Sonny C. Belleza
West Covina, CA
Cita and I were apparently excited going back to the Philippines for a short visit, specifically to stand as sponsors for a wedding. Days, or maybe even weeks before the actual trip, daydreaming took control of ourselves on eating sumptous servings of Filipino delicacies; numerous shopping sprees; exciting out-of-town trips and most considerably, fun-filled reunions with long-missed family members, relatives and friends.
The 18-hour plane flight on January 23, 2010 did not matter much to us in eagerness to reach our destination ASAP. What a delight it was landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and stepping on our homeland again!
We proceeded then to Cavite City, Cita’s hometown and found her relativrs eagerly waiting for us. We feasted on mouth-watering foods native to the place and exchanged stories and experiences which lasted until almost midnight. We stayed there for a day and then went to Manila.
The Sofitel Hotel was our abode in Manila. We were able to watch the sunset while strolling at the grounds of the hotel.
On the following day, January 28th, John de Leon and Alma Galera exchanged marriage vows at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. A reception followed at the nearby Patio Victoria. We were able to see Intramuros or the Walled City, a city within the city of Manila after it has been rebuilt from the ruins of the second world war.
Intramuros (from the Latin intra muros literally meaning “within the walls”) was constructed by the Spaniards in 1571, during their 300-year colonization of the Philippines. It remains a monumental, if not ruined, relic of the Spanish period in the history of the Philippines.
The walls of Intramuros cover an area of roughly 600 yards by 600 yards, with well-planned streets, blocks and moats situated along the southern banks of the Pasig River. Intramuros served as the seat of the Spanish colonial rule and as such, they had constructed the walls to keep themselves safe from invaders. World War II, however, stripped the historical site almost into ruins, and continuous reconstructive efforts have helped restore the old grandeur of the city.
The Philippine government has taken tremendous efforts in restoring the walls and the city within, and today serves as a tourist highlight of many field trips and excursions for both domestic and foreign tourists. However, we saw that today some buildings located inside Intramuros are modern looking, the owners maybe seeming oblivious to the history that surrounds them. From the cobblestones surrounding the streets to the calesas – a small horse drawn carriage supported by two tall wheels, built to accommodate two passengers and their baggage, Intramuros is the present people’s medium of seeing the way the Philippines was while still under the Spanish regime.
Inside Intramuros are several historical sites that a visitor to the Philippines should not miss, the Manila Cathedral, the San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago.
For most Filipinos, Intramuros is not just an old city, it is living history. And although it may not have been preserved the way it should have rightfully been, Intramuros still is an important landmark in Philippine history.
