos IV touched the Philippines indelibly two hundred years ago. Today he stands majestically in front of the Manila Cathedral in the old Spanish quarter of Intramuros.

Filipino history books and journals offer little detail beyond what is on the carved plaque on the King’s monument, commemorating the King’s decision to send the newly discovered smallpox vaccine – la vacuna – to the Philippines:

---
I see a King asking for recognition of an extraordinary accomplishment long ignored.

This scroll in my hand is the proclamation of 1803 that saved more people than were killed in all of the Napoleonic wars. We reached into a shrinking Treasury and funded a fully staffed medical expedition, which was headed by my own personal doctor, Francisco Balmis, and which carried the newly discovered smallpox vaccine around the world. Troops of young heroic boys braved the rigors of travel across the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and into the backlands of our colonies, carrying live vaccine in their own arms. Looking after these boys was the first international nurse in history. And all of this came about from the generosity of the Crown: we asked for nothing in return.”

---

http://www.words-sounds-images.com/royal_command.htm

AL REY
D. CARLOS IV
EN GRATITUD
AL DON BENEFICO
DE LA VACUNA
LOS HABITANTES
DE FILIPINAS

[Culiat]

^ I wonder what the vaccination was for? I remember reading an account in Orlando, Florida when the indigenous "indian" tribe there was decimated because of the diseases brought by the conquistadores to its area. They did not have immunity then.

Its for Smallpox

[JAMAICUS]

Did king Carlos IV of Spain really cared for his colonial subjects in the Philippines?

[Kaiser]

Nice pix:)

[jbkayaker12]

http://www.alltravelnetwork.com/philippines/travelinfo/images/corregidormap.jpg

I can imagine a Verrazano or Golden Gate for Manila in the future. hehe

Corregidor should remain an island separated from the main island of Luzon. IF they ever build a bridge to Corregidor it will destroy the island forever. It is worse enough now garbage from the mainland reaches the shoreline in Corregidor.

[ThisFire]

^ that is true, and I hope it will never happen

[manileño]

Corregidor should remain an island separated from the main island of Luzon. IF they ever build a bridge to Corregidor it will destroy the island forever. It is worse enough now garbage from the mainland reaches the shoreline in Corregidor.


ah ok. like Liberty/Ellis/Governor.. i thought they were like Staten. :)

[Askal82]

http://www.words-sounds-images.com/images/Words/Carlos_600.jpg

In Manila, in far away Philippines. Carlos IV touched the Philippines indelibly two hundred years ago. Today he stands majestically in front of the Manila Cathedral in the old Spanish quarter of Intramuros.

Filipino history books and journals offer little detail beyond what is on the carved plaque on the King’s monument, commemorating the King’s decision to send the newly discovered smallpox vaccine – la vacuna – to the Philippines:

---
I see a King asking for recognition of an extraordinary accomplishment long ignored.

This scroll in my hand is the proclamation of 1803 that saved more people than were killed in all of the Napoleonic wars. We reached into a shrinking Treasury and funded a fully staffed medical expedition, which was headed by my own personal doctor, Francisco Balmis, and which carried the newly discovered smallpox vaccine around the world. Troops of young heroic boys braved the rigors of travel across the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and into the backlands of our colonies, carrying live vaccine in their own arms. Looking after these boys was the first international nurse in history. And all of this came about from the generosity of the Crown: we asked for nothing in return.”

---

http://www.words-sounds-images.com/royal_command.htm

AL REY
D. CARLOS IV
EN GRATITUD
AL DON BENEFICO
DE LA VACUNA
LOS HABITANTES
DE FILIPINAS


So this probably explain why the Filipino natives survived at that time compared to the natives of America's. Filipinos were lucky to have been given vaccination of small pox unlike their Latin-American counterparts.

[drfeelgood17]

So this probably explain why the Filipino natives survived at that time compared to the natives of America's. Filipinos were lucky to have been given vaccination of small pox unlike their Latin-American counterparts.

The vaccination was only administered in the late 18th century or early 19th - after the Spanish had been in the Philippines for over 200 years. In contrast, the native population of the Americas was decimated within 50-100 years of the Europeans' arrival. The decimation of the Native American population was due to something else: because they were isolated from the rest of humanity for thousands of years they had no immunity to even common diseases such as influenza. The Filipinos did, and that is why no similar depopulation occurred in the Philippines.

[Animo]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Aerial_view_fr._blanco%27s_garden.JPG

[Animo]

dudz - UST campus.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/ust/d381032a.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/ust/5cf33ed0.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/ust/1032ca28.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/ust/aeb90395.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/ust/e4399a61.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/ust/eaa16111.jpg

[Animo]

dudz - Intramuros

the manila cathedral
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/d072dbac.jpg

a lady in prayer
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/8a68674e.jpg

san agustin church
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/116bd882.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/f4801489.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/1f52bdb7.jpg

Rizal Park

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/d200ca2d.jpg

museum of the filipino people
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/f95b7844.jpg

chanced upon this. the AFP recruitment site at the agrifina circle.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/231ebac3.jpg

[Hawayano]

Muchas gracias, Animo!

y viva la ciudad murada!

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/intramuros.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/794861-Intramuros-Manila.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/923916-Luneta-Manila.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/923931-Intramuros-Manila.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/923935-Intramuros-Manila.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/923951-Intramuros-Manila.jpg

[Ratoncito]

Hi

I have been taking a look at INTRAMUROS, this town that the Spanish build along 300 years and Japanese and Americans destroyed in 3.

Of course, it is your National Heritage and should be rebuilt, but do not forget that one of your National Heritages is the Spanish Language and it was forbidden in 1987.

Right now, very few of you can read your own history in original documents; it has to be translated into English to be understandable.

Just think about it.

Regards Fernando

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hola

he visto INTRAMUROS y es una preciosidad de ciudad; por supuesto es vuestral herencia nacional; Los que los españoles construyeron durante 300 años, los japoneses y americanos lo destruyeron en 3 años de guerra.

Pero también, pensad que el idioma español es parte de vuestra herencia cultural y fue prohibido en 1987 como lengua oficial.

En estos momentos, casi nadie de vosotros puede leer documentos originales en español, los ha de leer traducidos al inglés para poderlo comprender.

Simplemente, pensadlo un poco.

Saludos Fernando


hehehehe, thanks tig, shucks. :) :)

@ manileno, nothing much is really going up in Intramuros, it's a good and bad thing. It's a good thing because nothing shitty has come up and it's bad because they can do real good with the place. Nevertheless, the department of tourism has taken over intramuros and they hold many tourist conventions there representing provinces throughout the country. Most of the structures have been preserved very very well and are now museums, shops, and restaurants. They have several bandshells there that allow some low key concerts. I think the revitilization of Intramuros would do Manila lots of good. I actually took a tour of one of the houses in Intramuros, it was amazing. Just amazing to see the inside fully preserved. Even the spices in the kitchen of this house was still there waiting to be used.

When i was there last month, i felt i tinge of sadness for the place and for our people in general. It maybe because our past so glorious is often ignored and under utilized in rallying the citizens or maybe its because of the placards around intramuros showing pictures of glorious structures that once stood in a pile of rubble that lay before me. Those damned Japanese fucked things up. I think if any reconstructing were to happen, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. They owe us our national heritage, God knows we didn't do shit to their national heritage places.

[Ratoncito]

Hi

I have been taking a look at INTRAMUROS, this town that the Spanish built along 300 years and Japanese and Americans destroyed in 3.

Of course, it is your National Heritage and should be rebuilt, but do not forget that one of your National Heritages is the Spanish Language and it was forbidden in 1987. Most of you have spanish names and surnames and use lots of Spanish words in Tagalog.

Right now, very few of you can read your own history in original documents; it has to be translated into English to be understandable.

Just think about it.

Best Regards Fernando

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hola

he visto INTRAMUROS y es una preciosidad de ciudad; por supuesto es vuestral herencia nacional; Los que los españoles construyeron durante 300 años, los japoneses y americanos lo destruyeron en 3 años de guerra.

Pero también, pensad que el idioma español es parte de vuestra herencia cultural y fue prohibido en 1987 como lengua oficial.

En estos momentos, casi nadie de vosotros puede leer documentos originales en español, los ha de leer traducidos al inglés para poderlo comprender.

Simplemente, pensadlo un poco.

Saludos Fernando


hehehehe, thanks tig, shucks. :) :)

@ manileno, nothing much is really going up in Intramuros, it's a good and bad thing. It's a good thing because nothing shitty has come up and it's bad because they can do real good with the place. Nevertheless, the department of tourism has taken over intramuros and they hold many tourist conventions there representing provinces throughout the country. Most of the structures have been preserved very very well and are now museums, shops, and restaurants. They have several bandshells there that allow some low key concerts. I think the revitilization of Intramuros would do Manila lots of good. I actually took a tour of one of the houses in Intramuros, it was amazing. Just amazing to see the inside fully preserved. Even the spices in the kitchen of this house was still there waiting to be used.

