Still another post for the upcoming celebration of Rizal's 150th birth anniversary, besides a visit to Rizal Park (Luneta), another place worth your the is the historic Fort Santiago, the fortress at the mouth of Pasig River that also served as prison of Jose Rizal before his execution on December 30, 1896.

Note: There will be a Rizaliana party at Fort Santiago on June 19 at 6pm with food courtesy of Illustrado and Adarna Restaurant. Free entrance if you can come in 19th century period Filipiniana costume, otherwise it's only P100 to join the party and evening of art, music, poetry and fireworks.

UPDATED: February 2014

Fort Santiago Attractions and Amenities:

Rizal Shrine, Jose Rizal's Prison Cell, last steps of Jose Rizal cast in brass going to Luneta, Plaza Armas, old World War II era Japanese M4 Sherman tank, cafe and souvenir shop.

the gate of Fort Santiago, with moat in view, where you can see Santiago Matamoro, from whom the Spanish fort was named after. Picture taken with an iPhone 4 (darn, that if you have an SLR, you need to get a permit to shoot lest you get apprehended by the "guardia civil")



How to get to Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila:

For a reliable and updated map of Intramuros, you can visit OpenStreetMap for reference.

How to commute to Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila:

From Quezon City, the easiest way is to board jeepneys with signboard Quiapo/Pier (either from Project 2/3, Cubao, Fairview, Proj 8, Project 6) that pass by inside Intramuros (just request the driver to drop you off within walking distance of Fort Santiago)

From LRT, the nearest station is Central Station where you can walk to the foot of Quezon Bridge to ride the Pier jeepneys from Quiapo (or also from Carriedo Station where Pier jeepneys pass by Quiapo Church) Only minimum fare required.

Driving Directions to Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila:

From Makati, the easiest way is from Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) or Ayala Avenue is just drive towards Roxas Boulevard all the way to Anda Circle (roundabout) where you turn right to Soriano then left turn to Gen. Luna (Landmark: Palacio del Governador) just before reaching Manila Cathedral.

From Quezon City, you can get there easiest (but not fastest) via Quezon Avenue then Espana, Lerma and Quiapo, cross Quezon Bridge then turn right immediately after Quezon Bridge to Riverside Drive (that pass under MacArthur and Jones Bridge). When you see Manila Cathedral, Plaza Roma and Palacio del Governador, you can get off then walk to your right going to Fort Santiago.

Parking: an open car park is just beside the entrance gate of Fort Santiago with parking fee of PhP40 for cars. Intramuros, ins spite of it's tourist attraction tag, has very limited parking spaces though if you can't park there. There are parking lots at the old clam shell and also at the site of the old Ayuntamiento near Plaza Roma or street parking on General Luna and the area around Plaza Roma in front of Manila Cathedral.

Fort Santiago
Entrance Fee/Admission price: PhP75.00 adults; PhP50 children/students/teachers (valid IDs required); free entrance for disabled and senior citizens
Open Hours/Schedule: daily from 8am to 6pm including holidays
Coordinates: N14 35 39.1 E120 58 13.1 (handy for GPS device users)

For guided tours of Fort Santiago, educational tours and field trips, you can request from Intramuros Administration (where you also request a "permit to shoot" for professional photographers)

Warning: there still exists the stupid rule of security not allowing "big cameras" i.e. SLR/DSLR for taking pictures/photography inside Fort Santiago and Intramuros in general (unless you're a foreigner). Such medieval mind of security guards and of the Intramuros Administration tag SLRs are for professional photographers only.

Labels: Intramuros, Jose Rizal, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Spanish Forts

Just across Barcelona Church facing the Pacific Ocean and Gubat Bay stands the stone ruins of a Spanish fort and a lighthouse that guides fishermen at night to shore of the tranquil town of Barcelona, Sorsogon.

old stone ruins of the fort, one of two sets of fortifications facing the sea

the north ruins facing the sea

the southern ruins and the lighthouse

There's not much information aboout the history of the fort but it may be tied with the church of Barcelona's history (even if during the Spanish times, churches were built with two purposes in mind: places of worship and refuge/fortress against invaders/pirates that's why they're always facing the sea)

Barcelona was named after Barcelona, Spain said to have similar topography as the Spanish city.

