Intramuros, Old Manila

The really old Manila can be found in Intramuros.  "Intramuros" means "within the walls" in Latin and it is the area selected by the Spaniards to become the centre of the Philippine universe when they became colonial masters in the 1500's.

Intramuros, 1851. Source: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/manila_1851.jpg

As the name implies, the place was walled up as part of its defensive structure.  All around is water...to the north is the Pasig River, to the west, Manila Bay...a huge part of which has already been reclaimed.  So what used to be the beach is now the Port of Manila.  The other sides of the city were surrounded by moats.  Incidentally, when the Americans came at the turn of the 20th century, they thought the moats were unsanitary (not to mention obsolete for "modern" warfare) so they filled them up and even made a golf course (which to this day exists) in one area!

Here is one of the gates to the city--Puerta del Postigo.  All in all there were 8 gates to the city.

Fear not, this is not going to turn into a history lesson!  Just sharing a bit of the charm of Old Manila.

By the way, the name "Manila" came from this mangrove plant called "nila".  The shrubs grew abundantly on the shores of Manila Bay.  "May nila" in Tagalog (the dialect of the area) means "There is nila."  I guess for the Spaniards, "maynila"...later mangled into "manila".. was as good a name as any for the place!

For extra ambience, even the security guards were dressed in the fashion of colonial Guardia Civil uniforms.

The Manila Cathedral, consecrated 1581.  Destroyed (due to earthquakes, wars, etc.) and rebuilt 8 times! The last reconstruction was in the 1950's after it had been bombed to rubble during the Second World War.

The San Agustin Church, consecrated 1607, built with hewn adobe stones.  It also used to house a monastery for Augustinian friars.  Now it is a museum with many historical religious articles. This church is still the original stone structure!

The church's baroque interior.  My sister got married here!

Something I found curious... At the entrance of the church, together with sculptures of saints were Chinese guardian lions.  It seemed incongruous but according to our guide, the Chinese helped build the church and therefore, made their presence felt too!  (Of course, the Chinese had been in Manila long before the Spaniards came.  They did not conquer but rather simply assimilated.)

Some more random pics... Inner courtyard with fountain to beat the heat!

Bambike!  Bicycles with a bamboo frame.  You can join an ecotour on these bikes. http://bambike.com/ecotours

Or, you might prefer a calesa to tour around.

The colegiala (pronounce "koh-leh-hya-la")... young ladies who attend exclusive female colleges.  They were the stuff of every young Filipino man's dreams. :-)

I am deeply grateful to my childhood friends who showed us around Intramuros. You know who you are. :-)