(Business Lounge Journal – Travel)
Intramuros: A Historical Gem in the Heart of Manila
“Intramuros” is a Latin word which means “Within or inside the Walls” is a historic district in the City of Manila, Philippines. It once served as the seat of Spanish Colonial power in the Far East.
Established in 1571 by a Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Intramuros became the center of colonial administration for centuries. This walled city witnessed its golden age but also suffered significant destruction due to wars and earthquakes.
Among the notable structures inside Intramuros which still stand today on its original site are Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Ayuntamiento, Baluarte de San Diego, Maestranza, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Walls.
The History of Fort Santiago
Fort Santiago boasts a rich history dating back to the late 16th century, making it one of the most significant forts during the Spanish colonial era.
When the Spanish first arrived in the Philippines in 1521, they recognized Manila’s strategic location along the trade routes between Southeast Asia and Europe. In 1571, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines established Fort Santiago strategically located at the junction of Pasig River and Manila Bay as a defense fortress to protect the colony from pirates’ attacks and foreign invaders.
Initially built using wood and bamboo, the fort was later reconstructed with bricks and stones to reinforce its defenses. After enduring multiple attacks and threats from the Chinese and Pirates, the Spanish realized that wooden structures were insufficient. Consequently, during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the fort was rebuilt with 6.7-meter-high and the thickness of the stone walls (made of ADOBE STONES – quarried in Guadalupe which is part of present-day Makati City is 2.5 meters thick).
Strategically located along the Pasig River, Fort Santiago served as a critical vantage point, guarding Manila’s maritime access. It also became the administrative and military hub for Spanish officials who managed colonial affairs.
Colonial Period and Political Prison
For over 300 years, Fort Santiago functioned as a key defense structure and a prison for rebels and political prisoners, particularly those fighting for Philippine independence.
One of the most notable prisoners was José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. In 1896, Rizal was detained at Fort Santiago for his writings that inspired Filipinos to fight for independence and sparked the revolution against Spanish rule.
Rizal spent his final days in a small cell within the fort, where he wrote his last poem, *Mi Último Adiós* (My Last Farewell), before his execution on December 30, 1896. This poem became a symbol of the Filipino struggle for freedom, and Rizal’s cell is now preserved as part of the Rizal Shrine within Fort Santiago.
The American and Japanese Occupation
After Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, Fort Santiago was taken over by the American military. While its role as a defense hub diminished, it remained a military barracks.
During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, the fort was repurposed as a detention and torture center by the Imperial Japanese Army. Filipino civilians and resistance fighters were imprisoned, tortured, and executed in the fort’s underground dungeons, which were originally used as storage for ammunition and other military supplies. Many detainees suffered and perished in these cramped and inhumane conditions.
At the end of World War II, Fort Santiago suffered extensive damage due to heavy bombings by Allied forces. Many of its structures were destroyed or severely damaged.
Restoration and Preservation
Following the Philippine independence declaration, Fort Santiago became a symbol of the nation’s resilience and bravery. Restoration efforts began in the 1950s and continued through the 1970s to preserve the fort’s historical integrity.
Today, Fort Santiago has been meticulously restored and opened to the public as part of Intramuros, a cultural heritage site protected by the Philippine government. The Rizal Shrine, located within the fort, houses artifacts and original manuscripts of José Rizal. The path tracing Rizal’s final steps from his prison cell to his execution site is also memorialized within the complex.
A Symbol of Struggle and a Tourist Attraction
Today, Fort Santiago stands as both a historical tourist attraction and a symbol of Filipino resilience. Every corner of the fort tells stories of struggle, suffering, and sacrifice by the nation’s heroes in their fight for independence.
The fort also serves as a venue for cultural and historical events aimed at educating younger generations about the Philippines’ history and national identity.
Visiting Fort Santiago offers a unique opportunity to experience the past and understand the long journey of the Filipino people toward freedom. As a cultural heritage site and national icon, Fort Santiago continues to inspire visitors and remains one of the Philippines’ priceless treasures.