When i was there last month, i felt i tinge of sadness for the place and for our people in general. It maybe because our past so glorious is often ignored and under utilized in rallying the citizens or maybe its because of the placards around intramuros showing pictures of glorious structures that once stood in a pile of rubble that lay before me. Those damned Japanese fucked things up. I think if any reconstructing were to happen, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. They owe us our national heritage, God knows we didn't do shit to their national heritage places.

[Animo]

iHola! Fernando it is nice to hear other people comments about these kinds of issues.

[Askal82]

^^ Spanish language wasn't prohibited in the country. It ceased to be the official language of the country. It became an elective in most universities instead of a requirment which is sad. WWII not only destroyed the historical structures, it almost wiped out 300 years of culture that supports the moral fiber of the country. These structures represent the culmination of what was once the true Filipino culture.

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Spanishhouse2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Spanishhouse1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Spanishhouse.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Ruines1.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/intramuros102.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Ruines.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/intramuros1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Churchgate.jpg

[Askal82]

The vaccination was only administered in the late 18th century or early 19th - after the Spanish had been in the Philippines for over 200 years. In contrast, the native population of the Americas was decimated within 50-100 years of the Europeans' arrival. The decimation of the Native American population was due to something else: because they were isolated from the rest of humanity for thousands of years they had no immunity to even common diseases such as influenza. The Filipinos did, and that is why no similar depopulation occurred in the Philippines.

True, Philippines isn't the new world. Still part of the Old world in that sense.

[sista]

wow the pics are :eek2:

[ashley12]

http://www.hobotraveler.com/160manila/intramuros.jpg
Golf course is just outside the walls.

http://www.hobotraveler.com/160manila/carriage.jpg
Carriage ride around the old Spanish part called the Intramuros in Manila

http://www.hobotraveler.com/160manila/fort.jpg
Center of a for or jail, with the roof missing.

http://www.hobotraveler.com/160manila/japancannon.jpg
Japnese Cannon from WWII

[Arriba]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020437.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/progressiveflip/Intramuros/P1020436.jpg



This is Letran, my alma mater! :)

The first picture shows the High School Building, and the Letran Scout Heroes Monument. The Letranites, together with other Filipino scouts, are about to go to an International Jamboree at Greece, but unfortunately, their plane crash landed somewhere and all Filipino scouts boarded perished.

The second picture is an interesting design located at the back of the grade school building. Im not really sure what it means. It looks good though, and a bit scary. haha.

I'll post some more pictures of the Colegio if i have the time. FYI, the Dominican-owned Letran is one of the longest tenants inside the Walled City, having built in 1620. :)

[Ratoncito]

Exactly, in 5 years of the WWII, 300 years of your history and culture were wiped out of Filipinas and no one stood up to defend it. I think it is quite sad. Here in Madrid, I have met lots of Filipinos who told me about this; and also told me that former governments have, in some way, pushed old Filipinos to speak Spanish in their own homes, not in the street to wipe it out of public life, apart from distributing stories about Spanish torture, slavery, things that all powerful countries (Spain, England, USA, etc...) have done some time in their History.

As a fact, let me remind you that Spain was who conformed Filipinas and gave her a national identity; before Spain arrived there, there were little wars between different tribes, and mainly, attacks from islamic territories.

So the "Black History" that the americans told about Spanish Colonization, I am afraid it is too far from reality. Of course we made mistakes, and sure some were big. But let me remind you again thay in the Filipino American war, the USA killed about one million filipinos, very much more than Spain in 333 year of sovereignity.

best regards Fernando AND Feliz Navidad

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exacto, en 5 años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, 300 años de la historia Filipina fue borrada del mapa y nadie supo defenderla. Un poco triste, me parece a mí; aquí en Madrid, algunos filipinos me cuentas cómo gobiernos anteriores, sitemáticamente, han marginado el Español animando a no hablarlo en la vida pública de Filipinas aparte de distribuir historias de excalvitud y tortura sobre la colonización española en Filipinas, cosa que otras grandes potencias han hecho exactamente igual como USA, Inglaterra, etc...

Para comenzar, déjame que te recuerde que fue España quien conformó Filipinas que, hasta entonces, este país no existía como tal y lo que había eran guerrillas entre las diferentes tribus de Filipinas y ataques de territorios islámicos.

Así que la Historia Negra que los americanos difundieron sobre España en Filipinas me temo que está muy lejos de la realidad; para finalizar, permíteme que te recuerde que EEUU mató en la guerra Filipino Americana un millón de filipinos, muchísimo más que lo que España mató en 333 años de soberanía.

Saludos cordiales y Feliz Navidad
Fernando

[Hawayano]

Thank you for your insight, Fernando! We really appreciate hearing from you, especially your keen awareness of Filipino sensitivity. And you're right about our Spanish colonial experience: compared with the Aztec and Inca peoples, the natives of these islands did not undergo such a thorough supression of their indigenous culture by the conquistadores.

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/manila_cathedral.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ow808wo_intramuros_manila.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/kalesa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/intramuros_08.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/intramuros123.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/105-0523_img.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/crying.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/image075.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/stone.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/memoraremanila1945te.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ust_marker.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/wedding.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/sanagustin.jpg

[sista]

beautiful pictures there Animo! The wedding picture looks...well, grand because of the altar

[SaleemSinai]

http://www.hobotraveler.com/160manila/fort.jpg
Center of a for or jail, with the roof missing.

This is actually the Baluarte de San Diego (Bulwark of San Diego). It's not actually a jail, but rather a foundry.

http://manalang.com/philippines/manila/baluarte_de_san_diego.html

[Quote from the Intramuros Administration]
Designed and built by Jesuit priest Antonio Sede��rom 1586 to 1587, it is one of the oldest stone fortifications in Intramuros. Began as a circular fort called Nuestra Se�� de Guia. Renovated in 1593 to join the walls of the city. Fort fell in disrepair and, in 1644, construction began for a new baluarte which was completed between 1653 and 1663. Resembling an ace of spades, it housed a foundry during the 18th century.

The baluarte was breached by British forces with cannon fire in 1762. Restored and strengthened after the British occupation but was damaged during the 1863 earthquake. It was destroyed during the Battler of Manila in 1945. Restoration began in 1979 and completed in 1992.

Here's the plan from the 19th century:
http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p13ima4.jpg

This is the same structure from this pre-war photo (the one on the lower left where the flag sits):
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/Wall%20city%20from%20top%20of%20Manila%20Hotel,%20Manila.jpg

Here is an areal view of the spade shaped bastion, also pre-war.
http://www.geocities.com/kalayaan90/aerial_manila.jpg

Here's a old map depicting the british invasion in October 1762.
http://www.geocities.com/kalayaan90/British.jpg

The bastion which was the first to be breached was Bastion de San Diego (the one labeled letter "L" from a battery of 3 Guns (labeled "K") and another set of battery of 8 guns (labeled "I").

[ashley12]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/105-0523_img.jpg

AKA lovers lane. :)

[Animo]

AKA lovers lane. :)

I have a question: Why are those block of stones on the pathway? How come its not fixed?

[ashley12]

I have a question: Why are those block of stones on the pathway? How come its not fixed?

where? all of those stones are aligned on the sides of the pathway. Its suppose to be some sort of sittings or decorations. :)

[aUen]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/Ruines.jpg

power lines :no:

[ThisFire]

^^ magical photos on this page :)

[Animo]

^^ magical photos on this page :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/magsingirog_200.jpg

I also found this one, I don't know if its in Intramuros.

Happy Holidays Everyone! :cheers:

[ashley12]

happy holidays to everyone! :)

[JustHorace]

I think the government should get rid of the squatters and electric posts in Intramuros. The modern-looking structures in the Walled City must be forced to change its facade into something that will look like 1800 Spanish architecture. I would like to mention the Mapua campus and the Banco Filipino building for being the fugliest structures in Intramuros. Thanks to them and the squatters our walled city has become the crappiest place in post-war Manila.

[marites4]

I don't even know why there are squatters in Intramuros. It's a tourist attraction isn't it. I know it's hard torelocate squatters but can't we have at least one place that's squatter free. Why is the intramuros development council helpless on this or Manila city govt.?

[Askal82]

^^ Mga alaga ni Atienza yan.

[JAMAICUS]

I sent a complaint to the DOT via E-mail about this "informal settlers" problem.

[Askal82]

Lets cross our fingers

[pau_p1]

http://www.hobotraveler.com/160manila/fort.jpg
Center of a for or jail, with the roof missing.


aba.. this is the kingdom of Sapiro ahh.. hehehe.. in GMA's Telefantasy of Encantadia and now Etheria... :D

anyways... UST is no longer in Intramuros... it moved out since 1932.. :D

[Animo]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/IsaganiZenze/ihgufg.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/IsaganiZenze/adsfda.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/IsaganiZenze/adsadfe.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/IsaganiZenze/adfee.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

aba.. this is the kingdom of Sapiro ahh.. hehehe.. in GMA's Telefantasy of Encantadia and now Etheria... :D

anyways... UST is no longer in Intramuros... it moved out since 1932.. :D

You're a follower of Encantadia/Etheria too? :D

[renell]

I sent a complaint to the DOT via E-mail about this "informal settlers" problem.

true that is a problem I've heard they had to change the tourist routes in Intramuros to avoid these squatters

[ashley12]

You're a follower of Encantadia/Etheria too? :D

ey heres an unrelated question:

whats the difference between the two shows? well, honestly I haven't followed any of the series but I think the settings and productions are quite the same. :)

[OtAkAw]

ey heres an unrelated question:

whats the difference between the two shows? well, honestly I haven't followed any of the series but I think the settings and productions are quite the same. :)

The two stories happened in the same dimension, difference is not at the same time. Encantadia is the center of the story. After encatadia, a prequel was made in order to explain why Encantadia was like that as you know it: which is Etheria. Etheria has two time dimensions, one is present the other past. Present deals with how life continued in Encantadia after the Encantadia series, past deals with the Etheria epic. But someone from the past goes to the present which makes the overall stroy interesting, it's all mixed up and intertwined.

