Behind the Walls of Intramuros
8:06 PM
Intramuros, Spanish for "within the walls", is the original Manila. Also known as Ciudad Murada (Walled City), Intramuros is the oldest district and the core of Manila's history.
It was a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon when we decided to go around Intramuros. I have been here countless of times before but I feel haven't really seen much of it. When we got in front of the gates, a pedicab driver approached us holding an itinerary. He told us that he can tour us around which will cost us 200 pesos per hour. It's a good deal so we took it.
He started peddling and describing every single sight we saw. He started with the schools of Lyceum of the Philippines University, Mapua Institute of Technology and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. I love how he just went on blubbering while I'm just there taking pictures, hearing words in gibberish.
I've seen so much of Intramuros' facade. I was waiting for the time that we can actually get a closer, deeper look of the Walled City.
We first drove by this massive pastel pink-coloured building called Colegio De Sta. Rosa. It was a breath of fresh air in the earth-toned city. Where else can you see a bright pink infrastructure standing in the middle of all neutral-coloured walls?
Palacio del Gobernador stands erect in the corner of the main square. Its washed off brown walls with seemingly endless numbers of windows makes it strikingly beautiful. Now, it serves as the new office for the Commission on Elections.
Right in the heart of the main square is Statue of King Carlos IV of Spain in Plaza de Roma. I believe that it used to be a water fountain. Well, basing on its structure. I wish that they would still continue to run the fountain, though. It would look greater and livelier with flowing water, to be honest.
Lined parallel to the Palacio del Gobernador is Bureau of the Treasury, a long pearl-white building engraved with beautiful carvings. The Ayuntamiento was ordered to be demolished after the earthquake destroyed its facade. It was rebuilt in 1884 and now I consider it to have the grandest architecture in all of Intramuros.
A few steps away from the Ayuntamiento, is the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, better known as, Manila Cathedral. Similar to the Ayuntamiento, it was also severely damaged by earthquakes several times in the past. On 2014, it was publicly opened again after closing down for renovation back in 2012. Now, it houses a mini-exhibit of the history of the cathedral with enhanced lighting, sound and video systems.
We witnessed a wedding with full entourage and a limousine carrying the bride. I don't know why every time I travel, I see something that has to do with love. One thing is for sure though, I have an impeccable sense of timing.
Not far from the Pasig Riverbank, is Calle Muralla where we saw the Ruins of the Intendencia.
Hailed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustin Church, stands proudly in one of the streets of the Walled City.
I tried researching for the name of this equally beautiful building. Unfortunately, I failed. It reminded me of some Venetian building I might have seen in the movies. The meticulously-carved engravings and the red accents against the vast white walls left me with a lasting impression. It's the classiest building inside Intramuros.
I'm Eden Morales. A UI/UX Designer by day but a full-time dreamer. To travel and explore outside my comfort zone are the things I crave to do ever since. These are the chronicles of my first-hand experiences from all the places I have gone to and will go to in the future.
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