Intramuros (from the Latin intra muros literally, “within the walls”) was constructed by the Spaniards in 1571, during their 300-year colonization of the Philippines. It remains a monumental, if not ruined, relic of the Spanish period in the history of the Philippines.
The walls of Intramuros cover an area roughly 600 yards by 600 yards, with well-planned streets, blocks and moats situated along the southern banks of the Pasig River. Intramuros served as the seat of the Spanish colonial rule and as such, they had constructed the walls to keep themselves safe from invaders - a city within the city. World War II, however, stripped the historical site almost into ruins, and continuous reconstructive efforts have helped restore the old grandeur of the city.
The Philippine government has taken tremendous efforts in restoring the walls and the city within, and today serves as a tourist highlight of many field trips and excursions for both domestic and foreign tourists. However, today some buildings located inside Intramuros are modern looking, the owners seeming oblivious to the history that surrounds them. From the cobblestones surrounding the streets to the calesas - a small horse drawn carriage supported by two tall wheels, built to accommodate two passengers and their baggage -, Intramuros is the present people’s medium of seeing the way the Philippines was while still under the Spanish regime.
Inside Intramuros are several historical sites that a visitor to the Philippines should not miss, the Manila Cathedral Church, the San Agustin Church, and Fort Santiago.
- The Manila Cathedral, also known as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is the fifth stone church of the Philippines. It is literally a time narrative, from ruins and ravages to rising and restorations. Although it has been ruined and reconstructed several times, the church still remains as one of the tour highlights in any trip to Intramuros. When viewed from above, the Manila Cathedral appears as a giant cross.
- The San Agustin church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Built in 1599, it was also destroyed and rebuilt several times. It is the first European stone church to be built in the Philippines, designed in Spanish architectural structure. The church also houses the remains of the Spanish rulers, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Juan de Salcedo and Martin de Goiti who are buried and laid to rest in a tomb, underneath the church. It is an immense structure of thick walls of Corinthian and Ionic design.
- Fort Santiago used to be the seat of the colonial powers of both Spain and the U.S. It was also a dreaded prison under the Spanish regime and the scene of countless military police atrocities during the Japanes occupation. Here, too, Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, spent his last hours before his execution on Bagumbayan. (now Rizal Park).
For most Filipinos, Intramuros is not just an old city, it is living history. And although it may not have been preserved the way it should have rightfully been, Intramuros still is an important landmark in Philippine history.