I’ve been to Intramuros countless of times before and was able to tour some foreign backpackers around but the Walled City is a place of learning new lessons every time I go.
Here’s 10 new lessons I got on my latest visit. Special thanks to Ivan of ivanlakwetsero.com for guiding the group and sharing amazing facts during the photo-walk.
1. Intramuros = Manila, before.
The Old Manila in only the walled city, everything outside the wall is considered province. Meaning even if you live in the poshest condominium in Makati right now, it is considered “probinsya” before. Intramuros is a Spanish term that literally means “within the walls” any place outside is “extramuros.”
Jeff, Melody, Elmer, AR, Dexter, me, Leon & Ivan are considred "promdi" if we live during the old times of Manila.
2. The original Km.0 is the Mania Cathedral’s dome not in Luneta.
Well, I know this already but most of the people who joined me on my first day of #isangdaan just knew that the original Km.0 is the Manila Cathedral and not in Luneta where Rizal Monument is. This is also the reason why I started my journey in Intramuros, it is Km.0.
Manila Cathedral, where the original Km.0 was (the dome)
Km.0 is the basis of all kilometer markers you see on the road. So next time you see a kilometer marker, say Km.64 (UPLB) that means that it is 64 kilometers away from Manila.
3. There are 7 Great Churches inside Intramuros.
So I guess almost all religious orders are represented in the Old Manila. Agustinians have San Agustin; Seculars built the Cathedral (the most garbed and grandiose of all); Dominicans have Sto. Domingo Church which was transferred to Quezon Avenue after WWII; Franciscans, Recollects, Jesuits and Franciscans also added their church buildings inside the Old City.
You want the complete number? 28. There are twenty eight churches and chapels inside Intramuros. Speaks of a very populous and bustling city huh?
My friends Ivan and Estan wrote something about this too-
4. All structures inside Intramuros are destroyed after WWII, except for San Agustin Church.
Blamed it on the Americans?! They bombed the whole city during the war against the Japanese in 1945. San Agustin was spared because there was Red Cross and many American soldiers are there. One account says that blood in San Agustin was 1-inch thick because wounded people are brought inside. Imagine the stench of blood inside that church. Now, it is one of the UNESCO-stamped church in the Philippines.
5. Only Letran and Colegio de Sta. Rosa are the only original colleges left. PLM, Mapua, and others came after WWII.
Colegio de Sta. Isabel
6. Here stands University of Sto. Tomas where Jose Rizal studied college.
Jose Rizal should have studied in Letran (do I hear Aribba?) but his father, Don Francisco Mercado said that Letran has a poor system of education so he studied in Ateneo during highschool and then transferred to UST Intramuros for his college education.
7. One bulwark is called “Baluarte de San Franciso de Dilao.”
De Dilao literally means ‘of the Yellows’ because it is where most Chinese were living (Parian). This part of the wall is one of the most fortified because of the Chinese uprising.
8. The golf course are actually moat.
Same as what you see in the castles of Europe, the Walled City is surrounded with a moat. There were even drawbridges that is open 4:00am till 11:00pm.
The Americans converted it to a golf course because they say its unhygienic, as the stagnant waters are breeding ground of mosquitoes carrying Malaria and other diseases. And maybe they love to play golf too! 🙂
9. The bricked path on some parts of the wall are from 1981 not 1861.
During the time of Pres. Marcos, some parts of the wall are restored. So the bricks used are dated 1981 (Marcos regime). Maybe these bricks came all the way from Ilocos, home province of Marcos?
1981 or 1861? Now I know!
10. It is a skaters paradise now.
This is one of my fave spots in Intramuros because of contemporary art. Everytime I go here, I see a different design, a different graffiti. Skaters from near and far pay a visit in this place to play and do some tricks.
___ ___ ___
Day 1 of 100. Intramuros, Manila. 9:00-11:00am.
This is post part of ISANG DAAN Journey. ISANG DAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days.
If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page: www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames
You may also watch my teaser vid on Youtube:Â ISANG DAAN CHALLENGE
I studied at the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Intramuros and never had been to those you mentioned here James. Time to retrace my steps back again.
See you on the road bro.
ooh really doc? how come?
see you, matagal-tagal pa un
Great!
Very informative!
I just blogged about Intramuros (here: http://cjsallegue.blogspot.com/2012/02/after-watching-several-episodes-of.html) and I’m so glad to know that I’m not alone in rediscovering Old Manila. I hope more people will visit ‘unnoticed’ destinations like Intramuros and retrace our roots. I love Fort Santiago ang Baluarte de Dilao.
Btw, have you ever blogged about Baler? I plan to go there on April and would like to know more about the place.
Looking forward to more of your posts. 🙂
sorry, i have yet to write something about baler. im going there in the 26th of feb…
thanks joy!
Yey! At least mauuna ka. Hehe… May added reference na ako. 🙂 Thanks!
Hi James, Im Dave from Davao. Been to Manila for several times but never been to Intramuros. My next trail is Palawan, surely I will pay a visit there before heading to PPS.
I like your blog. You guys inspire me to continue my newly started blog. I will add you now in my blog roll. Keep traveling! 😉
nice choice, palawan!
hope you find amazing facts in intramuros. thanks for adding me on your blog roll.
A very informative post. Ingat sa biyahe! 🙂
thank you! and thanks to ivan!
Hi James, I just added you here: http://www.trailsandlifestyle.blogspot.com
Keep your trails going! Im following you 🙂
-Dave
Wow.. very informative! Thanks for sharing madami dami pa akong aabangan na post mo..
I miss Baluarte in Intramuros tambayan during college days.
thanks rhona! madami pa din akong kailangang matutunan.
so san ka nag-college? Mapua?
okay ang take mo sa intramuros ah. following you on your 100+ days james
anung klaseng take pre?
ikaw ang astig na take sa intramuros eh, pang LP!
take-out lang ako, hahaha
I want to revisit Intramuros again and blog about it becuase I want to promote Manila as good destination of choice too in the Asian region just like the other cities especially after visiting Manila Ocean Park and Star City…
This is good start and eye-opener for your 100 Days Challenge. Travel should not be expensive nowadays but at the same time enjoyable too to gain experiences of a lifetime.
amen!
hi james! im planning to go to sagada ilocos this may. any idea about the cheapest way to go sagada. i want to explore sagada in 3 days. do i need to hire a tour guide? kindly regards.
sorry, haven’t been there myself… maybe after i visit on next next week.
oh you’re starting your 100 days challenge. i envy you. you can just take off and travel. i have to make arrangement and make sure the boss signs off on my vacay request.
🙂 its not that easy din sir.. need to sacrifice a lot.
maybe its time to get a new boss? or be the boss yourself?
great info about intramuros… makes me feel guilty that in the many times i’ve been there, i know so little. great photos. my son and i will be there this weekend so i can teach him more about photography ^_^
naks! i know he will get nice photos too, mana yan sayo gladys!
Been to Intramuros once, went around with a Norwegian friend. I compare our Walled city to an Old Town here in Europe. Every capital cities in Europe has their own Old Towns preserved.
really? now, i have to visit Europe soon and see for myself na din
This place has so much history. It reflects so much of our past! Great post and information…..It’s definitely more fun in the Philippines! Wonderful!
thank you! it never fails to amaze me!
very informative James…i’m following your updates on your isang daan challenge…be safe..XD
thanks for that! really appreciate the support
We are going home to the Philippines soon and hope to visit Intramuros…Thanks to your blog!
glad it helped! welcome back in advance 🙂