The Philippines: First Impressions

The Intramuros (Spanish for "within the walls") is the oldest district within Manila (walled by the Spanish from 1590 onwards) and home to Fort Santiago, one of the oldest forts in Southeast Asia. It predates New Amsterdam's (Manhattan's) wall and Fort Clinton by 100 years. Over the years, it housed Spanish, British, American, Japanese, and Philippine forces, and its walls and structures have been destroyed and rebuilt many times.








Manila Cathedral


University of Santo Thomas is the oldest on Southeast Asia (having been chartered by the Spanish Crown in 1611) and older than most of the Ivy League colleges. The present building dates from 1927 (when the university moved from Intramuros to its current location) but the gate is original.





Subic Bay is the former US Navy base, now returned back to the Philippines forces (although US warships still call at it).