If you have not been to Fort Santiago, in particular the Rizal Shrine located within its premises, you may want to schedule a trip there one of these days. Even if you have been there before, you may want to pay a visit there again. This is because the Rizal Shrine has recently undergone a renovation of its interior set-up, giving the shrine a much-needed makeover and its visitors a new, different insight into learning about Jose Rizal, his life, works, and deeds that made him a National Hero.
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Reminiscing Manila’s Magellan Monument
Intramuros by the Pasig River was home to a towering landmark, but what became of this Magellan Monument and where is it now?
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The “Roma” in Intramuros
While it is true that Intramuros is known as the “Little Vatican” because of the presence before of 7 churches in the Walled City and the fact that it is until now the seat of Roman Catholicism in Manila, and perhaps the country as well, this entry would not be about any of these churches. The “Roma” here would refer to the plaza, Plaza Roma, considered to be the “plaza mayor” or the main plaza of the city in the olden times.
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The SkyDeck at Bayleaf Hotel
Despite being a popular tourist destination, it’s interesting to note that there are only a few hotels, well 2 to be precise, operating in Intramuros itself. Make no mistake though, these hotels have their own unique charms that make them stand out. I wrote about one of them in a previous entry which operate an electric chariot tour. And there’s the “new kid in town,” so to speak, called The Bayleaf. Opened in November 2011, The Bayleaf was named after the other name for the laurel, which is a nameplay as well to the Laurel family who own and operate this hotel along with the nearby Lyceum of the Philippines…
