Walking inside the walls of Fort Santiago

My visit to Fort Santiago was full of excitement and enthusiasm. As I entered the gate, my first impression was like I was entering a place from a different era. The first thing I saw at the frontage were horses and carriages, an old tranvia, trellis with vines and a fountain at the center of  a small park. There were also a group of young students on their educational tour and a group of tourists.

A replica of the pre-war Manila street cars.

The park, walkway and picnic areas have changed this fortress into a peaceful and comporting place to spend your vacation or spare time.

Repairs are currently ongoing on the right side of the walls of Fort Santiago and the Rizal Shrine but they are kept clean and safe so that visitors will not feel uncomfortable. The Rizal Shrine inside the fort is a reconstruction of the colonial period barracks where the patriot, Jose Rizal, was confined during his trial for sedition. It is now a museum where reminders of the hero can be viewed.

Rizal Shrine

At the entrance of the stone wall, I immediately noticed the shoe prints embedded in pavement. I got curious onto whom it belongs and what does it represent. So I followed the trails and see what it leads to.

The trail leads me to an old building with iron bars. Behind the iron bars is a statue of a man whose arms are tied. When I got closer, I learned that it was a statue of Jose Rizal and those trail of shoe prints represents where he passed on his way to Bagumbayan from Fort Santiago and immortalizes his brave path to martyrdom.

From here, I walked to the other part of Fort Santiago, The Baluarte de Sta. Barbara. Named after the patron saint of artillerymen and was built to protect the entrance to the Pasig river. At the side of Baluarte de Santa Barbara are the dungeon and a cross monument. On the cross monument lie the mortal remains of approximately 600 Filipinos. It serves as a memorial to all these unknown victims of the Japanese Imperial forces.

Baluarte de Santa Barbara

In Memory of the victims at Fort Santiago

An Entrance to the Pasig River

Dungeon

The Dungeon is a restricted area for visitors. I don't know the real reason but I think it's for safety measures. The dungeons used to be the storage vault for powder magazine of the Baluarte de Santa Barbara. Because of dampness caused by the humid weather and the nearness to the Pasig River, the Spaniards decided to built a new powder magazine on top of the baluarte. The vaults were converted into prison cells and storerooms. It must be hard to breath inside that dungeon.
At the top of the stronghold is a view of Pasig River. The Rizaliana Furniture Hall can also be found here.

The Rizaliana Furniture Hall showcases the furniture's used by the Rizal Family. Paintings related to Jose Rizal are also on display.

O Sei San, A woman Jose Rizal fall in love with while in Japan.

Going out of the Fort, I took the route that leads to Medio Baluarte de San Francisco. This route offers a view of the Pasig River on the left and the Rajah Sulayman Theater on the right. This route also reminds me of the game Temple Run.

I passed by some old Spanish cannons on my way to Intramuros visitors center. These Spanish cannons were used in 1875 and recovered on May 18, 1966 by the underwater operations unit, Philippine Navy at Cebu. The visitors center provides information assistance, Souvenir Shop and Coffee Shop.

Visitors Center

Old Spanish cannon

Fort Santiago is really worth my visit. I recommend it to students for their school educational tour for it's rich in history and culture. If your a tourist who loves history and architecture, then Fort Santiago and the rest of Intramuros is the place to go.

Fort Santiago is located at Santa Clara St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.
For Inquiries, you may call at: (632) 527-2961 or (632) 527- 1572

Open Daily at 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

The retirement home of General Paciano Rizal

               I frequently travel to Los Baños, Laguna but I have no idea that the house of Gen. Paciano Rizal is located here. I just heard from someone that when Gen. Paciano Rizal left his hometown Calamba, he decided to have his retirement home in Los Baños.

Gen. Paciano Rizal was popularly known as the brother of the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal. Little has been known of this man, the shadow behind Jose Rizal’s achievements and one of the unsung heroes of the Philippine Revolution. Interested in his heritage, I travelled to Los Baños, Laguna to visit his retirement home near the shore of Laguna Lake at the side of Los Baños Old Municipal Building.

                When I arrived at the area, I observed that his house is usually unnoticed by the public. It has a high metal gate and a concrete fence. In the beginning, I had difficulty entering the shrine because there was no guard or doorbell at the entrance. I just tap at the gate hoping for someone to hear me and let me in. After a few minutes, the gate was opened by a young woman. She is the caretaker’s sister tasked to clean the garden. I asked her if I could enter the shrine and take some pictures.  She asked me a few questions, and let me in. I learned that Paciano Rizal's family welcomes visitors by appointment. The caretaker and her sister were kind enough to let me enter without prior arrangement.

                General Paciano’s house is maintained by his great grand children. I like the way they preserved his house and turned it into a shrine. It has a large facade enclosed by a garden which makes the sight calm and breezy. I was amazed to find out that this house was designed and built by Architect Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of the well-known painter Juan Luna. A monument in honor of Gen. Paciano was built at the side of the garden. His bones are stored at the center of the garden together with the bones of his two sisters, Josefa and Trinidad. A concrete stair with a curve to the right leads the way to the main door.

                Inside the shrine, there is an atmosphere of the past. The wooden floor is well polished with wax. It brings back memories when I was a little kid where one of my household chores is to polish the floor with Bunot (a coconut husk cut in half). The living room is plainly decorated which shows the simple lifestyle of the Rizal family. The Master’s Bedroom is furnished by a dresser with swinging full-length mirror, a sewing machine, wooden table and chair and a rattan swinging chair. At the back is a balcony where I can see a scenic view of Laguna Lake and a playground which was built by the local government from the property donated by the Rizal family.

                Los Baños, Laguna is appoximately 2 hours drive south of Manila, Philippines.To visit this shrine, you may call or text Ms. Ester at 0919-9227829.