travel

Let’s Explore Manila : A Journey To The Past ~ Intamuros (Part 1)

April 4, 2017 adminbdmc 0 Comments Ang Bakunawa at ang Minokawa, Ang Bakunawa at ang Minokawa mural, ang gerilya street art, battle of manila, casa manila, casa manila entrance fee, casa manila intramuros, cobblestone streets, cobblestone streets intramuros, colegio de santa potenciana, colegio de santa potenciana intramuros, entrance to NCCA Gallery, Escualla Municipal De Niñas, featured, general luna st, general luna st intramuros, george willmann, george willmann museum, george willmann museum entrance fee, intramuros, intramuros itinerary, intramuros map guide, intramuros tour, intramuros tour guide, kalesa tour, kalesa tour intramuros, kalesa tour intramuros rate, kcfap center, Knights Of Columbus Fraternal Association of The Philippines, Knights Of Columbus Fraternal Association of The Philippines center, lets explore manila, manila, manila cathedral, manila cathedral pipe organ, manila high school, manila tour, memorare - manila 1945, NCCA Gallery, parian de san jose, peter de guzma, plaza de roma, plaza de roma intramuros, plaza mayor intramuros, Plazuela De Sta Isabel, san agustin church, san agustin church intramuros, san agustin church manila, san agustin church museum, san agustin church museum entrance fee, silahis, silahis arts and crafts, travel, trip to intramuros

20170101_131356t I used to pass by Manila area when I was working in Makati and Pasig but I realized that I never really get the chance to explore this place. It’s very interesting that I used to travel far yet Manila alone has many interesting places to offer. So when a friend offered me a free staycation in a budget hotel in Manila, I grabbed that opportunity to explore the place and it finally give me the reason to tour around. The first destination I came up with is the historical walled city of Intramuros. It has been on my travel list for a long time. We used to be here every December for the Intramuros Grand Marian Procession but never got the chance to explore the place in full extent.
20170101_130522t
Intramuros is actually a Spanish term which means “Within the Walls” and as what the name suggests, Intramuros is a city that is strategically designed with defensive walls. The Spanish government built the walls on the late 16th century to protect the city from foreign invasions. The place however suffered great damage during the Battle of Manila in 1945. In 1951, Intramuros was declared a historical monument and Fort Santiago, a national shrine and there were numerous attempts to restore the place. Although you see the efforts made to bring the place back to its former glory, the Global Heritage Fund identified Intramuros along with other 11 world heritage sites as one of those on the verge of irreparable loss and destruction. Despite of it, Intramuros and its Spanish-era atmosphere is still not fading. You can still spot areas in this place that will seemingly take you back in time!

20170101_131606t
Manila High School
The first old establishment that welcomed us upon entering Intramuros (via Victoria St) is the Manila High School.It was opened in 1906 and is considered as the first ever public high school in Manila. Prior to it, it was once a site of Parian de San Jose (1783 -1860) and Escualla Municipal De Niñas (the first public elementary school for girls in 1889) until it became the Manila High School in 1906. The name was changed to Manila South Highschool in 1921 and Araullo High School in 1930. Much like the rest of the building within Intramuros, the school was utterly detroyed during the Battle of Manila and was revived in 1958.

20170101_132302t
General Luna St
If you pass by the General Luna St, you will encounter some notable Spanish-influenced architectural buildings including the well known Silahis Arts and Crafts. Silahis is well known for being one of the popular sites in Intramuros where you can buy souvenirs. The shop caters wide range of Filipino handicrafts and folk art pieces. It also houses a museum displaying huge collection of antiques, jars, fabrics and maps (you can actually buy the Food Wok Map here which could be very useful if you ever consider exploring Binondo – Check A Trip To Binondo). General Luna St is formerly known as the Calle Real del Palacio and it gives you access to different main attractions in Intramuros.

20170101_133339t

The Old Colegio De Santa Potenciana
One thing I love about Intramuros is the fact that despite of many areas to explore, you actually don’t need any tour guides. Most buildings whether new, abandoned (ruins) or old houses have historical markers nearby to educate the tourist but if you are not fond of walking, you can either avail those historical tour offered by sidecar drivers for Php100-250 or better yet try the Kalesa tour for Php350-500. Anyway, another building that took my attention during our tour is the Philippine Red Cross Intramuros Chapter. It’s a new building and there’s no longer a sign of Spanish Era but what stood here before is the Colegio De Santa Potenciana, the first college school for girls in Manila and was founded in 1589. The building which also became the headquarters of Governor-general during the Spanish-American War was also utterly destroyed during the Battle of Manila.

