A Walk to the Past in Manila

Strolling along the roads of Manila brought me down to memory lane. You can always see beautiful old buildings which remind me of historical events and scenes found in history books. With strong influences of its previous colonial, Manila relates me to Spain. You may notice their architectures, culture, music, food and even the local names carry Spanish influences. Some older generations here can even speak Spanish.

Don’t be surprised if you see most of the famous tourist attractions carrying Spanish names. For instance, Fort Santiago. (Personally, I think it looks similar to A Famosa of Melaka, which was built by Portuguese colonial). Fort Santiago was built during the Spanish colonial as the entrance to the Pasig River. The fort was sculptured with magnificent detailed designs on it. One of the most well-known functions of Fort Santiago was as a prison. National hero, José Rizal, was imprisoned here before being executed during the Spanish era.

Fort Santiago also served as the entrance to a walled city called Intramuros. During the old times, Intramuros was like a complete city by itself, special enough to have a thick wall surrounding it! (Imagine a big brick gate built around a big city). Some wonderful buildings can be found in Intramuros like (take note of the names) Casa Manila, Plaza de la Fuerza, Reducto de San Pedro and Puerta del Parian. (Haven’t I told you that they carry strong Spanish influences?)

San Angustin Church, which is located in Intramuros, looks almost old and weary at first glance. Don’t be fooled by it. Look closer. You will see a beautifully carved main door. Open it. And you would be welcomed with breathtaking murals on the walls and rooftop! San Angustin Church is listed in the World Heritage Sites of Philippines since 1993 under Baroque Churches of the Philippines. (Don’t you think it’s a must-visit spot?)

National hero, José Rizal was a nationalist of the Philippines and his spirit lived in the heart of every Pilipino until today. Rizal Park is the place where the execution of José Rizal was carried and a monument was erected to pay tribute to the honourable hero. Besides that, there are also some other monuments and artworks being constructed around the park. Rizal Park is also known as “Luneta” simply because it is shaped like a half moon.

In Rizal Park, you can also drop by the National Museum of the Philippines. This museum will bring you along the journey back to the old Philippines. They store invaluable historical memories here. Look out for ‘Tabon Man’, the oldest prehistoric human remains here! And also not forgetting rhythm and blues from the era of Spanish colonization too! It basically archives every detail of the Philippines history. Definitely worth a visit!

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