[ashley12]

The two stories happened in the same dimension, difference is not at the same time. Encantadia is the center of the story. After encatadia, a prequel was made in order to explain why Encantadia was like that as you know it: which is Etheria. Etheria has two time dimensions, one is present the other past. Present deals with how life continued in Encantadia after the Encantadia series, past deals with the Etheria epic. But someone from the past goes to the present which makes the overall stroy interesting, it's all mixed up and intertwined.

Is that so... thanks for the info. :)

[ThisFire]

About maintaining/beautifying our beloved Intramuros, I read that Spain will be joining in a project towards beautifying Intramuros.

[Animo]

WITH its natural falls, springs, rivers, lakes, beaches and forested mountains, Bulusan town in Sorsogon province is a veritable haven for nature lovers and tourists.

But more than the town's natural beauty are the remnants of the past-the struggle for freedom and independence-still familiar but in danger of neglect and destruction.

Located in the southeast part of Sorsogon and facing the Pacific Ocean, Bulusan, which literally means "the place where water flows," covers 1,580 hectares or 43 percent of the 3,673.30-ha Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, noted by scientists for its abundance of wildlife and aquatic resources.

At least three baluartes de piedra (stone watch towers) can still be traced from their remaining walls near the shores in barangays Central, Dapdap and Mabuhay.

Local historian and former councilor Juan Galindes, 73, said the watchtowers were erected to protect the town from pirates and intruders.

A warning system called katong-katong was used to alert the people. The katong-katong is made of bamboo and beaten with a stick to produce a high or low-pitch sound. Farmers still use the instrument to draw the attention of companions or family members, Galindes said.

Also, the belfry of the St. James the Great Parish Church in barangay Central, believed to have been built in 1631 after the town was made an independent parish from Casiguran in 1630, remains intact.

Three watch towers once stood in the church's premises to complement those on the shores. People sought refuge in the church during attacks.

The church site is called the Punta Diamante because of its diamond-shaped wall formation. It is dubbed the Intramuros of Bulusan, Galindes said.

Based on what Galindes and other local historians gathered and subsequently published in souvenir programs during Bulusan's fiesta celebrations, "long before the Spanish colonizers set foot on Philippine soil, settlements already existed in Bulusan.

Artifacts excavated from burial grounds reveal that trade between China and these settlements started much earlier than 1521.

Galindes said they mainly based their research on the church's archives and books of other Bicol historians.

Oral folk history also had it that Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Matnog, Gate and Gubat used to be principalities of Bulusan, but it was not until 1758 that the town's history was documented.

Accounts of the Spanish occupation have not been made available, perhaps because the church's archives are among the local historians' few main sources.

Colonel Emeterio Funes, one of the foremost revolutionary heroes of Sorsogon during the Philippine-American War, was a native of Bulusan. He was appointed officer of the revolutionary forces in Sorsogon by General Vito Belarmino of Albay in 1900.

In the first battle to dislodge the revolutionaries' stronghold in Boco (now barangay San Francisco) on April 25, 1900, the American colonial troops retreated when their lieutenant was killed and two of them were wounded, according to the historians.

Left with limited ammunition, the natives were unable to repulse a second attack. The entire town, including the baluartes (stronghold), church, municipio (town hall) and other buildings was taken, according to Galindes.

On February 21, 1901, Funes swore allegiance to the American colonial government, formalizing the end of two years of gallant resistance in Sorsogon.

In his account, Galindes cited the "still usable" Buko Pass -- dubbed the Tirad Pass of Bulusan --between barangays San Francisco and Capangihan. It has a 92-step bamboo ladder which revolutionaries under Funes once used.

"You can still see the very thick galvanized iron. What we call Buko is the stairway going up," Galindes said.

In what is now barangay Dancalan, 23 tiradores (members of the underground revolutionary movement) under Captain Lorenzo Agbaan tried to ambush a small group of American soldiers, but they were massacred instead due to their untimely appearance.

In Punta Tawog, a place called the paropangpang was once a hideout of the tiradores, and a watch tower, now untraceable, was also constructed there.

Along with other sites and ruins that might shed understanding to Bulusan's past, the historical sites could still be lost if no concrete program was implemented to preserve them.

"They (Bulusanons) are aware (of the past). That's why when I was a councilor, I made a proposal that our historical places be preserved. I made subsequent resolutions requesting help from the National Historical Institute (NHI) and the Tourism Council," Galindes, who served as municipal councilor from 1998 to 2001, said.

"They said that my resolutions would be passed if the (Bulusan) Tourism Management Plan (TMP) was already approved," he added.

But the provincial board, citing conflicting provisions with the NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) Law, did not approve the TMP, which included the management of the Bulusan Lake, according to Albie Espano, assistant planning officer of the Municipal Planning and Development Office.

The TMP, or the Bulusan Comprehensive and Integrated Tourism Management Act of 2000, seeks the establishment of Bulusan as part of the Tourism Directory of the Philippines. It seeks the creation of an autonomous special tourism zone.

With its rejection, Espano said the local government was caught in a "stalemate." No one has pushed the proposal through or sought help from the NHI.

But Espano said that with the new presiding officer and the members of the municipal council, they were hopeful that the TMP and other discussions on preserving historical sites and promoting the town's rich tourist destinations, would take new vigor.

http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_phe/2004/jun/16-04.htm

[El Bajopontino]

Wow, que bonito lugar!!!!

[Animo]

Wow, que bonito lugar!!!!

Sí, deseo que será restaurado completamente en el futuro.

[JudeD]

The Intramuros Administration is only partially controlled by the City of Manila so the Manila mayors like Atienza can't do much about it. It's mostly controlled by the National Housing Authority, thus the s-l-o-w development. Some philanthrophic private developer should really buy up all the idle land within Intramuros and make something of it to keep it from decaying further. In any case, I think the window of opportunity for the complete restoration of Intramuros is long past. Best we can hope for is a respectful and aesthetically pleasing redevelopment.

[Arriba]

Wishful thinking! hehe, read up guys.

I like Intramuros to function more like a "village", similar to those of Forbes, Dasma, Urdaneta, etc. The City of Manila, if I am not mistkaen doesn't have any gated communities compared to Makati, QC, etc. Intramuros could be the "elite" village of the city. Aside from being a village, it could double its function as what it is doing today, a tourist attraction.

Think about it, the land value of an Intramuros lot should and must be expensive. The place contains, or is near, to shopping malls, good schools, churches, parks, restaurants, museums and Chinatown. The only thing it needs is a decent hospital, though Manila Doctors isn't really far away.

Intramuros is literally a "gated-community" already, since it has walls surrounding it, and some of its gates close by around 10pm.

For its residential community, shanties must be destroyed and residents must be relocated somewhere. The future houses (to be managed by, lets say, ayala land hehe) must be spanish influenced in terms of architecture. It may be for the middle class to upper class. Entrance to the "new" Intramuros doesnt require village-IDs so as not to hinder tourists from entering the place.

Bring back the real elite to its old home. Intramuros. :)

[vanoy2000]

i have a wishful thinking as yours arriba. it would be nice if intramuros will become a self contained community with classy restaurants.small hotels.bed and breakfast, pension houses (not too pricey), chic shops, townhouses and all the buildings should be one of colonial type.and all those ugly buildings/apartments should be torn down.
also, the facade of the san agustin church and the adjoining building should be given a facelift. add some more decorations. our national cathedral, well, i think something is still missing (it looks like it's unfinished)
honestly, i am seething with envy when i see those beautiful churches in latin america.
how come we don't have lots of those. most of our churches in the provinces were simply built and devoid of easthetic proportionality.the only one that's perfect to my opinion is the baras church but its adjoining building is ugly.
would u think this will be materialized?

[Askal82]

^^ We are so good in building modern structures yet we keep failing on preserving the old ones which is sad. It only means that the Phils doesn't really care about its past.

[Askal82]

^^ We are so good in building modern structures yet we keep failing on preserving the old ones which is sad. It only means that the Phils doesn't really care about its past. Look at most of our churches, they have plants and lichens growing all over the place. Even the Catholic church isn't so keen in restoring these magnificent structures and yet they make a lot of money every Sunday.

[vanoy2000]

i agree with u Askal82.
the catholic church should maintain/preserve its churches.
i really dislike seeing plants/grasses sprouting out of those church buildings.that will trigger the process of deterioration.
churches and landmarks in europe and n. america are regularly maintained and they look like as if just built yesterday.

