Best things to do in Intramuros series: The Walled City, Landmarks, and Ruins

Intramuros, April 2011.

Church Ruins beside the Panda’s Last Night Out
Beside and across the ruins, an enjoying ambiance and busy street at night with al fresco diners and bars to choose from. The area can be seen across the old walls of military barracks, about 200 meters away. Of course the night out scene completely disappeared along with the monument marker [around 4 statues with 7 feet high]. The place turned out to be gloomy at night, no more lively activities, food stalls and live music performances. The sad part we documented, the looters perhaps picked up the statues piece by piece probably made a living out of it. We can’t verify what material the markers were made of, a steel or bronze maybe, that interests others. If only Intramuros management was able to restore the figures, but who’s to blame, there’s a reason for everything.

best things to do in intramuros — Church Ruins beside the Panda’s Last Night Out

Before: photos of Panda’s Last Night Out

Source: Geocache

Intramuros is the oldest and special historical district within the City of Manila. Gates are open to pedestrians and light motor vehicles only. The efforts of restoration of the Spanish-era influences and development of this priceless heritage is continuously progressing from concerned citizens and groups. Built by Spaniards during the 16th Century in a Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself. Intramuros literally “within the walls” – meaning within the wall enclosure of the fortress, the structure design is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats.

Best things to do in Intramuros series: The Walled City, Landmarks, and Ruins — Ranelle Dial

Memorare Manila: Plaza de la Fuerza

The Shrine of Freedom also known as the Memorare Manila Monument was built in 1945 in memory of World War II victims. The monument is located at the Plaza de Santa Isabel, commonly known as Plaze Sinampalukan, can be found in the corner of General Luna & Anda Streets.

Torogan

A “torogan” is a stiff-roofed building decorated with seven or more panolongs at the front and sides. Panolongs are not found in the ordinary houses in a community for they symbolized power, rank and leadership.

The panolong is a beam-end or prow carved with a combination of floral and naga [dragon] okir designs. It is also used to decorate lamins, mosques and bancas. The wall siding and other parts of the house are also decorted with designs.Bedrooms cannot be found in torogans except for one called a gibon, which is constructed only for the sultan’s daughter.

Wall Art

A group of Manila artists sprayed-paint an abandoned site, a grafitti – a visual expression forming in a wall art.

Manila Cathedral

The famous Neo-Romanesque Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica, commonly known as the Manila Cathedral. The cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, it was built in 1581 [originally made from nipa and bamboo materials]. The church was destroyed by several catastrophes year after year, from typhoons, raged of fire, a couple of earthquakes and World War II bombings during the 1945 Battle of Manila. It underwent several major renovations and was finally completed from 1954 to 1958, under the tenure of Manila Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos and supervision of architect Fernando Ocampo. In 1981, it was consecrated as a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II, dedicated to the Patroness of the Philippines, Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The present Archbishop of the catheral is Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales.

Plaza de Roma
statue of King Carlos IV of Spain

Intramuros nowadays serves as a venue for various activities and special events. Local visitors and foreigners frequent the line of restaurants and other establishments. This coming 19th of June 2011, Jose Rizal will be celebrating his 150th [1861-2011], Rizal @ 150: Haligi ng Bayan. In line with the celebration, selected establishments along Intramuros will offer a special promo and discounts to the public patrons for the whole month of June.

Intramuros

The Walled City

Southern bank of Pasig River

5th District of Manila

Updated blog: Best things to do in Intramuros: Travel Guide: Accommodation, itinerary, and places to see when planning a walking tour in Intramuros, Manila. (October 27, 2019)

All photos are owned by Daryll Villena.

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Mark Joseph Delgado

December 15, 2011 at 7:48 pm

>Thank you for sharing this post, Ms. Daryll! Ang dami ko pa palang hindi napupuntahan sa Intramuros. 🙂

Green Dei / Daryll

December 16, 2011 at 12:08 am

>Thank you also for becoming a movers by setting up that Intramuros Manila Asia Core Group, it's a worthwhile forums, some people just need to be reminded of our rich history. We're just the same, I hope I could squeeze in extra time, there's a lot to explore. One day tour at Intramuros is ain't enough. 🙂