Intense Intramuros.

One of the entrances to Intramuros, the oldest district and historic core of Manila

Tourists to Manila visit Intramuros to get a glimpse of Manila's past. For in Intramuros, one finds the ruins or remnants of an imperious Walled City, constructed in the late 16th century as protection against local and foreign invaders to the Spanish colonizers.

The original Walled City included the Palacio del Governador General (Governor General's Palace),  the Manila Cathedral beside it, and the Ayuntamiento (Congress) just across.

San Agustin Church originally built in 1571.

In the many narrow streets are other government buildings and other churches, like the San Agustin Church and the Lourdes Convent.  There's also the Fort Santiago, a fortress overlooking the Pasig River which served as the look out to check incoming strangers and vessels, and which served as the National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal's incarceration chamber and Japanese garrison during WWII.

The Lourdes Church and Convent as it stands today.

There's also the Fort Santiago, a fortress overlooking the Pasig River which served as the look out to check incoming strangers and vessels, and which served as the National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal's incarceration chamber and Japanese garrison during WWII

Fort Santiago

                                                                       

From this look out into Pasig River,  Spanish sentry saw who's approaching the Walled City

In a trip to the Knights of Columbus Headquarters in Intramuros last week, we decided to become tourists and explored what remains of the Walled City.

Knights of Columbus (Philippines) buildling in Intramuros, where the first K of C Council (1000) was established.

Intramuros is in a very sorry state of decay.  The old buildings have become private offices and schools, and the old Ayuntamiento is now home to the Bureau of Treasury.  One building is now a hotel.

Intramuros ruins.

There are new structures which attempt to blend with the old 16th century Spanish architecture, but there are newer houses which belong more the slum.

Other sections of the wall call for cleaning up and restoration.

Students from nearby universities and schools use part/roofs of the Walled City as trysting places and a golf course takes center stage.

At the Fort Santiago, more disappointment greeted us. The Rajah Sulayman, site of many good plays staged by Lino Brocka and his ensemble in the mid-70's and early '80's, lays in waste and in silence.

Walls of the Sulayman Theatre

Dr. Rizal's Shrine is being renovated so are the entrances to the dungeons and artillery chambers.

Bust of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, at the entrance to the Rizal Museum.

View from the top, one of the dungeons at the Fort, where Filipino soldiers were kept as prisoners during the Japanese occupation of Manila - WW II

The City of Manila should look into the case of Intramuros and urgently start a professional and masterly restoration.

Intramuros evokes a past brimming with aches and pains of patriotism, of love for God, of a country's glory.

Interior courtyard of old structure turned into Hotel Intramuros

Rare Filipino-authored books found in an Intramuros gallery and bookstore