20170101_133458t
NCCA Gallery
Also in General Luna St, you’ll find the main headquarter of National Commission of Culture and Arts. was created through Republic Act No. 7356 signed on April 3, 1992, by then President Corazon Aquino. The office usually holds galleries and art exhibits. NCCA Gallery is open in general public and it’s free admission. The Gallery is open every Mondays to Thursdays from 8 am to 5 pm and is open on Friday by Appointment.
20170101_133557t
Knights Of Columbus Fraternal Association of The Philippines (KCFAP) Center
As a member of another mandated organization of Catholic church, i am very much aware of the KOC or Knights of Columbus organization and I’m actually thinking of joining them someday. It is very interesting to note that their main headquarters can be found in Intramuros as well. It also houses Fr George Willmann Museum which is open for general public with free admission. The museum is open from Mondays to Fridays from 7:30Am to 4:30pm. Just in case you don’t know, George Willmann is the father of Knights of Columbus in the Philippines. he became a Filipino citizen due to his missionary work in the Philippines.

20170101_133926t 20170101_134826t

The Cobblestone Streets
If you think that only Vigan has that famous Cobblestone Streets, well, you do not have to travel that far because Intramuros has its own version of Calle Crisologo. Particularly in the area of General Luna St cor Urdanetta (just few walks away from San Agustin Church and Casa Manila), you will be treated with a very amazing Spanish-era atmosphere. Old buildings and cobblestone streets with Calesa passing by from time time, what a very picturesque view indeed that seems to take you back in time.

20170101_135721t
San Agustin Church
Did you know that out of the seven grand churches in Intramuros, only the San Agustin church managed to survive the Battle of Manila? The Manila Cathedral was actually destroyed during the war but was later revived. The present edifice was built in 1587, and completed, together with the monastery, in 1604. It was named as one of the Historical landmarks of the Philippines in 1976. It also houses an ecclesiastical museum. The museum is open daily from 8am to 12pm / 1pm to 6pm. The entrance fee to San Agustin Church Museum is Php200

20170101_140245t
Casa Manila
Casa Manila is another interesting places to visit in Intramuros. The museum is the imposing stone-and-wood structure c. 1850, one of the grand houses in Barrio San Luis (one of the four original villages of Intramuros) is located across historic San Agustin church and bounded by Calle Real, General Luna, Cabildo and Urdaneta streets. Casa Manila is open every Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am to 6Pm with an admission fee of Php75

20170101_140727t
“Ang Bakunawa at ang Minokawa” Mural
Dragonball? Nope it’s not! This huge mural (street art) which can be found from the parking lot on Gen. Luna Street corner Anda Street (just beside the CBCP Compund).
20170101_141316t

The project was completed on December 29, 2016 by a well known street art group “Ang Gerilya“. Minokawa (Giant bird) and Bakunawa (Dragon) are two popular creatures in Philippine Mythology.

20170101_141001t

Plazuela De Sta Isabel
The Plazuela de Santa Isabel is one of the lesser known attractions in Intramuros. It was made part of the Santa Isabel College, a small adorned with luscious greens and colorful flowers.
IMG_0048t
Memorare – Manila 1945
20170101_141107t
One of the highlights of this place is the Memorare sclupture by Peter De Guzman. It depicts a weeping woman holding a dead infant which symbolizes the lost hope. It also features an image of a woman who has been raped, dead young boys (symbolizing the lost of youth in the country) and a dead man (represents elderly who caught up in the battle). Generally, this eerie and heartbreaking imagery is dedicated to the innocent victims of war.

IMG_0060t

Manila Cathedral
I think a trip to Intramuros will not be completed without passing by the Manila Cathedral or the Minor Basilica of Immaculate Conception. The 445 year old Basilica is dedicated to Our Lady of Immaculate conception, the Patroness of the Philippines. The church underwent numerous restoration and renovation all through out its years as it was utterly damaged and destroyed several times due to natural calamity and during the world war. The church was mercilessly destroyed during the Battle of Liberation in 1945. The ruins of the church remained on site and the restoration took place in 1954 . (Check: Minor Basilica of Immculate Conception / Manila Cathedral)
IMG_0055t
The pipe organ of Manila Cathedral, it is considered as the biggest pipe organ in the country and possibly in South East Asia with 70 stops and 4 manuals and pedal.

20170101_144031t 20170101_144457t

Plaza De Roma
Just in front of the Cathedral is another spacious park/plaza, the Plaza De Roma. It is formerly known as Plaza Mayor. The place was converted into a park in 1797. It was also renamed as Plaza McKinley after the late US President then changed Plaze De Roma in 1961 to honor the Sacred College of Cardinals in Rome.

20170101_144511t

At the heart of the park likes an elevated statue of Carlos IV of Spain. Erected in 1824 as a tribute for the introduction of the smallpox vaccine in the Philippines.
20170101_144315t
This is all for now, the second part of my Intramuros journey will be up on my next #LetsExploreManila entry

Exploring Intramuros could be very tiring and exhausting and it could be extremely hot as well. Better bring light and wear light and refreshing clothes. I also suggest to wear shoes designed for prolonged standing and walking. You can check NicerShoes and see which shoes fit such kind of long day activity!

For the mean time, you can also follow me on my Social media account for more updates

Facebook : It’s Me Bluedreamer!
Instagram : @bluedreamer1227
Twitter : @bluedreamer_27

Feel free to watch this video summary below and don’t forget to subscribe!