Fort Santiago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Santiago, the place where the Philippine National hero was jailed when he was captured by the Spaniards, this is where he penned his last poem “Mi Ultimo Adios”.  It also served as the military headquarters of the Spanish, British, American and Japanese regimes. Fort Santiago is now a park where visitors can enjoy the nostalgic romance of a bygone Spanish legacy within its gardens. The place is now preserved so tourists and most especially students can see with their own eyes a small bit of history.

 

Ruins of the American barracks are still present within Fort Santiago.

 

The Spaniards aren't the only ones who used Fort Santiago as a Military barracks. the Americans and even the Japanese used it as well.

 

 

 

 

Statues of Jose Rizal

 

Inside Fort Santiago are various statues of Rizal as a tribute to him and his works.

 

 

 

 

Wonderful Views insid Fort Santiago

 

Fort Santiago is a very nice park, not only is it for tourist to view but also for families to bond together while learning about the past.

 

 

 

 

The Dungeon where Jose Rizal was held as a criminal

 

This is where Jose Rizal was locked in when the Spaniards accused him as a revolutionary. This is where he spent his final days and where he wrote his final poem "Mi Ultimo Adios".

 

 

 

 

 

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda's Final Steps

 

As Visitors enter Fort Santiago metal footsteps are engrave on the ground. This is to embed The Philippine National Hero's final steps as he walk to his death in Luneta Park on December 30 , 1896.

 

 

 

 

Tribute for the many who died within Fort Santiago

 

Jose Rizal wasn't the only one who was killed within this wall. In the course of Philippine history the wars had taken its toll. Many innocent people never cam out alive after entering Fort Santiago as victims of the war.

 

 

 

 

Vandalisms in Fort Santiago

 

Some Tourist literally want to leave their mark inside Fort Santiago. It may look harmless but numerous vandalism has been putting Fort Santiago on the verge of Destruction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guardian

 

This is a guard in Fort Santiago dressed elegantly like a Spanish Guard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In front of the main gate of Fort Santiago is the MOAT, the first line of defense surrounding the fortified city with water. Here is a trivia do you know the meaning of the symbols carved at the gate?

 

Well here is the answer, according to the book  “Ciudad Murada, A walk Through Historic Intramuros” by Jose Victor Z. Torres it reads “A wooden relief sculpture portraying Saint James slaying Moorish enemies, decorates the fort’s main gate”. The symbol below it is the symbol of Spain. It is not how it originally looked like, during renovation someone removed the six pointed star that is related to the story of St. James.

Fort Santiago is Scary place for Filipinos during the war torn era many people who entered never came out alive.

Within fort Santiago floor are foot prints of where Rizal stepped on when he was taken from the dungeon where he was enclosed to Luneta Park where he was executed.

 

 

Address: Santa Clara St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Tel: +63-2-527-1572