Discover Luzon: Intramuros

Intramuros Manila, Philippines

Another famous spot in Philippines’ Luzon Island is the thick-walled medieval and the oldest city of Manila, Intramuros. This walled city is evident of Old Spanish history built in the late 1500s. It is where several Spanish churches and other landmarks are located.  This area caters the scenic view of the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church with its magnificent 4,500-pipe organ, and the parks such as the Puerta Real Gardens and the Baluarte de San Diego. Surrounded by 8 feet thick stone walls that rise up to 22 feet, the city was built to protect the Spanish government and citizens from raiding Chinese pirates. It is also a picture of how the Spanish treated the country. During the World War II, the city was left in ruins after repeatedly bombed by the Japanese forces. Only two churches and the Fort Santiago are left standing today.

The Manila Cathedral Church

Manila Cathedral: Philippines

It is known as the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception the first cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in the Philippines. It is dedicated to the Patroness of the Philippines, Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It was constructed in 1581 made mainly of nipa and bamboo. Damaged by typhoon the following year and it 1583, it was ravaged by fire. It was renovated on 1592 and the edifice was built with stone; however, it was destroyed by an earthquake on 1600. 

Philippines: Manila Cathedral Interior

It has been renovated over the times and now is the famous wedding destinations of the Philippines. 

The San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church Philippines

 

The San Agustin church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Completed on 1607, it is the oldest church still standing in the country. It is one of the four churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO , under the classification "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". On 1976,  it has been named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government.

Philippines: San Agustin Church Interior

San Agustín Church measures 67.15 meters long and 24.93 meters wide. It has withstood numerous earthquakes that destroyed several churches in Manila due to its elliptical foundation. The main door has been ornately carved. The church courtyard is graced by several granite sculptures of lions, which were a gift by Chinese converts to Catholicism. The present structure is actually the third Augustinian church established on the site.

The Puerto Real Gardens

Puerta Real Gardens: Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

This place is famous for wedding receptions. It has been transformed into a park where people can soothe their burning brains and fiery eyes.It sits right in front of the main entrance to the Intramuros complex. It has a drawbridge which allows visitors to cross a small body of water.

Baluarte de San Diego 

Baluarte de San Diego: Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

 Baluarte de San Diego is built and designed by the Jesuit priest Antonio Sedeno (1586-1587). It is one of the oldest stone edifice in Intramuros. 

Note: Pictures were taken from Google images. They are owned by different people. It is only used to give viewers an overview of the place. Copyright remains to its sole owner.

Discover Luzon: National Capital Region

National Capital Region (NCR): Philippines

The National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines is commonly known as the Metro Manila. It is the center of Luzon and considered the nation's gateway to the world. It is bounded by the Cordillera Mountains the east, Laguna de Bay on the southeast, Central Luzon on the north and Southern Tagalog region on the south.

It comprises the cities of Manila, Kalookan, Las Pinas, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Pasig and Quezon City. Its municipalities are Taguig, Valenzuela, and the industrial district of Novaliches in Quezon City which by the way are waiting for their city hood ratification through plebiscites by their respective residents. Other municipalities include Navotas, Malabon, Pateros and San Juan.

It also offers tourists attractions that boast the wonders of the Philippines. Let’s start of with the National Museum of the Philippines. It is located at the former Senate Building.

National Museum of the Philippines (http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph)

It is also near to Rizal Park and Intramuros in Manila. Its main building was designed by Daniel Burnham on 1918. It houses many artworks by renowned Filipino artists,including Juan Luna’s Spoliarium. It is the official repository as a natural history and ethnography museum of the Philippines established in 1901. It holds the National Art Gallery, natural sciences and other support divisions. Located just beside is the Museum of the Filipino People. Another museum that houses artifacts from different regions of the Philippines displaying the diverse and colorful culture this archipelago.

Disclaimer: Pictures were taken from Google images. They are owned by different people. It is only used to give viewers an overview of the place. Copyright remains to its sole owner.

Discover Luzon: The chief island of the Philippines

Luzon: Philippines

Luzon is the largest island of the Philippines archipelago. It is where the seat of the government is located and where the financial and commercial capitals of the country are situated. From the colonial town of Vigan to the fussing ecclesiastical city of Manila to the rice terraces of Banaue, it became a magnet that attracts hundreds of thousands of individuals from all over the Philippines each year.

The regions of Luzon includes:

• National Capital Region
• Cordillera Administrative Region
• Ilocos Region
• Cagayan Valley
• Central Luzon
• Calabarzon
• Mimaro
• Bicol Region

Each region boasts a magnificent structure of cultural heritage and amazing artifacts of history. On my next posts, I will discuss the wonders of each region offering to local and foreign tourists of the Philippines.

Perlas ng Silangan

Philippines

The Philippines is known as the Pearl of Orient Seas because of its rare scenic views and tourist attractions. It lies within the Pacific basin and has a tropical climate. Rainy season normally occurs from June to December. Mid- January is the start of summer but the months of March and April are the warmest.

The Philippine island is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands lying about 500 mi (805 km) off the southeast coast of Asia. About 500 of the islands are larger than 1 one square mile and 2,500 do not have name yet. With a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 sq mi) only 2000 islands are inhabited. From North to South the Philippines stretches 1,156 miles, and from East to West 687 miles. The highest Peak is Mt. Apo in Mindanao at 7,385 ft. Mt. Pulog in North Luzon is the second at 7,325 ft. The largest river system is in the Mindanao region, which is known as the "Rio Grande de Mindanao"

Philippines have three principal islands: Luzon, the largest, Mindanao, where most Filipino-Muslims reside and Visayas, the smallest among the islands. Neighboring countries are Taiwan to the north, Hong Kong to the northwest, Brunei and Malaysia to the southwest and Vietnam to the west.

Mountains, caves, rivers and lakes are numerous in the Philippines. Volcanoes and waterfalls, on the other hand, are the most popular attractions too. Countless of beach resorts are also a favorite.  Taal Volcano is recorded as the smallest volcano in the world, situated in the southern part of Luzon. Another fascinating view is the amazing Banaue Rice Terraces in the Cordillera Administrative Region. A contour-plowed rice terraces situated on the mountainsides of Benguet which form a natural set of stairs. It is called the 8th wonders of the world in the Philippines.

Baguio, is the summer capital of the Philippines. The coolest place there is in the country with the lowest temperature of -9 degrees Celsius. It is situated on the highly-elevated provinces of northern Luzon. Manila is the capital of the country, the 2^nd largest city in Luzon.