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| Photo of Guadalupe Church. |
Paco Park is a recreational garden area and served as Manila's municipal cemetery during the Spanish colonial period. This structure was built in the 18th century and was completed in 1822. Its original design was to be a municipal cemetery for the influential and aristocratic Spanish families living in Manila and Intramuros, but it also served as a peaceful dwelling place for those victims of the cholera epidemic.
This is a historical site and the oldest stone fort in Manila. Built in 1586, it was called the Nuestra Senora de Guia designed by Jesuit priest Antonio Sedeno. Fell into disrepair and was renovated in 1593. Incorporated as part of the walls but later abandoned due to its unstable foundations. The new structure was constructed with orillons (curved corners) masking cannons on the flanks. Destroyed during the British invasion in 1762. Repaired and renovated in 1764. American Army ordinance section was built on-site during the American occupation. Destroyed during World War 2 and is now a major tourist attraction of the Intramuros Walled City.
Fort Santiago is one of the historical landmarks inside Intramuros. It's a fortress that is a part of the structures of the Walled City. This historical structure was first built by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi for the newly founded City of Manila. This fort is the most important historical sites in Manila as Dr. Jose Rizal was imprisoned here before he was executed in 1896.
The Quiapo Church, or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is canonically known as Saint John the Baptist Parish, and it is one of the most famous churches in the Philippines. The first structure was made of bamboo and nipa palm and built by the Franciscan Missionaries. But in 1574, the pirates, led by Limahong, destroyed and burned the church. In 1588, Fr. Antonio de Nombella, a Franciscan friar, founded this church and declared it the Parish of St. John the Baptist. It was again burned in 1603 and taken over by the “Society of Jesus” or the Jesuits. In 1686, the full construction was initiated by Gov. Gen. Santiago de Vera.
The Sta. Cruz Church, or Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, is situated in the Northern part of the city of Manila. It is said that the original structure was built in the same spot as the current structure. This was constructed by the members of the “Society of Jesus,” known as the Jesuits, from 1608 up to 1768. It is the first Roman Catholic church built in this area. Its structure is made up of blocks of adobe quarried from the nearby provinces. It was dedicated to the newly converted Chinese who lived in Manila.
The Malate Church, or the Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church, or Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, is situated in Manila. When I saw the façade from afar and while crossing the street near Plaza Sulayman, I was really amazed because of its architectural design and the dark color. When the British landed on the shores of Manila in 1762, they used this church as one of their headquarters. Because of its topography, the structure was damaged and rebuilt several times due to natural calamities like earthquakes and typhoons. During the battle in World War II, this church was destroyed by fire.
The Sta. Ana Church, or the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned, was established more than 300 years ago. The cornerstone was laid in 1720. It is also one of the churches spared by World War II, so most of what you see today, including the Camarin de la Virgen, was what churchgoers saw hundreds of years ago.
One of the famous districts in Manila is Binondo, it is also known because of the Filipino-Chinese communities in the area. Since this district is said to be one of the centers of the trade and industries centuries ago and even today, some Chinese businessmen were converted to Christianity during the Spanish era, so Binondo Church was established in the area in 1587 by the Dominicans for them.
