ROYAL ORDINANCES

CONCERNING THE
LAYING OUT OF
NEW TOWNS;
PLANNING OF
INTRAMUROS
BACKGROUND OF
THE AUTHOR
Jason A. de las Alas
HE graduated with an AB in History from the Ateneo de Manila University in

2008. He is presently an MA candidate, majoring in Education in the same

university. He taught Social Studies and Filipino at the Ateneo de Manila

University Grade School for one year and is currently a social studies

faculty member of Miriam College High School. His research interests are

primarily divided between history, education, migration studies.

Keith D. Camea
holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a graduate diploma in urban

and regional planning.

THE INTRAMUROS ADMINISTRATION WAS E STABLIS HE D
IN 1 979, BY V IRTUE OF PRE S IDE NTIAL DE CRE E NO.
1 61 6

The INTRAMUROS ADMINISTRATION is “responsible for the orderly

restoration and development of Intramuros as a monument to the
Hispanic period of our history. As such, it shall ensure that the general
appearance of Intramuros shall conform to Philippine-Spanish
architecture of the 16th to the 19th century.”
 P R E S I D E N T I A L D E C R E E N o . 1 61 6

C R E AT I N G T H E " I N T R A M U R O S A D M I N I S T R AT I O N " F O R P U R P O S E S O F
R E S TO R I N G A N D A D M I N I S T E R I N G T H E D E V E LO P M E N T O F I N T R A M U R O S

• major cultural landmarks should be preserved, developed and administered for the
perpetuation of Filipino heritage and the enhancement of our national identity;

• for four hundred years, Intramuros has been a priceless heritage of the past for the
City of Manila and a major historical landmark of the Philippines;

• to preserve and enhance the historical value of Intramuros, the national historical
consciousness program demands its restoration, development and maintenance, and
for this purpose, it is imperative that a special organization be created, charged
with such a vital role and responsibility.
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
• One of the m o st visited p l ac e s here in the
Philippines is the Intramuros, a L at i n wo r d
w h i c h m e a n s “within the walls” a n d t h e d i st r i c t
b e yo n d t h e wa l l s a r e c a l l e d e x t r a m u r o s w h i c h
m e a n s “ outsi de th e wal ls” .

• I t i s a l s o k n ow n a s t h e “ Walle d C i t y of
M ani la”.
• I n t r a m u r o s i s lo c at e d a lo n g t h e a r e a o f M a n i l a Bay
a n d s o u t h pa rt o f t h e Pa s i g R i v e r .

• E ac h co r n e r of Intramuros is i m p o rta n t SINCE it

g i v e s u s t h e i n f o r m at i o n T H AT w e n e e d i n o r d e r to
u n d e r sta n d t h e h i sto ry o f o u r co u n t ry , P h i l i p p i n e s .
• The S paniards f orme d the city of Manila
accordi ng to the ci ty plan and layout
of European citie s and of the ir
te rritorie s i n the Ame ricas .

• Towns we re planne d eithe r inland or

coastal urban ce nte r .

• The y s e ttle along the rive rs to have

acce s s i n wate rways th at wi ll s ustain
the ir e ve ryday li vi ng .
• Under Philip II of Spain,
Spanish Manila was
constructed based on the
urbanization ordinances
of 1573.
• “Interplay of open and
built spaces laid
following a grid” is the
main theme of the
standard design.
• Calle Real, meaning the “royal road” is
the main way inside the Walled City.
• Secondary roads were parallel to the
primary arteries according to the grid
plan.
• The walls of the city were meant to
protect the Spaniards inside against
foreign invaders and pirates.
• The walls were two and a quarter mile
long and ten to twenty feet thick.
Plaza de Roma

• a l s o k n ow n a s
Plaza Roma, is
o n e o f t wo m a j o r
p u b l i c s q ua r e s i n
Intramuros,
Manila.