[Jefferyi]

i agree with u Askal82.
the catholic church should maintain/preserve its churches.
i really dislike seeing plants/grasses sprouting out of those church buildings.that will trigger the process of deterioration.
churches and landmarks in europe and n. america are regularly maintained and they look like as if just built yesterday.
^^..and the Church officials better put those people who knows about the architecture of the church so as to not have two clashing styles like what happened to that church in Bohol.

edit: church is not in Bohol but Pampanga (San Luis Church)

[Animo]

^^..and the Church officials better put those people who knows about the architecture of the church so as to not have two clashing styles like what happened to that church in Bohol.

Also look at this travesty:

This is a good example of how a beautiful church got ruined by recent addition on the structure. The priest responsible for this act should be excommunicated, hehehe!

San Luis Church, Pampanga

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/church6.jpg

Angels in Stone - Augustinian Churches in the Philippines

[Jefferyi]

^^Good job Animo! I was actually referring to this very church. So its not in Bohol pala. :okay:

[tigidig14]

yeah take out the red roof too, it looks like where is waldo.

[Animo]

^^Good job Animo! I was actually referring to this very church. So its not in Bohol pala. :okay:

I though you were talking about that Church wherein they try to build a bridge that would go on top of it. :bash:

[Jefferyi]

@tigs: I think the priest was being patriotic with blue and red.
@animo: Nah, the church pic u posted is the one I was referring to with a mishmash style.

[ashley12]

goodness! What happend to that Church?!... Its like an edited picture...hmmm... why don't they just try painting the whole thing bright blue so that everything would blend up with that crappy shed.

[Askal82]

^^ I agree but I don't like the shed either. It looks tasteless.

[ashley12]

^^ haha that suppose to be a joke... im just kidding with that suggestion... of course making that blue shed is already a big mistake so there's no reason for making the whole thing blue. :D

[Askal82]

^^ :lol: I didn't suspect your sarcasm. Good one :okay:

[vanoy2000]

looks like 99.99% of our old churches' facades were never seen cleaning/facelifting since their construction.
maybe most of those church authorities thought that having those black spots/grass/plants on them look better to speak of their antiquity but that's a wrong concept.
or maybe they don't have enough budget for that, but what is the manila archdioses the 3rd riches in the world for?

[drfeelgood17]

^^ Yes, I agree, as long as by "facelifting" you don't mean sticking unsightly canopies in front of churches, like in the pic above....It looks like the entrance to a resort!! I don't know what it is with Philippine churches, but they do seem to like these canopies a lot!

[JustHorace]

i agree with u Askal82.
the catholic church should maintain/preserve its churches.
i really dislike seeing plants/grasses sprouting out of those church buildings.that will trigger the process of deterioration.
churches and landmarks in europe and n. america are regularly maintained and they look like as if just built yesterday.

I guess the reason why they have well-preserved churches is that they have Church taxes in their respective countries. Though I'm not particularly sure with the US and Canada.

[Hawayano]

Here are some old postcards from around 1900 when the Americans first took notice and declared out moat as unsanitary and disease-breeding grounds!


This looks like the one alongside the road that runs past Manila Hotel to DelPan bridge today...back then it was known as the Paseo de Maria Cristina, the Malecon, and the Paseo de Santa Lucia--three names for the same road (SOME things don't change much!). It looks like it was starting to drain away or dry up by then...

http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/43b49149za26067e6/8ab3/__sr_/226b.jpg?phwoPtDB.7C8Llt1


And here's a view of the baluarte de San Andres that faces the National Museum today:

http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/43b49149za26067e6/8ab3/__sr_/72d7.jpg?phwoPtDBjkQKT5GW


I like the effect that the water feature has--and I think it may even be good feng shui! (?)

[Animo]

^^ Can you post it again a photobucket.com account? Your pictures are not showing and also the one with the Crystal Arcade. :cheers1:

[Hawayano]

^^ Can you post it again a photobucket.com account? Your pictures are not showing and also the one with the Crystal Arcade. :cheers1:

Lo siento mucho, 'pare! I got them onto photobucket and here's the Walled City moat at the turn of the last century:


La cortina de Santa Lucia and one of the revellin that we still see today...
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/IntramurosMoat1.jpg

Look at how wide the inner moat was! And to think there was an outer moat as well (kind of running roughly along where Padre Burgos and Taft are today)!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/IntramurosMoat2.jpg


And finally, the Baluarte de San Andres that has held onto its original garita (garret or guard house) to this day (except the last time I went inside, it reeked of rancid "ihi")...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/IntramurosMoat3.jpg

Hope these appear--let me know if you still can't see them!

[zazo]

¿POR QUÉ HABLAIS EN INGLÉS, NO ESTAMOS EN FILIPINAS O QUÉ? AQUÍ HABLAMOS CASTELLANO

[Animo]

¿POR QUÉ HABLAIS EN INGLÉS, NO ESTAMOS EN FILIPINAS O QUÉ? AQUÍ HABLAMOS CASTELLANO

Leído aquí:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=6838330#post6838330

Las Filipinas tienen una historia única que sus primos americanos latinos.

[drfeelgood17]

@ Animo, parang nangaasar yata itong zazong ito, kanina pa tanong ng tanong parang sirang plaka.

[Animo]

@ Animo, parang nangaasar yata itong zazong ito, kanina pa tanong ng tanong parang sirang plaka.

Hehe, hindi bata lang. Nag-tour iyan sya sa buong forum na pareho iyong sinasabi. Okey, lang naman bago nya lang daw nalaman about the Philippines.

[Hawayano]

Thanks to some pics from this forum and elsewhere on the net:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/CathedralfromPalacio.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Cathedralfront.jpg

The clerestory of the old Cathedral was lined entirely with capiz windows--it must have been a remarkable engineering feat to bear the load of the roof that way, and the inside must have been gorgeous when the sunlight would filter through from above! :master:

[Hawayano]

I hope someday we can recapture this same architectural ambience throughout the Walled City:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/callevabildostereo.jpg

[ashley12]

Manila Cathedral "then & now"

it still look like the same exept for that tower, which is not that obvious.

[Hawayano]

it still look like the same exept for that tower, which is not that obvious.


You're right, ashley--when Ocampo re-designed in the 1950s, he incorporated the facade that was pretty much the most extensive portion that remained after the war. I actually like today's cupola better than the old one, which looked rather squat.

[drfeelgood17]

@ Hawayano, the old one looks incomplete because the Spanish were unable to complete their rebuilding of the cathedral after the US took over in 1898. The plan was to install twin bell towers in a Byzantium style (note how this style is already evident in the cupola and roof in the pre-war pic. I'll try to find the illustrated plan later.

Ok, found it:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/manilacath.jpg

Main façade. Signed by Francisco de Castro Ponte, chief engineer. 1894. AHN Project for the construction of two twin towers for Manila Cathedral.

[Hawayano]

@ Hawayano, the old one looks incomplete because the Spanish were unable to complete their rebuilding of the cathedral after the US took over in 1898. The plan was to install twin bell towers in a Byzantium style (note how this style is already evident in the cupola and roof in the pre-war pic. I'll try to find the illustrated plan later.


Thanks, doc--and Happy New Year (as well as to all other SSC forumers). I think I saw those plans on the CEDEX website several years back, and you would hope that those with the power to do so would utilize those original Spanish plans and rebuild much of Intramuros with a goal of urban revitalization in mind (A WIN-WIN SITUATION). So whoever finds the scan of the plan posts it here first, okay?

[drfeelgood17]

^^ Done...see above.

[flashlight]

that looks nice.
good work doc ;)

[drfeelgood17]

thanx flash - Happy 2006!

[drfeelgood17]

@ Flashlight, Have you seen my post of how Manila Cathedral looked like before the quake of 1863? It remains my favourite version of the Cathedral. Here it is again:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/p12ima1.jpg

[Jefferyi]

^^This was the version that was inspired from that Church of Gesu somewhere in Italy right? I like very much the facade. :cheers:

[flashlight]

awesome, i wonder how it looked like inside.. :) happy 2006 too doc.

[drfeelgood17]

Yup, that's right - clever guy, I'm impressed :) . I can only imagine how grand the interior must have been. Here's a pic of Rome's Gesu:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/475px-Gesu.jpg

[tigidig14]

^thats so freaky, the resemblance

[flashlight]

just magnificent.those cars looked like toys, hehe..

[drfeelgood17]

The only big difference is the cupola (dome) - apart from that, it's almost an exact copy.

[Jefferyi]

Yup, that's right - clever guy, I'm impressed :) . I can only imagine how grand the interior must have been. Here's a pic of Rome's Gesu:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/475px-Gesu.jpg
^^Ive only read about that here prolly from your post hehehe. The facade of that old Manila church actually kinda reminds of a different church called Santa Maria something Ive seen a long time ago but Im not really so sure if theres a resemblence to that. Anywho I hope they can replicate that design in future churches like what had already been done to that church near MoA.
edit: the church is called Santa Maria Novella:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/novella.jpg

[Animo]

@ Hawayano, the old one looks incomplete because the Spanish were unable to complete their rebuilding of the cathedral after the US took over in 1898. The plan was to install twin bell towers in a Byzantium style (note how this style is already evident in the cupola and roof in the pre-war pic. I'll try to find the illustrated plan later.