From a brief photo-op, Tutubi went on to visit Mount Bulusan and a trek around the green waters of Bulusan Lake

Related Posts on Sorsogon:

Barcelona Church
Donsol Whale Shark Tours

Just click on the Sorsogon Label below for more posts on Sorsogon ;P

Labels: Bicol Region, Sorsogon, Spanish Forts

In 1762, about the same time Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City and Fort Triunfo in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, both in Mindanano, were constructed, the Spaniards also built on a hill in Dapitan City a fortress overlooking Dapitan bay to protect against foreign invasion.
Ilihan Hill viewed from Dapitan City Plaza with Rizal Monument visible

Strategically located on high ground, the fort has wall fortifications on the slopes of the hill supported with cannons and accessible via a 209 step stairs (access near Lourdes Grotto) leading to the top of the hill.

part of the 209 steps leading to the top of Ilihan Hill Fort de Dapitan

Before reaching the top, you can see ruins of the old fortress but not other structures and cannons. Two of the cannons can be seen in front of Dapitan City Hall while hill now is planted with young mahogany trees and old mango trees besides other plants.

the only visible part of the old fortress are ruins of the old walls...no more cannons nor fortifications can be found

On top of the hill, you can get a sweeping view of Dapitan Bay, the city proper, fish ponds, Rizal Park, several bridges and a river around the place that you'll soon realize that Dapitan City poblacion is actually an island.




Note that when Tutubi inquired about the place at Dapitan City Tourism Office, the tourism staff remarked that it's been a long while somebody inquired about the place. Tutubi just replied that he's an explorer and not an ordinary tourist. :P

---

remark:
It would've been better if the local government of Dapitan reconstruct the old Spanish fortress based on the original design of the cotta for tourism, historical and heritage showcase of their place to complement the Rizalian character of their city.

Labels: Dapitan, Spanish Forts, Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Peninsula

The most visited tourist spot in Ozamiz City, a city strategically located at the mouth of Panguil Bay, and the larger Iligan Bay in Northern Mindanao, is an old Spanish Fort named Fuerte del la Concepcion y del Triunfo, more commonly known as Fort Triunfo.

The main gate of Fort Triunfo, sometimes referred as Fort Santiago, quite confusing since Fort Santiago is mostly identified with Intramuros in Manila

The National Historical Institute (NHI) Marker states:

Fuerte del la Concepcion y del Triunfo

"Made of coral stone, rectangular-shaped with four bulwarks: San Fernando, San Jose, Santiago at San Ignatio, 1756, base of the Philippine Constabulary at the time of the Americans and the Japanese. Destroyed by earthquake of 1955. It's where Our Lady of Immaculate Conception was enshrined called Virgin Mary, Virgin of the Fort, venerated and visited by devotees on July 16. Repaired 2002. Declared as National Historical Landmark, 13 March 2002"

the ramp leading to bastion of San Ignatio and where a modern lighthouse stands
Gate of the fort in color, note the use of St. James (San Santiago) riding on a horse

Inside Fort triunfo is a museum (not much on display except sample coral stones used in original construction of the fortress, plus some antiques), the old armory, a Subanen tribal house, and also Lanao and Maguindanao traditional huts.

the museum building inside the fort, not much on display though
outside the wall facing Panguil bay is the image of the Virgin of the Cotta, venerated by Catholics , and also a popular pilgrimage site

A small shrine outside the walls venerating Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion y Triunfo or sometimes the Blessed Virgin of the Cotta of Misamis.

The fort underwent major repairs, some parts, as claimed were not even on the original plan plus the addition of a lighthouse.

From outside the fort, you can get views of Bukagan Hill, where large bells were installed, Cotta Beach, a popular "dipping" spot for the locals.

Fort Triunfo Entrance Fee: P5.00

Note: If you're looking for other ancient Spanish forts, there's Fort Santiago and Intramuros in Manila as well as Fort San Antonio Abad, Cebu's Fort San Pedro as well as its namesake fort in Iloilo, Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, Palawan's Fort Cuyo, Fort Cagayancillo and Fort Culion and Fort Taytay, Fort Victoria in Iligan City, and Fort San Felipe in Cavite City. Note also the small walled City in Jolo, Sulu and the small fort of Pamilacan Island in Bohol.

