Casa Manila Intramuros: A Short Walk To The Trace Of The Colonial Past

How well do you know your country? Do you know well your history, cultures and traditions? Definitely not and that's really understandable. We wake up everyday and it's a human nature to think about what to eat or unfixed issue at work first. It's vague to say that we are living in this world where those things we've learned when we where in school are not useful or relevant in our everyday lives. Because time is important we no longer need to make it more complex and use trigonometry when we buy gas at the pump or at the grocery store. So, if I could answer that question how well I know my country, the Philippines? Let say from 10 the highest, it's a 5. Although I really love my country, from hardworking Filipinos to top-notch beaches and also my favorite subject before was History, I just forget it because these things are not useful on my daily chores. Sadly, we tend to just pass by these important details which are the roots of who we are now. How about you my fellow Filipino? How well do you know the Philippines? 

Everytime we watch local news on television or when we ride jeepney, more often than not, we hear that the Philippines is a third world country. Honestly, I don't know how it happened and what were the basis even though one venti Starbucks frappe price in the US and the Philippines is almost the same. Give me justice please! Sadly, this is a negative connotation and you don't know if it's a lifetime. The questions are until when is this and how to have a first world country label? Unfortunately, we are defined by the media and to pacify most survey companies somewhat made it more light and labeled it as "one of the fastest-growing countries". Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you're living in the first world country? What if the Philippines was a rich country in the past? If it was, I'm so unlucky. 

There is one place in Manila where you can walk back in time and as you walk through, your questions are like being answered by the undeniably beautiful houses, churches and strong walls. My favorite place in Manila, the Intramuros, also called Walled City. In fact because of my admiration I bought a canvas tote bag with a print of this place and it's very informative. The words are still readable on the print after almost half a decade of using it once in a while. The place describes as "Defensive Walls" and gives brief information. Wonder why? Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The Walled City, its name in Latin intramuros, literally means "within the walls". Districts beyond the walls of Manila were referred to as extramuros, which means "outside the walls"- from the Kultura Filipino canvas tote bag. Like from my previous article the Philippines was colonized and ruled by Spain for more than 300 years. This is why there are traces of colonial past you can see everywhere especially in Manila. Without a doubt the most important and plays a vital role in the history of the country is, the Intramuros. This place has a lot of stories to share and not just walls. It cannot be discussed in one day. Intramuros is like a city inside a city. There are schools, universities, hotel, restaurants, churches and museums. I was in 7th grade when I went here for a school trip and I can say that Intramuros was really popular go-to place before because of the country's tourism marketing campaign "Wow Philippines" and the unforgettable clamshell.

Casa Manila. Come Inside! It was international women's day when I went to one of the famous Spanish colonial houses in Intramuros and unfortunately I didn't get a free entrance. On a normal day, it's still affordable with an entrance fees of 75 pesos(roughly $1.25) for adult and 50 pesos(roughly $1) for student and children below 12 years old. Like most museums, Casa Manila is open from  tuesday to sunday(9am-6pm). Truly worth it to be part of your Manila day tour or if you want to step back in time and study the country's history during Spanish occupation.

The facades are based on colonial period designs and were copied from an 1850's house at Calle Jaboneros in San Nicolas, a district across the river. The walls are made of adobe stones or volcanic tuff.

This "colonial lifestyle" musem uppermost floor, the living quarters, was made of wood since its lighter than stone, it was less risky during earthquakes. The architectural design of most houses during this era will surely amaze you, why? Not only an earthquake resistant but also the uppermost floor extends outwards help shade pedestrians during the day.

This part of Casa Manila that will give you somewhat a setting of Romeo and Juliet or another romantic movie like Cinderella. Imagine your prince is waiting for you almost all day because you're still bargaining with your dad but in the end you lost, eitherway you can only stay at the ball until 11 in the evening. This very beautiful patio is always the perfect choice for weddings and paved with piedra china(granite). The stones were used first by the Chinese as ballast for their junks and later sold for paving patios, streets and pedestrian lanes.

