Within the Walls

Manila is rich in faith and culture, much like Zach (if you can consider Texan a culture…). One of Zach’s missions while in the city was to scope out Intramuros, the former center of religious power during the Spanish colonial period. When the Spaniards arrived in Manila, they declared the area the new capital and surrounded it with 8 feet thick and 22 feet high walls; hence, the name that literally translates to “within the walls”.

 

Behind the walls there were a few beautiful churches and lots of weddings going on. The first church we stopped at was the Manila Cathedral, the largest Catholic church in the Philippines. They had just finished one wedding and another one was about to start. As far as I could tell, it was your typical Catholic wedding with large families, about 14 bridesmaids and a long train.

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Down the street were some shops and another Catholic church, San Agustin. I liked this one a little more than the first because it was smaller and more intimate (it had also been through hell and was rebuilt countless times, which is why there were two buildings). 

   

The most interesting detail I found at this church were the floor tiles that appeared to be headstones... spooky!

Further down the street we happened upon a random parade. Welcome to Manila!

    

The next morning Zach went off to church and I had a chance to explore the city alone. One thing I’ve realized about myself is that I can be very happy when I am on my own and following my own agenda (only-child syndrome, perhaps?). I strolled all along the main street, down to the aquarium that wasn’t open yet and to Rizal Park.

 

Prior to the trip, I had no idea who Jose Rizal was. After stumbling across a somewhat morbid memorial, I did a little homework and found out that he is considered the Philippine's national hero. The monument depicts some of the final moments of his life, much like the Stations of the Cross.

 

The Stations of Rizal were as follows:

 

 

In the middle of the Stations is his actual execution. Rows of larger than life bronze men are lined up with guns pointed. There are two firing squads; the first squad is Filipino native infantry, backed by Spanish troops to shoot both Rizal and the first row of men if they failed. Rizal is center stage with his hands tied and two bullet holes in his back.

  

If you are intrigued enough to do homework, read up on Rizal and what he did to deserve such a tribute.