How to get there:

Flights to Ozamiz City from Manila are serviced by Air Philippines and PAL Express (code-share with AirPhils) with daily flights but prone to delays. Cebu Pacific Flights wil be available in November 2008. Flights from Cebu to Ozamiz started just last Sunday, September 14, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Cotta and Fort Triunfo can be reached from Ozamiz City Airport via a short tricycle ride (fare: P50/person). Buses from Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, Zamboanga City and Dipolog also service the city's commuters. There are are regular ferry scheduled trips from Mukas, Kolambugan town of Lanao del Norte across Panguil Bay for about 30 minutes travel time.

Labels: Lighthouses, Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Ozamiz City, Spanish Forts

With his limited time to explore Asia's Latin City i.e. Zamboanga City, Tutubi set out to visit interesting places the city has to offer. He was able to reach Fort Pilar by walking from Universidad de Zamboanga,past City Hall and Lantaka Hotel to the old stone fort.

the stone walls of Fort Pilar: Manila has Fort Santiago, Cebu and Iloilo both have Fort San Pedro, Cavite City has Fort San Felipe, Romblon with Fort San Andres, Zamboanga City's Fort Pilar as fortification.
inside the stone fort with the old military barracks in view. The place is now a popular events venue for weddings and other cultural occasions.
Entrance of Fort Pilar Museum with colorful sails of the famous Zamboanga vinta

The fort was built in 1635, then known as "Real Fuerza de San Jose" later renamed "Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza", in response to raids by the Sultans of Mindanao and Jolo, and is now simply called Fort Pilar. It survived Dutch bombardment in 1646 and the British in 1798

History of Fort Pilar written on the NHI marker

Fort Pilar is now a museum (alternating as a venue for weddings, art exhibits, and other events). The museum galleries has on display of the Griffin, a ship that sank off Mindanao in the 18th century (similar to the San Diego galleon's artifacts displayed at the National Museum in Manila), and ethnographic and marine biology exhibit. (No picture taking is allowed inside like most museums' policy without a proper permit. Entrance to the museum, however, is free)

The exterior of the Fort is a shrine to the Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar), the patroness of Zamboanga (and also of Santa Cruz, Manila, the Diocese of Imus) with fiesta celebrated on October 12.


Image of Our Lady of the Pillar outside Fort Pilar and is a popular Catholic Pilgrimage site in Mindanao

Our Lady of the Pillar, another of the numerous titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to ancient tradition, narrates that in the year 40 in Zaragoza, Spain, Mary appeared to James the Greater on the Ebro River while St. James the Great was preaching. She appeared on a pillar, and the pillar is preserved and venerated within the present Basilica of Nuestra Señora Del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain. Thus the image is called "La Virgen de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza).

Fort Pilar Museum Entrance Fee: None

How to get there:

Fort Pilar is walking distance from Zamboanga City Hall, Rizal Park and Zamboanga University. You may hire a tricycle if you don't feel like walking.

Related Posts:
St. Clare Monastery
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Our Lady of Manaoag
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Lipa
Kamay ni Hesus
Visita Iglesia Manila
Visita Iglesia Rizal and Laguna

Fort El Triunfo, Ozamiz City
Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City

Labels: Museums, Pilgrimage Sites, Spanish Forts, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Peninsula

In 1898, The Spanish-American war broke out and spilled into the Philippines then a Spanish colony (this war was triggered by an explosion of the USS Maine while anchored in Havana blamed on the Spaniards but later investigations turned it was just an accident)

on the first of May of the same year American fleet sailed into Manila bay, engaged and sank floating antiques called the Spanish navy, marking the day the US became known as a naval power.

This day in history, the Americans, led by Admiral Dewey who's been blockading Manila since March, captured El Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City) from the Spaniards.

Fateful day was marked by the bombardment of the Spanish bulwark, Fort San Antonio Abad whose walls are still visible within the walls of the present Central Bank complex near the Metropolitan Museum



details of the old wall



after capturing the said Fort, the Spaniards capitulated (later found out to be a mock battle for the Spaniards not to lose face should they surrender to the Filipinos)

picture of Fort Santiago entrance in Intramuros with the Spanish insignia and St. James (San Santiago)



Sadly, this is a day long forgotten by history-challenged Filipinos.

A few months later, the Philippine-American war broke out when America fulfilled their manifest destiny and turn their nation of the free into an empire enslaving the Philippines and killing about 200,000 Filipinos, mostly civilians, in their plan of benevolent assimilation.

Labels: History, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippine-American War, Spanish Forts