PHILIPPINE

ARCHITECTURE
MUST-SEE HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE THE PHILIPPINES
Folk architecture is the living environment people have created
for themselves. We can define local architecture as architecture
formed in anonymous design which later becomes traditional
under the influence of various factors.

Did you know

Manila is home to
a famous UNESCO
Heritage Site?
The San Agustin Church along
General Luna Street in Manila is one
of the four Spanish Colonial-era
baroque churches in the UNESCO
World Heritage List.
It was completed in 1607, making it the
oldest church in the Philippines. It
features intricate art, grand vaulted
ceilings, 3D carvings, and majestic
Parisian chandeliers. Its beauty makes it
a popular choice for weddings.
Suppose you're into this type of cultural
immersion. Why not visit the Philippines'
three other baroque churches that also made
it to the UNESCO list?
Go on a road trip up north to visit the Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur
and the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte. The Miagao Church in Iloilo
might take you off course. Still, it's well worth visiting - perhaps on
your second or third time to the Philippines.
Did you know that the
oldest Hispanic stone MANILA

fortress is in Manila?
And it's quite close to San Agustin Church, too!
So while you're in the area, make sure to visit
Fort Santiago in vintage Intramuros.

It was constructed in the late 1500s to serve as

one of the Spaniard’s defense lines.
Fort Santiago has a rather dark
history as it served so many
purposes - it was a storage for
war ammunitions, and its
dungeons were turned into cells
for political prisoners.

The National Hero of the Philippines, Jose

Rizal, was detained in Fort Santiago before his
public execution.
Continue traveling back in time
at the Baluarte de San Diego

Part of Manila's colonized historical era is

the Baluarte de San Diego in Intramuros.

Like Fort Santiago, it served as part of the

colonial fortification of the Spaniards.
The beautiful gardens, rich history, and
Baluarte de San Diego's structural
intricacies make it a must-visit.
Did you know that a replica of
the eight-foot Statue of Liberty
used to stand in the Baluarte
de San Diego? Rumor has it
that it mysteriously
disappeared in the early 1970s.

The Statue of Liberty's replica was a gift of

the United States to celebrate the
Philippines' struggle for liberation and
independence from foreign rule.
Immerse yourself in the rich history
and culture of the Philippines at the
National Museum Complex
The National Museum of the Philippines is an umbrella organization
that manages the country's four major museums, all located in Manila.
 The four major museums are the following:

The National Museum of Anthropology,

The National Museum of Fine Arts,
where you can learn about the
where The Spoliarium by Juan Luna
baybayin or the country's oldest script
is housed.
handed down from ancestors.

The National Museum of Natural

The National Planetarium,
History, where the skeletal remains of
where real-life displays of celestial
the largest crocodile in captivity Lolong
bodies are projected.
hang from the second floor.
 Oh wait! Before you go...
Go on a satisfying food crawl in Binondo - the oldest Chinatown in
the world. It was established in 1594 by the Spaniards as a
settlement area for Chinese migrants.

Enjoy authentic Cantonese meals from hole-in-the-wall restaurants,

and take home freshly-baked treats, such as hopia, tikoy, and Macau
egg tarts, to end your Manila adventure on a sweet note.
Rent a bike as you alternate
from one Manila must-see
site to the next. This is also a
smart way to avoid traffic!

And if you ever see a kalesa, don't miss

the opportunity to ride on one for a
truly local Manila experience.
While you're still in Manila...
Score cheap finds and hunt for bargains in
Divisoria. It has literally everything you might
need. Just make sure to get that extra baggage
allowance once it's time to go home.
KITAKITS SOON!
MANILA WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.