Travelling Intramuros
From the Plaza Lawton to the southwestern mouth of the Pasig River astride the remnants of a colonial period past. Vestiges of grandeur, bravely, and decadence are forever written on the wall and cobbled streets of a once-upon- a- time muralla, known as Intramuros.
Intramuros was conceived in the tradition of Romanesque innovation—that the building castles and fortifications in order to protect the property and lives of a community surrounded by penetrable openings like water, hills, and mountains.
In 1587, during the governorship of Santiago de Vera, Intramuros was built by a Jesuit architect Antonio Sedeno. It was in the governorship of Perez de Dasmariñas that the fortress received further improvements. Because of many natural catastrophies, the Walled City was destroyed and since then, it underwent many renovations. Intramuros was patterned before the plaza mayor, a style introduced by the Romans to the Spaniards. Fuerza de Santiago was built at the heart of the Walled City. It has its own plaza and military buildings.
In front of Fuerza de Santiago is the Plaza de Roma which now became a mini-plaza, facing Manila Cathedral and the Palacio del Gobernador. Joining the Plaza mayor de Roma were mainstreets like Calle Real which stretched from the opening of Letran College to Puerta Isabel.Calle de Cabildo is now the long street at the back of San Agustin Church which becomes a lover’s lane at night. On this street stood in neocolonial garnishment the building of CJC Corporation.
Today, coming from the foot of Jones Bridge, one is awed by the massive walls of Puerta Isabel. The gate fronting Letran College boasts of the aristocratic monument of Queen Isabela, one of Spain’s dictatorial rulers. The garrison-like labyrinth underneath it houses now some archives that feature exhibits of santos and carosas. Fort Santiago was so structured with thick Cortina to converge the walls. Baluartes (bulwarks or protruding thick stone) were installed one after the other. There was Baluarte de Falsabraga de Sta. Barbara, Baluarte de San Miguel, and Baluarte de San Antonio. These baluartes have sentinels where the soldiers would give signals if there were invaders coming.
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