Walls of old Manila

Media

Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Walls of old Manila
Language: English
Year: 1928
Rights
Abstract: Concluded from September.
Fulltext: 28 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL October, 1928 informed on island topics as many resident American grownups. It was a profitable year, even financially, for Teacher, realizing that most of Kingsley’s stories had the nucleus of a real plot, collaborated with him in revising the little stories, complicating the situations, and yet keeping the stories essen tially his own. Some were disposed of to various boys’ papers, and the returns divided between the collaborators, so that Kingsley was once con strained to remark that there was “some use studying English if people can make money writing it.” And not only the children, but the parents, also, were pleased when from time to time this or that ed’torial was sold as an item or para graph or filler, or the little jingles were accepted for publication, both in the Philippines and in the United States. Why, one day Kingsley and Teacher made ten dollars apiece—from one of their stories written in collaboration. Oh, the roundeyed surprise and the awed delight over that huge sum! So, the financial aspect of the work, and the idea of having their names in print inspired the children to read up and search farther afield for more material. Truly it was a happy and profitable year, and all because the children themselves had insti tuted the reform of animated English. WALLS OF OLD MANILA (Concluded from September) Too weak to stand even so modest a siege as that of the British in 1762, unless manned by superior force, these ramparts have still answered their purpose for the Spaniards. They were undoubtedly a great safeguard against the frequent threats of the Mindanao and Sulu pirates who ventured into the bay up to within sixty years ago. Also for more than a century, the Spaniards were any day subject to hostilities from the Portuguese: whilst the aggressive foreign policy of the mother country, during the 17th century, exposed them to repri sals by the Dutch fleets, which in 1643 threatened the city of Manila.' To this must be added the ever present danger of uprising by the natives themselves. The old ramparts have afforded a point of support and secure base, but for which these islands could hardly have been held so long: and in certain respects, their worth has not yet entirely disappeared; for no man is wise enough to say that they may not be needed again should foreign complications create an opportunity for revolt. Philippine Trust Company COMMERCIAL AND SAVINGS BANK Offers every Banking and Trust convenience. Genuinely conservative Banking is our aim, and we emphasize the Business-Building Service we extend to our Depositors. Frequently we are able to put our customers in possession of facts that bring them profit or save them loss. 4^4% per Annum on Savings Accounts Interest on Fixed Deposits upon Request We would be glad to meet you personally and talk over your banking requirements. Guardians Registrars Financial Agents Executors Administrators Depository for Securities Transfer Agents Receivers Attorneys-in-fact Rendering a specialized service in the management and settlement of estates, etc. Manila, intramuros, is situated at the 'mouth and on the left bank of the Pasig river, Lat. north 14° 46', Long, east 120° 57'. Itsencircling walls measured 2% miles before recent demoli tions destroyed their continuity. It is a dull city, with narrow streets, bearing a heavy, sombre, monastic appearance. It has six prin cipal gates, three on the river side, named in order from the west, Almacenes, Santo Do mingo and Isabel II; the other three on the land fronts, called Parian, Real and Santa Lucia. A seventh ranked as a postern in Spanish times— Postigo. Formerly, the drawbridges were raised and the city was closed and under sentinels from eleven o’clock at night until four in the morning. It continued so until 1852, when, in consequence of the earthquake of that year, it was decreed that the gates should thenceforth remain open night and day. There exist seven bastions, Tenerias Aduana, San Gabriel, San Lorenzo, San Andres, San Diego, and Plano; and five redoubts, Parian, Recoletos, Real, San'Pedro, and San Francisco; besides the four small bastions mentioned. From direct examination of the walls and of maps, it would appear that there existed on the ramparts of Manila and outworks, emplace ments for 370 guns of all natures requiring a theoretical war force of from 2,600 