• I T i s co n s i d e r e d A S
the center of
Intramuros.
• Seven access gates: the
Postigo, Sta. Lucia, Real,
Parian, Isabela II, Sto.
Domingo, and Almacenes.
• Nine bastions or baluarte
lined the stretch of the
wall: San Gabriel, San
Francisco de Dilao, San
Andres, San Diego, Plano
Luneta de Santa Isabel,
San Francisco Javier, San
Miguel, Medio San
Francisco, and Santo
Domingo.
• The f orti fication provide d little
actual de f ens e for t he pe ople of
Manila .

• The de f e nsive stru c tu re s of

Intramuros did not s u f ficie ntly
de ve lop to match pr ogre s s ions in
military tactics and we aponry .
• Manila had e x pande d be yond into th e
s u b u rb s and the me die val walls .

• With the s urrounding land of

Intramu ros s lowly f illing u p due to
inc re as ing population, the de f e nse s and
city’s walls s oon vanis he d the ir us e
and value , in the e nd the limite d are a
inside Intramuros , could no longe r b e
accommodate d.
• The Jesuits begin the
reduction policy, which was
intended to gather spread • With its town inhabitants or
communities "under the bells" “taga-bayan”, the policy
in the late 16th century. formed the "plaza complex.“

• Within the town or “pueblo”, • The “taga-bukid” established a

people existed around the small minority who had to
plaza with the illustrados be in the fields or rural
situated closest to the areas joining the
center and the lower classes agricultural activities.
living at the edge but still
"within the sound of the
bells."
 ANALYSIS
The walls of Intramuros were meant to protect the city from
foreign invasions. The walls were six meters high and three
kilometers in length, covering an area of about 160 acres.
Entry and exit were only through its seven fortified gates.
Within the vast walls, throughout the 51 blocks of the city,
were churches, hospitals, government offices, military barracks,
schools, and houses of the Spanish elite.
• Manila
C at h e d r a l
• Plaza De
Roma
• Bal uarte D E
San Diego
• Fort
S a n t i ag o
• P u e r ta R e a l
Gardens
• Sa n Ag u s t i n
Church
• Casa Manila
• Pa l a c i o D e l
Gobernador
RELEV AN C E C ON TIB UTION

• I T F O L LOW S T H E U R B A N P L A N N I N G W H E R E I N T H E P R I M A RY C O N C E R N I S
T H E P U B L I C W E L FA R E .

• THERE ARE LOT OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS T H AT TO O K P L AC E IN

I N T R A M U R O S T H AT C O N T R I B U T E S TO T H E H I S TO RY O F T H E P H I L I P P I N E S .

• I T CO N N E C T S U S TO PA S T S I N C E w e a r e S T I L L a b l e to s e e t h e
structures t h at were present during the S pa n i s h era EVEN
T H O U G H S O M E O F I T W E R E r e n ovat e d o r r e b u i lt .
 REFERENCES
• Alas, J. A. (n.d.). Medieval Manila. Life at the Dawn of the 20th Century, 98-100.

• Cameña, K. (2011). Beat Architect. Urban Planning in the Philippines.

• GOV.PH. (n.d.). Retrieved from Republic of the Philippines: Intramuros Administration:

http://intramuros.gov.ph/about-the-ia/?fbclid=IwAR2STyB
cpksIhRYL_Kuqr3RK4EtGP1RMPb5AEM2tPNCFzPgArD6Z_5fpBw

• GOV.PH. (n.d.). Retrieved from Republic of the Philippines: Intramuros Administration:

http://intramuros.gov.ph/about-the-ia/rules-and-regulations-governing-the-development-of-
intramuros/?fbclid=IwAR2STyB-cpksIhRYL_Kuqr3RK4EtGP1RMPb5AEM2tPNCFzPgArD6Z_5fpBw
 GROUP 10
M E N D OZ A , C A R LO S LO U E G I E
REYES, JAZMINE MICHAELA A.
TESORO, ROCHELLE MARIZ B.