Ok, found it:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/manilacath.jpg

Main façade. Signed by Francisco de Castro Ponte, chief engineer. 1894. AHN Project for the construction of two twin towers for Manila Cathedral.

Amazing! Wow, you guys I feel so tired. I got home at 4 AM. How was your New Years celebration?

[Jefferyi]

^^Crapulam terriblem habeo. Hehehe

[Hawayano]

Amazing! Wow, you guys I feel so tired. I got home at 4 AM. How was your New Years celebration?


Hahaha--not nearly as fun as yours, Animo, that's for sure! :laugh:

[Animo]

LAST Wednesday, a delegation of high-level government officials from Spain gathered in the National Museum to open an exhibit of wonderful artifacts showing the long cultural and historic ties between our two countries. From our side the Speaker of the House, the mayor of Manila, and Senator Edgardo Angara (author of a bill instituting annual observance of Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day) were present. The "usual suspects" were also around: diplomats, cultural workers, the curious, professional party crashers and two National Artists, Napoleon Abueva and Arturo Luz. Representing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were the executive secretary and one of her daughters-in-law.

It was a high-powered group that stood patiently in the Tambunting Hall during the customary speeches. That there were no chairs in the room made the speeches seem longer than they actually were.

I resisted the temptation to slip away and come back another day, because of my desire to see the famous 17th-century chest, or" baul," the lid of which was painted with what is probably the earliest colored image we have of Intramuros [Manila's Spanish-era "walled city" area]. I had only seen this baul in photographs until then, and it was a real treat to see the original and study the map closely, looking at details like Chinese sampans and depictions of different types of people. The chest is well preserved but, except for the painting on the lid, quite ordinary.

A wealthy antique collector asked me if the metal locks and fittings depicted the double-headed Hapsburg eagle. I looked at it and looked at him blankly saying they were simple locks.

One can say that looking at artifacts is an exercise in history, or at best like an ink-blot test-one sees what one would like to see even if it is not there.

There were so many other beautiful things on display, some never before seen in the Philippines, like huge ivory carvings, "salakot" [native wide-rimmed head covers] embellished with silver, weapons, paintings and, of course, some of the rarest books on the Philippines. Yet to the baul I returned three times because of its resonance in contemporary life.

Filipinos today send their "personal effects" home from certain points around the world in what is known as a balikbayan box. These sturdy carton boxes travel by sea very much in the same way that the famous chest I am raving about traveled from Manila to Acapulco and back in what our textbooks call the Galleon Trade (1565-1815). From Manila these chests were packed with spices and, of course, many goods from China, like silk, tortoise shell and ivory. When the boxes came back to Manila they were loaded, we are told, with silver.

Fortunes were made overnight on these boxes. The arrival of a Manila galleon was always an excuse for a fiesta. Well, fortunes were also lost overnight in case of shipwreck or when English, Portuguese or Dutch rivals seized them along the way.

I was never interested in the Galleon Trade until I walked in the National Museum Wednesday morning. This was history come alive and people should come and see the exhibit while it lasts.

The clueless asked me why the mayor of Legazpi City in Albay province, southeast of Manila, and the mayor of Zumarraga, Spain, birthplace of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, were around. I had to explain that the exhibit and a three-day conference of Filipino and Spanish historians were organized around the figure of the first governor and captain general of the Spanish Philippines. Because of his pioneering efforts, and of course spending his own funds in the exploration and settlement of the Philippines, Legazpi was the only one given the title "adelantado," which eluded over a hundred of his successors as governors-general.

At this point, I remembered the Legazpi-Urdaneta monument in front of the Manila Hotel as well as Legazpi's tomb in the San Agustin Church in Intramuros. Fray Francisco de Ortega, writing to the viceroy of Mexico from Manila on June 6, 1573, gave a brief narration of the death, on Aug. 20, 1572, of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi:

"His death was greatly deplored and is so even at the present day, for doubtless his valor and wisdom have been greatly needed. Those who regarded him as wicked in his life will now canonize him as a saint. I believe that he is in glory or on the way to it, for he was a good Christian and if he erred in some things, I believe that he desired to do right, while in some other things he did the best he could.

"He died poor, which is a great evidence of his goodness. That was a cause for great confusion to those who regarded him as very rich, and who were murmuring about, saying that he had a chest of gold and more than 25,000 pesos in tostones. All that he was found to have on the day of his death was 460 pesos in two little sacks. These he had asked as a loan a few days before. He had also in gold about 120 pesos not counting a large chain and one small one that he had brought from his native land. He had also the wrought silver of his table service. All the rest of this was not worth 500 pesos. This is the whole of the wealth and treasure that he had. Of this fact I am practically an eyewitness, for I was present at his death and at the inventory of his property..."

For a government official to die poor today will invite ridicule rather than praise. History shows how much our lives and thinking have changed from those simple times.

Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu
http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/col_lob/2004/mar05.htm

[drfeelgood17]

Amazing! Wow, you guys I feel so tired. I got home at 4 AM. How was your New Years celebration?

The party was great, but you know what I had to leave early coz I couldn't wait to log back on to SSC to check the latest Intramuros post. :jk:

[Animo]

Found these online:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1783.jpg
The Manila City Hall

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1764.jpg
The golf course outside the wall

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1768.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1765.jpg
The Walls

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1478.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1515.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1489.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1474.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1480.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1476.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1493.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1488.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1513.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1492.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1495.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1501.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1498.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1500.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1482.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1481.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1487.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1494.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1491.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1496.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1499.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/crazygirlgail/pic1514.jpg

[Animo]

http://homepage.mac.com/b_kerkhofs/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-02%2002.54.21%20-0800/Image-6B8F3DCD3D0C11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/b_kerkhofs/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-02%2002.54.21%20-0800/Image-6B8F94AF3D0C11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/b_kerkhofs/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-02%2002.54.21%20-0800/Image-6B8FC5303D0C11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/b_kerkhofs/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-02%2002.54.21%20-0800/Image-6B8F06AE3D0C11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/b_kerkhofs/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-02%2002.54.21%20-0800/Image-6B8F21543D0C11D8.jpg

[Animo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph21.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph09.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph08.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rv_estardo/ph10.jpg

[Hawayano]

Animo! Thanks for posting the wonderful pics! It's like we're really there! :wave:

[Animo]

Animo! Thanks for posting the wonderful pics! It's like we're really there! :wave:

De nada. :)

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_01.jpg

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_02.jpg

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_03.jpg

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_06.jpg

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_09.jpg

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_10.jpg

http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/travel/09_13_14.jpg

[drfeelgood17]

geniales fotos, Russell, gracias, chico.
Seeing all these pics makes me wanna book a flight just to see Intramuros again hehe

[drfeelgood17]

http://homepage.mac.com/b_kerkhofs/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-02%2002.54.21%20-0800/Image-6B8FC5303D0C11D8.jpg

The only thing I don't like are the murals on this building. It's hardly authentic, is it? This is the kind of kitsch "renovation" we should avoid. :)

[ashley12]

^^ and don't forget the airconditioning units seen in the balconies!...

[drfeelgood17]

^^Oh yes! I didn't notice that....they're difficult to hide aren't they?

[Askal82]

^^ and don't forget the airconditioning units seen in the balconies!...

The airconditioning units probably serve to preserve the interiors of that building. Cold, drier air decreases deterioration compared to hot, humid ones. In most museums, the dark red lights are being used in their painting galleries because harsh bright ones can totally ruin them.

Overall, the preservation was done well. I hope they can do this with other salvageable buildings of intramuros.

[ashley12]

^^ well there are other ways to make those units hide from the viewers... in the first place, why in the balconies? that might just distract the people who are viewing from above.

but well, we can't argue with that... and your right 'skal, atlease they manage to preserve it well. :)

[Askal82]

^^ If you make airconditioning centralized, you have to install vents and tubes on the ceilings which might ruin the interiors but your exteriors will look intact. Pero sabagay sayang din yung balcony space.

[drfeelgood17]

^^ If you make airconditioning centralized, you have to install vents and tubes on the ceilings which might ruin the interiors but your exteriors will look intact. Pero sabagay sayang din yung balcony space.

Yeh, in a way it's discreet as the balcony railing partially hide them. It's better than sticking them on the walls, like in most buildings in the RP.

[Hawayano]

Still another Intramuros jewel that should've been rebuilt after 1945 destruction. Supposedly it's sacristy held a trove of huge coffers that once held the treasures that the Franciscans stashed during the galleon trade. National master Fernando Amorsolo produced some dramatically gloomy paintings of it in ruins. I think this church has officially been "transferred" to Forbes Park's Sanctuario de San Antonio.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/SnFrfanciscoCh.jpg

[manileño]

damn! how many churches were there in intramuros?? we really could have been Asian Vatican City! grrrrrr

[Jefferyi]

Did that San Francisco Church get an exterior renovation before that pic was taken? Imo, that little cupola doesn't belong in that facade. :dunno:

[Hawayano]

Did that San Francisco Church get an exterior renovation before that pic was taken? Imo, that little cupola doesn't belong in that facade. :dunno:


I'm not sure what was replaced after the 1863 and 1880 earthquakes, but the Fernando Brambila watercolors of the late 1700s show the same facade, including the little cupola. I do know that this church along with all the other major ones in the Walled City were renovated and spruced up for the 1937 International Eucharistic Congress held in Manila. They pretty much re-painted the paletada coating in 2-tones and added a statue of Saint Anthony (or is it Saint Francis?) in the plaza (I think that's the one that's in front of the Forbes Park Sanctuario today).

[OtAkAw]

Sayang naman yung Church, oh well, that's why the Philippines is poor because majority of us are not like us, get what I mean?

[drfeelgood17]

Still another Intramuros jewel that should've been rebuilt after 1945 destruction. Supposedly it's sacristy held a trove of huge coffers that once held the treasures that the Franciscans stashed during the galleon trade. National master Fernando Amorsolo produced some dramatically gloomy paintings of it in ruins. I think this church has officially been "transferred" to Forbes Park's Sanctuario de San Antonio.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/SnFrfanciscoCh.jpg

I would love to see any existing images of the interior of this church. It was supposed to be very ornate and possibly even more lavish than San Agustin, especially the altar.

[drfeelgood17]

damn! how many churches were there in intramuros?? we really could have been Asian Vatican City! grrrrrr

Wasn't there 17? Not sure of this though....the Americans called Manila the Rome of Asia for this reason.

[manileño]

talino talaga ni señor esteban..

.....born in Calamba, grew up in bicol (Legazpi), now living in London ....

eh kaya naman pala eh, same birthplace as Rizal. :)

[drfeelgood17]

^^ermm...I still need to add another 20 or so languages, and maybe take up medicine as a hobby hehe
and I don't wanna get shot ok?

[Culiat]

^^ermm...I still need to add another 20 or so languages, and maybe take up medicine as a hobby hehe
and I don't wanna get shot ok?

lol

[dudz]

guys, just wanna share these photos i took months back. i particularly admire the manila cathedral. i took photos of it from as many angle as i could. here they are and others, too...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0206.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0201.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0199.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0200.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0211.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros/fort%20santiago/IMG_0183.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros/fort%20santiago/IMG_0188b.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros/IMG_0323c.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros/IMG_0163.jpg

[dudz]

more...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0340.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros/IMG_0276.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0168.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0222.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0172.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/IMG_0109.jpg

[Animo]

^^ Thank you Sir Dudz. This would be my 1st time seeing photos of those monuments.

[Virtute]

@ Flashlight, Have you seen my post of how Manila Cathedral looked like before the quake of 1863? It remains my favourite version of the Cathedral. Here it is again:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/p12ima1.jpg

I like how there was a lot of open space in the middle. Reminds me of Rome and Venice or even in Mexico's grand Zocalo that has the huge Mexican flag in the center. We lost much of that.

[Hawayano]

more...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0340.jpg




Sir dudz: nice angles in your pics--sure beats the traditional postcard-type views. The Legazpi-Urdaneta monument looks good for being over a century old and standing exposed to the ocean salt air. I especially like this view of Manila Cathedral--it says so much about the potential charisma and beauty that Intramuros has awaiting a more glorious future...someday!

BTW, what's the classical building in the background that has the red roof tiles?

[dancethingy]

@ Manileno, when you go to Intramuros you will see placards where four destroyed churches once stood (was it four or seven? i don't remember). All of them were absolutely glorious. We could've been a vatican city of Asia, but alas what happened has happened and we must move on. When good things come to an end then it is a sign that we must search for something better.

[manileño]

^ Amen. dancethingy. :)

[manileño]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/intramuros2/IMG_0206.jpg


the most beautiful clock tower in the country for me.. much better than manila city hall's.

[Virtute]

I went to Intramuros last week:

In Fort Santiago: Dr. Jose Rizal statue:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/jrizal.jpg

Fountain near the entrance of Ft. Santiago:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/fountain.jpg

Ft. Santiago Plaque:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/plaque.jpg

The gate or Puerta of Ft. Santiago
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/puerta.jpg

[Virtute]

Manila Cathedral:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/sanagustin.jpg

Palacio ...?:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/bldg.jpg

Memorare - Honoring the lives lost in Intramuros/Manila during WWII.
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/memorare.jpg

On the side of the Memorare, is this board showing a current project? They must be doing something with these structures to make them look like the prewar days?
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/project.jpg

Another old rebuilt structure:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/bldg2.jpg

There was a wedding going on hence the well-dressed woman:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/bldg3.jpg

One of the streets in Intramuros. I wish all of the streets in Intramuros were like this:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/street.jpg

[Askal82]

@ Dudz and @ virtue:

The charm of Old World Manila. Astounding! :eek2:

:applause: :applause:

[Virtute]

San Agustin Church:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/church.jpg

Galerie Andres:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/galerie_andres.jpg

Barbaras (Ok I know we got like a dozen pics of the same buildings but I guess this is my version LOL):
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/barbaras.jpg

Another angle of Galerie Andres and Barbaras (white on the right):
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/anotherview.jpg

This view alone made me feel like I was in Guadalajara, Mexico. These are the side walls of San Agustin Church:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/sides.jpg

Corner street sign post, "General Luna Real de Palacio":
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/genluna.jpg

Casa Maritima:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/maritima.jpg

Lourdes Church and Convent once stood where this building is. It is now a shop called Silahis:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/lourdes.jpg

http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/lourdes2.jpg

The walls of Intramuros. This particular one facing Luneta Park:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/walls.jpg

Opposite view. To the right is Puerta Real y Revellin de Real:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/walls2.jpg

Another building. Sorry can't remember the name of it, NCMB?:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/bldg4.jpg

Another. They should fix up the building next to it at least:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/bldg5.jpg

This is on top of Baluarte de San Andres. It is also on top of the main entrance going to Intramuros via General Luna Real de Palacio Rd.:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/baluarte_sanandres.jpg

More pics of Baluarte de San Andres:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/baluarte_sanandres2.jpg

The road is directly below this wall. You can see the Manila Hotel in the distance:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/baluarte_sanandres3.jpg

Here's a leftover Japanese artillery piece:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/japanese_arty.jpg

Picture taken on top of the wall overlooking Roxas Blvd. You can see the Miguel Lopez de Legazpi statue just over the treeline:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/mabini.jpg

Looking at Luneta Park and Ermita buildings in the distance:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/luneta.jpg

I'll continue with more pics tomorrow.

Oh and whoever said Intramuros is Romantic, it is true. Many couples go there and sit on top of the walls of Intramuros and gaze at the sunset or the view of the golf course, the park and the tall skyscrapers in the distance.

:lovethem:

[Jefferyi]

I'm not sure what was replaced after the 1863 and 1880 earthquakes, but the Fernando Brambila watercolors of the late 1700s show the same facade, including the little cupola. I do know that this church along with all the other major ones in the Walled City were renovated and spruced up for the 1937 International Eucharistic Congress held in Manila. They pretty much re-painted the paletada coating in 2-tones and added a statue of Saint Anthony (or is it Saint Francis?) in the plaza (I think that's the one that's in front of the Forbes Park Sanctuario today).
Thanks for the info Hawayano. I also noticed that San Francisco facade looks very similar to that church in Binondo.

[Jefferyi]

@Virtue: Excellent! :applause: Looks like you've gone out of the way of the typical tourist route or did you meet up and got lessons from Master Dudz? The few last pics especially the 4th-6nd to last aree my faves because youve made Intramuros look like some ancient Roman ruins IMO probably like what those Europeans saw on their 17th century grand tours.

[Askal82]

^^ Thats what I talked about in this other thread, there should be an overall balance of antiquity and renovation. I like the way Intramuros is kept with some structures to be totally renovated, however, they should maintain the ones that doesn't need renovation such as the wall by getting rid of the weeds on them.

[Culiat]

Wow Virtute great pictures! :applause: :applause: :applause:

[manileño]

Another. They should fix up the building next to it at least:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/bldg5.jpg




classic. this is our very own flatiron bldg. good pics, virtute! :okay:

[Virtute]

Continuation of my Intramuros trip last week Jan 3, 2006:

The inside garden on the west side:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/garden.jpg

Watching some Americans playing golf with their caddies. One caddie is holding a tray with all their drinks:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/golfers.jpg

This fortification is along the golfcourse that use to be a moat and next to Roxas Blvd. It is now part of the obstacles for golfers:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/fort.jpg

This is another skeleton of a building that once stood in Intramuros. Pic taken on top of the wall Roxas Blvd. side:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/facade.jpg

Wall view. Sometimes I wish the moat surrounding Intramuros still exist, but I guess it will not be making money like the golf-course. The Americans filled it up to stop malaria outbreaks:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/walls3.jpg

I'd imagine Gen. Douglas McArthur coming from the Manila Hotel (on the right side of the pic) just a brisk walk away and then talking to President Manuel Quezon on top of the walls of Intramuros. "Hrrrmmm.. by the way Mr. President, your left hand is missing."
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/doug_and_manuel.jpg

Looking in on the top of the walls:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/inwall.jpg

Cañones de Intramuros. They are facing Luneta Park:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/canones.jpg

FUEGO.....FUEGO!:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/fuego.jpg

While walking out of Intramuros heading to take the LRT. My last pic of the walls.
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/outwall.jpg

[Virtute]

Back to Ft. Santiago:

The greenery of the fort:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/santiagogreen.jpg

Ft. Santiago entrance from the mouth of the Pasig river:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/santiagoentrance.jpg

On the tip of Ft. Santiago. On the left is Binondo.
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/binondo.jpg

Here's a zoom view. On the center of the pic you see Jones Bridge and next to it is the Philippine Postal Corp. Bldg:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/zoom.jpg

[Virtute]

@Virtue: Excellent! :applause: Looks like you've gone out of the way of the typical tourist route or did you meet up and got lessons from Master Dudz? The few last pics especially the 4th-6nd to last aree my faves because youve made Intramuros look like some ancient Roman ruins IMO probably like what those Europeans saw on their 17th century grand tours.

LOL, Dudz pics are incredible. I don't have the photographer's eye but just love taking pictures. Without a doubt Intramuros can be a lot better. Let's hope they keep improving and restoring.

[sista]

Continuation of my Intramuros trip last week Jan 3, 2006:

The inside garden on the west side:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/garden.jpg


crud! great pics!!! :eek2: this one is my favorite "The Secret Garden" as I would like to call it :D

[ishtefh_03]

our class will go there this coming saturday, tour lng... we'll take pictures and i'll post it here...

[sugarboy]

Watching some Americans playing golf with their caddies. One caddie is holding a tray with all their drinks:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/golfers.jpg

This fortification is along the golfcourse that use to be a moat and next to Roxas Blvd. It is now part of the obstacles for golfers:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/fort.jpg


Intramuros is one of my favorites. A very nice course to play. The Philippine Tourism Authority also did a good job in developing the locker rooms recently.

[Hawayano]

Virtute: great shots to keep us updated! Sounds corny, but it's just like being there! :bow:

[drfeelgood17]

Great pics guys!! :cheers:
This thread keeps getting better and better (& maybe Intramuros itself...) :)

[drfeelgood17]

classic. this is our very own flatiron bldg. good pics, virtute! :okay:

That's what I was thinking -

I was trying to remember the name of that NY building - thanx, Juan! :)

[Jefferyi]

FUEGO.....FUEGO!:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/fuego.jpg

Yes! pretty please! fire!aim straight! :horse:
Excellent installment Virtute. :applause:

[Hawayano]

Too bad some morons had painted their graffiti on some of the cannon! They should be thrown into the Fort Santiago dungeon for that! :down:

[Hawayano]

Here's a photo postcard of the Puente de Espana in its final days (note the start of dredging for the Jones Bridge foundations just downstream). You can also see how the bridge was being held together by temporary repairs, as if maintaining it was by then no longer a priority of the city administrators. While this pic may belong on the Pasig or Manila Tradition/Modernity threads, I like to examine it for the Intramuros details. Circa 1912

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Espanabridgerepaired.jpg

[manileño]

puente de españa, puente colgante.. shi* what else did they destroy? we weren't just Rome.. we were Paris and that is Seine! :rant:

[Hawayano]

Yes! pretty please! fire!aim straight! :horse:
Excellent installment Virtute. :applause:


heheheheheh! :hilarious yes! let's "clean house" and put SSC forumers in charge!

[Jefferyi]

I was alluding to that city hall tower. :D I think its architectural details needa finetuning. I wish it could look as good as the Manila Cathedral's bell tower. :2cents:

[Hawayano]

I was alluding to that city hall tower. :D I think its architectural details needa finetuning. I wish it could look as good as the Manila Cathedral's bell tower. :2cents:


Oops--my bad! I thought you meant Mr. Atienza...but I also agree that the Maharnilad is a victim of poor taste in reconstruction design. The coffin- shaped layout was never very appealing, yet when viewed from the end that faces the old Jai Alai site, the colonnaded facade looks rather decent. It's the lateral views that irk the tar out of me--they've added several floors since the end of WW2, and the proportions do not work with the tower. The paint job on the tower is also pretty sucky. To get a better idea of what the original architect had intended, we should look at the 1940 (prewar) photos of the City Hall. Same goes for the former Legislative Building that became the National Museum--in prewar times, it was a grand and elegant beauty, but today it's really just a shelll of its former self.

[Rence]

For those who are interested to see the best ornamental plants, orchids and rich horticultural showcase of the country which may offer . The Philippines is home to at least 16,000 plus species of plants over 8,000 of which are flowering plants and shrubs.

Flora Filipina 2006 will be held in clamshell pavilion near the ruins of San Ignacio church on February 23- March 6, 2006
more than 120 booths from all over the coutry will be featured. The show will coincide the 60th Anniversary of the Philippine Orchid Society and 30th Anniversary of Philippine Horticultural Society


While there will be a conference in the historic Manila Hotel on Feb. 24-25

ON February 26- there are 3 provincial tours that the POS will be organizing ;
Tour 1- Bulacan and Pampanga
Tour 2- Tagaytay and Batangas
Tour 3- Laguna and Quezon province
There is a minimal charge on the tour which includes aircon bus ride from Manila Seedling Bank, lunch and snacks back again to the Manila Seedling Bank in the evening.
You may see the farms of the growers of orchids and oramental plants plus the chance to buy these plants at a farm rate price. A lecture will also be given.

:weirdo: I will attending the 2 day coference in Manila Hotel and perhaps the Tour 2 package since I will also be meeting some Singaporean friends in the trip.

for those who are interested in the sunday tour ( feb.26) you may bring camera. You may telefax POS secretariat at (+632) 9294425) mobile number:
(+63)9178485468

or e-mail the group at : flora@philorchidsociety.org

the secretary is Miss Jenny Rivera . ( Paki PM muna ako if anyone is interested in the tour then tell her na ako nag-refer sa inyo.
this may be one of our EB na rin for the month of February.)

[Animo]

Here's a photo postcard of the Puente de Espana in its final days (note the start of dredging for the Jones Bridge foundations just downstream). You can also see how the bridge was being held together by temporary repairs, as if maintaining it was by then no longer a priority of the city administrators. While this pic may belong on the Pasig or Manila Tradition/Modernity threads, I like to examine it for the Intramuros details. Circa 1912

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Espanabridgerepaired.jpg

^^ An aerial shot of Puente de España.

http://www.univie.ac.at/Voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/mura322a.jpg

[Animo]

http://www.palfrey.com/photos/3809-05.jpg
Cloisters, Intramuros, Manila

http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/pics/4566.jpg
http://images.43things.com/place/00/01/a2/107048lr.jpg
Manila Cathedral in Intramuros

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-3.gif

[Animo]

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-2.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-4.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-5.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-6.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-7.gif

[Animo]

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-8.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-9.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-10.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-11.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-12.gif

[Animo]

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-13.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-14.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-15.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-16.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-17.gif

[Animo]

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-18.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-19.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-20.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-21.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-22.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-23.gif

[kalabaw]

Continuation of my Intramuros trip last week Jan 3, 2006:

Looking in on the top of the walls:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/inwall.jpg



The pink and cream building at the left is my school!!! I wish they will finish the Gral. Luna side of this building soon.

[kalabaw]

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-19.gif[/IMG]
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-20.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-21.gif
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/manila/intramuros-22.gif


Wow!!! Our baluarte... I remember how we used to go there just to while away our time during long breaks. It used to be our hiding place while copying assignments in Accounting! Mwehihihi... :) Haay... I miss my college life... sigh

[Rence]

According to one of the early afternoon shows I have watched over NBN channel 4 yesterday, the Intramuros administration recieved a grant from JICA amounting to $5 million for the restoration of the walls around Ft. Santiago and some walls to be re-built near the Ft. Santiago .

then one of the guest from Intramuros Administration said that they could also accept donations from the private individuals or companies while promoting a book " Ciudad Murada" or Muralla ? available in IA or Casa Manila at around P280 plus something ...

perhaps to those who are interested you may want to donate? to the IA

[Animo]

THE ONGOING restoration of one of the Spanish-era walls in the Intramuros ("Walled City") area of Manila will get a boost from a grant of 251 million pesos from the Japanese government, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon said.

The grant is for reconstruction of the Maestranza Curtain Wall, which is expected to cost 426 million pesos, Gordon said.

The remainder of the needed funds will come from the Philippine government, he said.