to 5,200 artillery to fully man; depending upon the number of reliefs per gun. The corresponding garrison of infantry according to modern esti mates would number about 10,000. We need hardly add that no such numbers, either of men or guns, ever did actually constitute the defensive force of this fortress. This state ment refers of course, only to the garrison intra muros, and does not include the field forces. Appended is a table showing the numbers and natures of guns found on the walls at the date of United States occupation. This table is copied from one inscribed upon a plan of the Manila walls furnished by the United States Engineer Office: SANTIAGO. Legend over entrance to office of Commanding Officer, Fort Santiago: Rtynando en las Espafla., y en las India* L.C.Y.R.M. Del Ury .V..S. </!«• Dios yu.c J). Phrl.pr >1. Siendo Gou.or Cap.n Genl y Dress.te de la II I Aud.a de estas Islas philips el M.Y.tte Sr. D. Fernando Valdes Ta,non Hriyadier de los Ils Exersitos de fa M. G. Caanllero del Manito de S.n Tia.o Serredifieo efte Cajt.llo cl ano de 1731. Siendo Caft.no del por fa M. G. el Capitan D. Carlos dr Abarca y Valdes. M. H. O’Malley, Pres. Monte de Piedad Building Plaza Goiti—Manila P. O. Box 150 Tel. 2-12-55 Free Translation.—The Catholic and Royal Majesty of ’the King, our Lord (whom God guard), Philip V, reigning in Spain and the Indies, the Very Illustrious Don Fernando Valdez Tam6n, Brigadier of the Royal Armies of His Gracious Majesty, Knight of the Order of Santiago, being Governor, Captain General and President of the Royal Audiencia of these Philippine Islands, this fort was rebuilt in the year 1731, Captain Carlos de Abarca y Valdez being Commandant thereof for His Gracious Majesty. SAN ANDRES Legend on wooden slab over sheltered doorway to magazine of Bastion San Andres. The recess prepared for the Escudo of Spain above this legend is vacant: REINANDO LAS ESPANAS I,A CATIIOI.ICA Y IIl. M. G. DL INVICTISIMO MONARCA D.P.V.NroSr. Q.Ds. Gde. Y GOBERNANDO EN SU Rt„ Ne. ESTAS ISLAS PIIII.IPINAS EL My. ILVS. Sr. Dn. FERNANDO Ves. TAMn. CAVno. DEL ORDEN SANTIAGO DEL CONZo. DE SU Ri.. M. G. SU GOBERok. EL CAPITAN Gl. DE ESTAS DICHAS ISLAS Y PRESSte. DE LA AVD*. Rl. CIINSILa. SE FABko. ESTE ALMAZx. O CASAMATA PARA EL SEGVRO I CVSTODIA DL POLBha. A DISPOSISION Y ORDEN DE DICHO SESOR. ANO DE 1733. Legend incised in wood just under the foregoing: REYNANDO LA Sua. Da. ISABEL 2<la. Y CON MOnvo DE HABER PASADO REVISTA DE 1NSPECCION AL CUEHPO NACIONAL DE YNGENIEROS EL Excmo. Sor. Oral. 2.’ CABO Dn. RAMON'MONTERO, SE RESTAURO DE ORDEN DE S. E. LA ANTERIOR ANTIGUA YNSCRIPCION EN ENERO DE 1S55. Translation First Legend.—The Catholic and Royal Gracious Majesty of the ever victo rious Monarch Philip V, our Lord (whom God guard), reigning over Spain; and in his Royal name governing these Islands the Very Illus trious Don Fernando Valdez Tam6n, Knight of the Order of Santiago, of the Council of His Gracious Majesty, his Governor and Captain General of these said Islands, and President of the Royal Audiencia Chancellery, this maga zine or casement was built by direction and command of the said King in the year 1733 for the security and safeguarding of the powder. Translation Second Legend.— Dena Isabel II reigning, and pursuant to the inspection of the National Corps of Engineers by the Most Excellent General, Second in Command, Don Ramon Montero, the preceding old inscription was restored in January, 1855. Legend over Parian Gate. PUERTA DEL PARIAN ANO 1782. Translation. PARIAN GATE YEAR 1782. NOTE.—This year Jose de Basco y Vargas was Captain General and Governor of the Philippine Islands and showed much activity in repairing the fortifications of Manila. The word “Parian” indicates a public market for the sale of small manufactured articles. The word might be translated as “bazaar”. Ramon Reyes Lala writes thus of the governor general at the very close of the Spanish period: “The Governor rides in a carriage drawn by four horses, with several outriders, who, by means of a shrill whistle, announce his approach. All streets are instantly cleared and traffic sud denly ceases, every one standing still to make respectful obeisance. On, on, they come, the dashing four, with postilions in scarlet jackets. The Governor, dressed in civilian’s dress, sits within—the picture of dignity. He bows right and left, in that perfunctory way characteristic of public dignitaries the world over, and the carriage passes on, while the citizens resume their wonted demeanor and avocations.” IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL