During World War II, hundreds of civilians and
soldiers were tortured or killed in Fort Santiago,
Intramuros. Thousands more died and the city
turned to ashes when the Americans fought the
Japanese in 1945. Soldiers' ghosts are said to
patrol at night-apart from the actual guards
dressed in old-fashioned soldier uniforms (tip:
it's blue). Screams of the tortured and
persecuted are said to echo throughout the
walled city, as well, as soon as night falls.
Fort Santiago (Spanish: Fuerte de Santiago
Tagalog: Moog ng Santiago) is a defense fortress
built for Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de
Legazpi. The fort is part of the structures of the
walled city of Intramuros, in Manila, Philippines.
José Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, was
imprisoned in the fort before his execution in
1896. the site features, embedded onto the
ground in bronze, his final footsteps
representing the walk from his cell to the
location of the actual execution. Many say they
get cold chills following in his footsteps and
have even felt him touch them. Many say a
feeling of dread comes over them and some
have been known to pass out or faint on the
spot.
Fort Santiago, a 16th century military defense
structure, stands witness to the valor and
heroism of the Filipino through the centuries.
Adaptive use of this famous historical landmark
makes certain areas ideal for open air
theater,picnics,and promenades. The Intramuros
Visitors center gives an overview of the various
attractions in the walled city.
The location of Fort Santiago was once the site
of a wooden fort of Rajah Sulaiman, a Muslim
chieftain of pre-Hispanic Manila. It was
destroyed by the conquistadors (Martin de Goiti)
when, upon arriving in 1570, they fought several
battles with the Islamic natives. The Spaniards
built the Fuerza de Santiago and the fortified
city of Intramuros in 1571, and made Manilathe
capital of the Philippines.
