Intramuros circa 1920s

Walls of Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, is the oldest among the districts of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Its name, taken from the Latin, intra muros, literally "With in the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. During the Spanish Period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself. Image File history File links Intamuros, The Walled City of Manila, in 1932 before its destuction in 1945 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Intamuros, The Walled City of Manila, in 1932 before its destuction in 1945 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Pasig River is a river in the Philippines that drains Laguna de Bay (via the Napindan Channel) into Manila Bay. ... The City of Manila (Filipino: Lungsod ng Maynila), or simply Manila, is the capital of the Philippines. ...

Before the Spanish

The site of Intramuros was originally a large Malayan Muslim settlement named Maynilad headed by Rajah Soliman. The name came from may nilad, nilad being a water plant whose star-shaped flowers clustered in abundance along the low-lying riverbanks. The strategic location of Maynilad, being on the Pasig River and the Manila Bay, made it an ideal location for the locals to trade crafts and produce with other peoples of the then pre-Hispanic Philippines and other Asian countries, especially with ethnic Chinese merchants. Maynilad was also the seat of power for native chiefs who ruled the area before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil. Manila Bay Ü is the harbor which serves the port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. ...

Spanish Rule

In 1570, Spanish conquistadors led by Martín de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo and Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in Manila. Goiti and Legazpi's men waged war on the Muslims and indigenous tagalog peoples before they were able to take control and establish a permanent settlment in the area. In 1571 after the Spaniards were victorious in battle, Legazpi made a peace pact with the native muslim rulers, who, in return, handed over Manila to the Spaniards. Citing the rich resources, strategic economic, political and military importance of Manila, Legazpi declared Manila as the new capital of the Spanish colony in the Philippines on June 24, 1571. The King of Spain, delighted at the new conquest achieved by Legazpi and his men, awarded Manila a coat of arms and declared it Ciudad Insigne y Siempre Leal ("Distinguished and ever loyal city"). The planning of the city of Manila was commenced by the Captain General - Governor, Miguel López de Legazpi, who established forts, roads, churches and schools. The plans for Intramuros were based on King Philip II's Royal Ordinance issued on July 3, 1573 in San Lorenzo, Spain. Its design was based upon a medieval castle structure and covered 64 hectares of land, surrounded by 8 metre thick stones and high walls that rise 22 metres. Events January 23 - The assassination of regent James Stewart, Earl of Moray throws Scotland into civil war February 25 - Pope Pius V excommunicates Queen Elizabeth I of England with the bull Regnans in Excelsis May 20 - Abraham Ortelius issues the first modern atlas. ... Conquistador (Spanish: kōn-kÄ“-stŏ-dōr) (meaning Conqueror in the Spanish language) is the term used to refer to the soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas and Asia Pacific under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 17th centuries, starting with the 1492 settlement... Martín de Goiti (b. ... Juan de Salcedo (b. ... Miguel López de Legazpi (b. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... The Tagalogs are the largest Filipino ethnic group. ... Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The City of Manila (Filipino: Lungsod ng Maynila), or simply Manila, is the capital of the Philippines. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... This article needs cleanup. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... The Spanish monarchy, referred to as the Crown of Spain (Corona de España) in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, is the office of the King or Queen of Spain. ... Captaincy General (from the Spanish Capitanía General) is a division of a viceroyalty in colonial Spanish-America and the Spanish-Philippines, established in areas under risk of foreign invasion or Indian attack. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Events January - articles of Warsaw Confederation signed, sanctioning religious freedom in Poland. ... The facade of the chapel, in the baroque style of Jesuit churches, is integrated with the palatial facade El Escorial is an immense palace, monastery, museum, and library complex located at San Lorenzo de El Escorial (also San Lorenzo del Escorial), a town 45 kilometres northwest of Madrid in the... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ...

Ruined Garden of an Augstinian Friar, Fr. Blanco photographed by Robby Dela Vega in 2004