The Maestranza Curtain Wall was once the northern portion of Intramuros by the banks of the Pasig River.

http://www.inq7.net/brk/2003/dec/20/brkoth_4-1.htm

---

Title : Reconstruction of Maestranza Curtain Wall
Objective : The project aims to bring renewed interest in Intramuros thru the completion of the Walled City's fortification. The reconstructed area of the Maestranza Curtain Wall can be a major tourist center within Intramuros.
Description : NPGA-CVF: The project involves the reconstruction of the northern part of the Intramuros wall, consisting of the stretch between Fort Santiago and the Puerta Isabel II and facing Pasig River.
Implementing Agency : DOT/CAR
Funding Source : Japan - JICA
Sector/Subsector : INDUSTRY/Tourism
Region/Location : 16 - National Capital Region
Sub-Regions :
Grant/Loan Amount :
GOP Counterpart :
Total in Million US$ :
Project Status : DROPPED
Pipeline Level : DROPPED
Remarks : ENDORSED BY NEDA TO THE GOJ (THRU DFA) UNDER THE GENERAL GRANT AID PROGRAM ON 23 SEPTEMBER 2003. FOLLOWING THE REQUEST FROM DOT, DOF SUBMITTED THE PROJECT FOR FUNDING UNDER THE NON-PROJECT GRANT ASSISTANCE OF JAPAN COUNTERVALUE FUNDS. THE GOJ HAS APPROVED THE UTILIZATION OF P251 MILLION OF THE NPGA-CVF TO FINANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT SUBJECT TO THE RELOCATION OF INFORMAL SETTLERS IN THE PROJECT SITE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE PROJECT. THE EMBASSY OF JAPAN HAS REQUESTED THE DOF TO WITHHOLD THE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT UNTIL SAID CONDITION HAS BEEN FULLY COMPLIED WITH BY THE DOT.

http://neda.gov.ph/odamon/ProjectProfile.asp?ProjectId=758

---

Has this project been completed already? Or was it dropped like what the above says or is this the same thing as what Rence just said?

[Lili]

Beautiful shots of Intramuros @Virtute and @Animo. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Hawayano]

Okay, I know that this was already posted in this thread, but I need to add one more pic to the sequence:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/CathedralfromPalacio.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/1947cathedral.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Cathedralfront.jpg

[Jefferyi]

Excellent pics Hawayano. I didn't expect the damage was that extensive for the cathedral prolly because it looks almost exactly like it did before WWII as you've posted. Filipinos are indeed capable of restoring destroyed buildings. :cheers:

[Hawayano]

Let me know if these should go into a thread other than here...


Fort Santiago from the Binondo side of the Pasig. I think the Americans' wooden structure on the top of the falsabraga de Santa Barbara (the highest post on the fort) looked kind of imposing...I wonder if anyone has piccs of the view from the tower...
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/FtStiagofromwaterway.jpg

The southern fortifications that became the Manila Aquarium under the US:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/acuario.jpg
I think these have become like a garden area for the Puerta Real?


Looking toward the Puerta Santa Lucia, with the corner entrance to San Agustin's courtyard on the left foreground:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/callerealsnagustin.jpg

My favorite: the Paseo de Bagumbayan, which is today's Padre Burgos drive that now sweeps past the National Museum and ends at the Manila Hotel. This is how it looked with Intramuros' General Luna Street entry on the right (not in the pic) and the US Wallace Field (that eventually became Rizal Park).
This is the ambience of old Manila extramuros, especially with the canopy of shade trees and the tranvia tracks puttering down the center! Couldn't they have left well-enough alone? (sigh) :cry:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Bagumbayanshady.jpg

[Hawayano]

Let me know if these should go into a thread other than here...


Fort Santiago from the Binondo side of the Pasig. I think the Americans' wooden structure on the top of the falsabraga de Santa Barbara (the highest post on the fort) looked kind of imposing...I wonder if anyone has pics of the view from the tower...
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/FtStiagofromwaterway.jpg

The southern fortifications that became the Manila Aquarium under the US:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/acuario.jpg
I think these have become like a garden area for the Puerta Real?


Looking toward the Puerta Santa Lucia, with the corner entrance to San Agustin's courtyard on the left foreground:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/callerealsnagustin.jpg

My favorite: the Paseo de Bagumbayan, which is today's Padre Burgos drive that now sweeps past the National Museum and ends at the Manila Hotel. This is how it looked with Intramuros' General Luna Street entry on the right (not in the pic) and the US Wallace Field (that eventually became Rizal Park).
This is the ambience of old Manila extramuros, especially with the canopy of shade trees and the tranvia tracks puttering down the center! Couldn't they have left well-enough alone? (sigh) :cry:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Bagumbayanshady.jpg

[le Reine]

I just hope that the governmetn would try to build the ayuntemiento... I really love that building... Who has a picture of it?

[Hawayano]

I just hope that the governmetn would try to build the ayuntemiento... I really love that building... Who has a picture of it?


Here it is in its last incarnation:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/ayuntamiento.jpg

[manileño]

arrggh. american put* flags

[Askal82]

Ang ganda naman ng Avenida dati. I like the cobbled streets. So charming.

[Rence]

THE ONGOING restoration of one of the Spanish-era walls in the Intramuros ("Walled City") area of Manila will get a boost from a grant of 251 million pesos from the Japanese government, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon said.

The grant is for reconstruction of the Maestranza Curtain Wall, which is expected to cost 426 million pesos, Gordon said.

The remainder of the needed funds will come from the Philippine government, he said.

The Maestranza Curtain Wall was once the northern portion of Intramuros by the banks of the Pasig River.

http://www.inq7.net/brk/2003/dec/20/brkoth_4-1.htm

---

Title : Reconstruction of Maestranza Curtain Wall
Objective : The project aims to bring renewed interest in Intramuros thru the completion of the Walled City's fortification. The reconstructed area of the Maestranza Curtain Wall can be a major tourist center within Intramuros.
Description : NPGA-CVF: The project involves the reconstruction of the northern part of the Intramuros wall, consisting of the stretch between Fort Santiago and the Puerta Isabel II and facing Pasig River.
Implementing Agency : DOT/CAR
Funding Source : Japan - JICA
Sector/Subsector : INDUSTRY/Tourism
Region/Location : 16 - National Capital Region
Sub-Regions :
Grant/Loan Amount :
GOP Counterpart :
Total in Million US$ :
Project Status : DROPPED
Pipeline Level : DROPPED
Remarks : ENDORSED BY NEDA TO THE GOJ (THRU DFA) UNDER THE GENERAL GRANT AID PROGRAM ON 23 SEPTEMBER 2003. FOLLOWING THE REQUEST FROM DOT, DOF SUBMITTED THE PROJECT FOR FUNDING UNDER THE NON-PROJECT GRANT ASSISTANCE OF JAPAN COUNTERVALUE FUNDS. THE GOJ HAS APPROVED THE UTILIZATION OF P251 MILLION OF THE NPGA-CVF TO FINANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT SUBJECT TO THE RELOCATION OF INFORMAL SETTLERS IN THE PROJECT SITE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE PROJECT. THE EMBASSY OF JAPAN HAS REQUESTED THE DOF TO WITHHOLD THE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT UNTIL SAID CONDITION HAS BEEN FULLY COMPLIED WITH BY THE DOT.

http://neda.gov.ph/odamon/ProjectProfile.asp?ProjectId=758

---

Has this project been completed already? Or was it dropped like what the above says or is this the same thing as what Rence just said?

Hi, Animo
that episode was shown on January 13 2006 late afteroon over NBN chanel 4.
according to the guest, the delay was caused by the relocation of the squatters near the present Fort Santiago . I was also wondering about the delay on the construction of the former Intendencia or Central bank building , i saw that building being rennovated druring 1998 but somehow they were never finished . I always go to the post office (philatelist kasi ako) i just wonder what happened to the on-going restoration works in that building?

NEXT is the building of the Bureau Of Immigration and Deportation , How i wish they could have been relocated somewhere , eye sore na yang building na iyan, according to some former resident wala nama daw iyan nnong unang panahon. kapag nasa kabilang pampang ka ng Pasig around San Fernado street the walls of the Intramuros is blocked by that building.

[Hawayano]

pre-war Puerta Real from an interesting angle:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/PCpuertareal.jpg

the big ol' moat from the Malecon side:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/IntramurosMoat.jpg

[Hawayano]

FUEGO.....FUEGO!:
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/intramuros/fuego.jpg


Hmmm...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/cityhall1950.jpg

[Wonderboy]

My favorite: the Paseo de Bagumbayan, which is today's Padre Burgos drive that now sweeps past the National Museum and ends at the Manila Hotel. This is how it looked with Intramuros' General Luna Street entry on the right (not in the pic) and the US Wallace Field (that eventually became Rizal Park). This is the ambience of old Manila extramuros, especially with the canopy of shade trees and the tranvia tracks puttering down the center! Couldn't they have left well-enough alone? (sigh) :cry: http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Bagumbayanshady.jpg

Hawayano, there is a prewar photo of Bonifacio drive at the Meralco museum that exactly looks like this one. I stared at it for a couple of minutes. I'll take a picture of it and post it here.

You're right, Paseo de Bagumbayan is magnificent and they should have left the beautiful area alone. But you know what, I had a good walk last week from Elk's club (now Museo Pambata) to Luneta and took a long detour to Bonifacio drive and entered Sta. Lucia gate in Intramuros. I had a late lunch at Barbara's at the Plaza San Luis complex right across San Agustin church. Despite the destruction during WWII and how Manila eventually became dark and seedy, there is something about Manila that makes it charming. I couldn't explain the feeling especially when I had a leisurely walk at the promenade going to Intramuros on a lazy weekday afternoon.

[BoNduRanT]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/cotasantiago02.jpg

I took this pic summer of 2005. At first glance, it looks like a European city but it was actually taken at the park infront of the Fort Santiago :)

[MAXTON]

^^ GANDA :) :) :)