Restoring Intramuros

Recently I mentioned in one of the earlier blogs how four Mabuhay Guides were involved in showing the Walled City of Intramuros to the entourage of the San Francisco Mayor.

This morning I was pleased to find that that was only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg". As it turns out, the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee, served as a liaison to the Global Heritage Fund, a non-profit conservation group that provides assistance to developing countries in preserving their cultural heritage sites, who in turn recently pledged support for the preservation of Intramuros.

This is most welcome news!!! Indeed, as Intramuros is the bastion of Spanish Colonial rule in the Philippines which started as early as 1571, it is a veritable showcase of our introduction to western influence. To say that it was the start of our civilization is a fallacy. The Spaniards upon landing in our shores were surprised to find a civilization so advanced they were in awe of the social set-up among the people. The Spaniards were dazzled by the gold accoutrement of the rulers of the community that welcomed them. Evidence of this is found at the Ayala Museum's pre-Hispanic gold collection.

However, they were in a race with Portugal in establishing the Spanish empire in other lands. Having conquered Rajah Soliman's bastion, they started establishing a fort in the very heart of Rajah Soliman's former home. Fort Santiago was thus born out of its ashes. From there construction began in the farthest colony of Spain who now owned an empire where the sun never sets. The City of Manila was given the title Ever Loyal City. The walls were built to protect it from undesirable encroachments of pirates and other colonials rulers.

Earthquakes, fires, and wars have taken its toll on the Walled City but efforts of the Intramuros Administration and the City of Manila to restore its former glory have been most positive. However, funding for such a grand project is staggering to say the least. The wall does extend 4.5 kilometers all around after all. Not to mention the numerous colonial buildings within it that have borne the wear and tear of time and the enviroment.

The plan of the Global Heritage Fund Mission is to establish Intramuros as a living colonial community much like Williamsburg, Virginia. If you haven't been there well... it's Little House on the Prairie come to life! After a while of taking in the sights, you'd be looking for Laura Ingles hopping around complete with lunch pail and pigtails.

After a year of having guided foreigners around Intramuros, I'm still amazed at guests' reactions to the splendor of our colonial life. Then they get an idea of what makes the Filipinos tick. WE are unique in that our Asian character is spiked with the heat of Latin influences imbibed through centuries of Catholic indoctrination, religious fervor, national pride, indigenous customs and traditions and a deep respect for our land.

It's about time new life was breathed into Intramuros...