Visiting Fort Santiago Park in Intramuros, Manila

It is always my excitement and most joyous thing to travel and experience the sense of culture differences, I have listed some places to visit around the Philippines in my bucket list. As I listed them down Intramuros is one of among the top priority. As a matter of fact, this is not my first time to visit Intramuros particularly the Fort Santiago Park, it is my second time.

The first time I visited that place was way back in 2008. It so happened to be an accidental visit, I should say. It was a kinda accidental without having any plan because the Lawyer at Immigration with whom I asked him a job to renew my student vis delayed and needed to wait for more than half of the day. So not knowing anything to do, I decided that I would walk around to see things in that Immigration areas. And of course, the Bureau of Immigration is located in the Intramuros which is an ancient walled city of the Philippines. As I roamed around, I discovered an interesting spots to see such as Manila Cathedral and Fort Santiago Park.

This historic park is located at just a 15 minutes walking distance from Bureau of Immigration. Also it is a walkable distance from the most prestigious Manila Hotel in the Philippines. If I've got enough time, I just love to walk near those historic places. But it is my own choice.

Likewise Fort Santiago is an historic place. According to the description found on the entrance gate board, it is one of the oldest fortifications in Manila. The first fort was built with logs and earth in 1571, but destroyed by the Limahong attack in 1574. And the second stone fort was rebuilt with stone in 1589s but again destroyed by an earthquake in 1645. It was repaired and strengthened 1660s and used by British as their headquarters. It was renovated in 1778. During the occupation of the Japanese, in 1945 Japanese used it as a place where hundreds of civilians, guerrillas were imprisoned, tortured and executed. But it was destroyed in the battle of Manila in 1945.And it was also used as a US depot of transportation before it was turned over to the Philippine government in 1946. 

Although I am not a historian by profession, the first things I always ask before I visit any historic place is a question like why is it so significant. And now I asked to myself why it is so significant to the Filipinos. And it was fully answered as I began to explore inside the fort Santiago Park.

As I entered the gate, the first thing I saw was a monument of a man standing tall in the middle of a green beautiful landscape. I was wondering at first, thinking that who the guy would be him. As I approached the monument, it was Dr. Jose Rizal.

He is one of the heroes that influences and inspires me so much. Although his story was introduced to me by a group of high school students performance about his execution on National Hero day. And now I with my eyes could witness who he was, is until today's history of the Philippines. And he is the vicar of the Philippines that would set the nation free by sacrificing his life selflessly. He was falsely accused by the Spaniard to lead an underground movement again the Spaniard.

He was executed by a gun shot on December 30,1896 at the age of 35 at Gagumbayan now known as Rizal Park.

As visitor or tourist, at Fort Santiago, there are numerous things to see. As for me, I really love to see the works of Jose Rizal and some of the relics. As I enter his prison cell, my spirit was moved. The things that impressed me much is to see how he was committed to be able to write inside his prison cell. He final poem sent to his family before his execution was such a touching heavenly words.

Some of his clothes, his written books in Spanish, German, English translation, and Tagalog can viewed. Just next to his prison cell and shrine, there is another house that exhibit his used furnitures. The furnitures that were used in his Clinic in Hong Kong particularly the Basin. They became alive as I view them. Although I need to pay extra 10 Pesos to enter that room while the main entrance cots 75 for adult and 50 pesos for children and students, it is worth paying. 

Since Fort Santiago is named as a Park, there are many more things what would interests visitors. Besides the Rizal's showroom, for a history lover, to see those more than a century old wall, war-watch tower, empty bomb shells from the two world Wars are interesting. 

There is also the shrine of our lady Guadalupe. Although I am not a catholic but as I read on the board, the shrine seems to be something that deserves honor and respect. There is a Photography gallery near left side of the entrance. There is also handcrafts and souvenir shops right inside the entrance. There is also a golf court for those who love golfing. But being a foreigner and with no experience in golfing, I have nothing much to do with that golf course. But I just took a picture of it. 

There are good places to seats and relax under the trees. The Fort Santiago is place where one can feel a bit historical as well as something that is amusing due to the shape of a garden. 

As I went out, I also visit some Catholic historic churches nearby the Park. The first one is the Manila Cathedral which has eight structures. The present Cathedral was built from 1953 to 1958. And it was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1981 and was officially named Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. And the next one is Church of San Augustin, the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Those are also tourist attractions.