Intramuros was completed in 1606 and it served as the center of political, military and religious power of the Spaniards during the time that the Philippines was a colony of Spain. Inside Intramuros there are several Roman Catholic churches, like the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church, convents and church-run schools, such as the University of Santo Tomas, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, which were usually being run by religious orders such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans and Jesuits. The Governor's Palace, the official residence of Spanish Viceroyalties to the Philippines was originally in Intramuros before it was officially moved to Malacañang Palace and Fort Santiago. Only Spaniards and Mestizos were allowed to take part on political issues and take residence inside the walled city, Christian natives and ethnic chinese were also allowed inside, but Spanish officials prevented them living there. The vast majority of the natives and ethnic Chinese residents lived outside the walled city. This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... Events January 27 - The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins ending in their execution on January 31 May 17 - Supporters of Vasili Shusky invade the Kremlin and kill Premier Dmitri December 26 - Shakespeares King Lear performed in court Storm buries a village of St Ismails near... Politics is the process by which decisions are made within groups. ... Religious is a term with both a technical definition and folk use. ... Sociologists usually define power as the ability to impose ones will on others, even if those others resist in some way. ... The Manila Cathedral before the 1880 earthquake The present altar of the Manila Cathedral photographed by Robby Dela Vega. ... The inside of the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, with magnificent trompe loeil mural on its ceiling and walls Historical Marker of San Agustin Church. ... The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines (or simply the University of Santo Tomas, UST or affectionately, USTe), is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. ... Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) (also as San Juan de Letran College (SJLC), Letran College (LC) or simply Letran), was founded in 1620. ... The Ateneo de Manila University (also called Ateneo de Manila or simply the Ateneo) is a private university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. ... The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are several Roman Catholic monastic orders and congregations of both men and women living according to a guide to religious life known as the Rule of Saint Augustine. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Spanish Governor - Captain General of the Philippines was a military rank - office governor appointed by the Spanish Cortes, in a form of a Captaincy General and viceroy. ... Depiction of Malacañang Palace at the back of the 20-peso bill. ... The front entrance of Fuerza de Santiago towering 40 metres high Fuerza de Santiago is a defence fortress built for Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi. ... Mestizo (Brazil Portuguese. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ. ...

World War II

During World War II, much of Intramuros was damaged by bombings from both Japanese who occupied it and used it as their headquarters and prison and by U.S. forces who besieged the Japanese. Many of its historical structures were destroyed during the liberation, like the Manila Cathedral, Lourdes, Santo Domingo, San Francisco & it's chapel, the San Ignacio, church of the Recoletos the only one survived was the San Agustin Church. The schools were also destroyed like the Ateneo de Manila, Colegio de Sta. Isabel, University of Sto. Tomas, Colegio de Sta. Catalina, Colegio de San Juan de Letran & Colegio de Sta. Rosa. Only the last two remained after the war. Almost 100,000 civilians died during the liberation of Manila. Intramuros was in ruins after the war & the only structures survived was the San Agustin, almost all the other buildings left the walled City after the war Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

Present day

In the 1980s, under the direction of former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos, the Intramuros Administration restored the city and at present the walled city is the only district of Manila where old Spanish-era influences were retained. Much of the development of present-day Manila occurred outside the gates of Intramuros, leaving the old walls, streets and churches of Intramuros minimally touched by modernization, although outlets of Jollibee, McDonald's and Starbucks now sit alongside distinguished educational institutions within its walls. The old moats that surrounded Intramuros have been filled up and transformed into a golf course where locals and foreign nationals play the sport. The garrison that was Fort Santiago is now a tourist spot where visitors can enjoy the nostalgic romance of a bygone Spanish era within its gardens. Imelda Romuáldez Marcos (born July 2, 1929 in Manila City) is the former First Lady and a political figure in the Philippines. ... A Jollibee restaurant in Dumaguete City. ... McDonalds in Times Square, New York McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants[citation needed], selling primarily hamburgers, chicken, french fries and carbonated drinks and more recently salads, fruit and carrot sticks. ... // Starbucks is the worlds largest multinational chain of coffee shops. ... This article is about the sport of golf. ... The front entrance of Fuerza de Santiago towering 40 metres high Fuerza de Santiago is a defence fortress built for Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi. ...

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

Intramuros now houses some of the higher education institutions in the Philippines. These are the city-owned Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, the technical school Mapúa Institute of Technology, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Colegio de Santa Rosa. Image File history File linksMetadata Plm2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Plm2. ... This article is about the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Education System. ... This article is about the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Education System. ... Malayan Colleges, operating under the name of Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT, Mapúa Tech or simply Mapúa) is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila and in Makati. ... The Lyceum of the Philippines University is an institute of higher education located in Manilas Intramuros and founded by Jose P. Laurel. ... Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) (also as San Juan de Letran College (SJLC), Letran College (LC) or simply Letran), was founded in 1620. ...

There are also places in Intramuros called Baluartes. Baluarte is a Spanish word for "bastion". These places are strongholds of Spaniards during the Spanish era. There are notable baluartes in Intramuros. these are Baluarte de San Diego, Baluarte de San Gabriel, Baluarte de Sta Barbara and Baluarte de San Andres. The ruins of these places are now good tourist and historical attractions.

External links

• Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation Intramuros Map
• WowPhilippines Intramuros Virtual Map
• Intramuros Photos