Day 1 of Siteseeing in Manila

Today we got a late start to our site seeing day.  But it was worth the wait.

Traffic in Manila is very congested during rush hour which is during the daylight hours every day.  Like most major cities around the world, there are many vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, buses, "jiffies" (small buses), and people that share the roads.  It took us almost an hour to get to our destinations even though they were very short distances away.  On the way home later, the driving time was cut in half because it was late and people were most likely where they wanted to be.

Out first stop was at the American Cemetery where over 17,000 American war dead are interred.  It was very sobering to think about all the pain and suffering that these soldiers, sailors, and airmen encountered in wartime.

Then we went to Ft. Santiago.  This is a place originally built by the Spanish in the 16^th century.  It has been occupied by Spain, Great Britain, Japan, United States, and the Philippines since its inception.  It is also the location where Jose Rizal, a legendary Filipino figure, was imprisoned by the Spanish for a time and ultimately executed in 1896 for the crime of rebellion.  Rizal was not part of the rebellion however his writings sparked some of the ideas for those who were.  Ft. Santiago also has a section known as the "Dungeon".  It is an area normally not available to tourists yet we were allowed to see it.  It is an area under the fort that was used for storage of supplies and munitions.  During World War II, the Japanese occupied Ft. Santiago and kept prisoners in this area.  Because the fort is next to a river and the Dungeon is lower than the river level, the Japanese executed prisoners by sending them to the Dungeon and then flooding it to drown the victims.

We then visited two cathedrals: Manila Cathedral originally built in 1571 and rebuilt several times as a result of fire, typhoons, earthquakes, and war;  and San Augustine Cathedral built in 1587.  Both are beautiful and impressive structures.

Next, we had dinner at a less historical and more cultural and touristy spot: Barbara’s

Heritage Restaurant.  The food is Spanish-themed and there is a cultural show that portrays different styles of Filipino dance and music.   I actually participated in one of the dances at the end.  Scary for me, but I was thankful no one got hurt.  

Our last stop for the evening was the Manila Hotel.  It is a hotel originally opened in 1912, was destroyed in World War II, and rebuilt after the war.  Although in an older part of town and not as trendy as it once was, it is still a very busy place for lodging, wedding receptions, conventions, and a favorite stop for Imelda Marcos, wife of former president Ferdinand Marcos.  It also has historical significance in that General Douglas MacArthur lived on the entire fifth floor of the hotel when he was governor of the Philippines before World War II.  During the war, the building housed the Japanese command.  Our hosts for the day thought they had connections and could get us into MacArthur's former room however it was being renovated and therefore unavailable.  However we did get to see the "Archives" as the hotel's small museum is named.  Most visitors do not get to see the "Archives".  It contains many pictures of celebrities and heads of state who have visited the hotel over the years, pictures of MacArthur's residence, and pictures of the hotel over the years. 

All in all, it was a satisfying day.