Not only shops where you can buy souvenir items on the ground floor but if you're a bike lover and protector of mother earth, you can try this bambike ecotours. Unfortunately, I don't know how to bike but these bamboo bikes were handmade by Gawad Kalinga villagers, from a foundation that helps end poverity by building and giving houses for the poorest of the poor. You will not only enjoy this educational ecotourism activity but you can also help them to create more of these.

A very relaxing to the eyes archway seems like guiding you to the colonial past. This is the way to Barbara's, a Filipino restaurant. They will make you full from wedding catering to their unique dinner buffet.

The main purpose of this visit is to let you know the history of the Philippines during Spanish era and the story of the elite Filipinos before. Somehow these change the stereotypes "third world country" and "poor Fillipinos".

Sadly you cannot take pictures on the second floor. For sure students who study interior design will love this place for research and get ideas on what style of bedrooms and living room the rich Filipino family had during colonial period. But don't worry because amazing treasures of the past will welcome you on the third floor. It's the cherry on top! This image is part of the Sala or the living room. This is the most decorated area since very important people are entertained here to show off the status of the family in the society. It was my first time to see a splendid music area here. It is said that in the late afternoon Tertulias(soirees) and bailes(dances) are held here where young ladies of the house are playing piano, singing or dancing. Older people used to discuss the latest in politics or business too.

It is said that most of the furnitures here have European influence. It started when Suez Canal opened in 1869 which created vast market for Philippine sugar, tobacco, coffee and abaca. Filipino businessmen were able to send their children to Europe for their education. When they went back, they brought not only their career but new lifestyle. Most of the furnitures were made of Narra wood and Kamagong wood, from the native trees of the Philippines. 

The feeling of prestige when I walked on this red carpet going to the dining room. Yes! You can only walk on the red carpet and it is not permitted to walk on the wood flooring, touch the furnitures and even seat on the old chair.

Every room has their unique jaw-dropping ceiling art and rare kind of chandelier.

Literally "sleep like a king" when I saw one of the beautiful bedrooms or cuarto in my entire life. Filipinos are very hospitable even in the past, they usually offer the most lovely room to important guests staying overnight.

Majority of the Filipinos are catholic and it is important to go on Sunday mass on time. For sure, you will never be late if the church is just two blocks away from your house. I can say somewhat only from affluent class can have this kind of view from the bathroom. 

The Baño, bow! In english, the bathroom. This area of the house where you can relax and spend more time with yourself peacefully. In the past, the upper class had bathtubs like these two different sizes also called bañeras usually large stoneware bathtubs from China. It is said that they have many servants during bath time, the master sits in the tub while they pour water, pull the cork from the tubs and drain the water to the floor after bath.

Simple yet intricate lamp inside the letrina, an old version of toilet (room).

The European influence can still be seen in the Cocina or Kitchen. This is the stony part of the house, a typical kitchen in the 19th century. This area of the house reminds me of the old Japanese anime series "Princess Sarah". Did you notice stovetop before? It was made of ashes and water. This could be the reason why breads were more tasty before because they were baked by piling live charcoal along the interior side of the oven, with the breads at the center. We can still see this in some very old bakeries today and commonly known as "Pugon".

The feeling of not wanting to go home when you see this kind of view from an old Azotea, a platform on top of a house. This part of the house where rich Filipino family used to plant herbs before. They mostly use tanglad(lemon grass) and pandan(fragrant screw pine) in flavoring and cooking.

A place like Casa Manila is something that you will never forget if you want to know more the history of the Philippines. It's nice to see foreigners visiting this place and I hope more Filipinos will do the same thing. After that short visit, I realized that Intramuros is a special place you need to visit before anything else. It is the origin or somewhat kilometer zero of the country's rich history. We have comfort food and me I also have comfort place like this. (Most information you can read here came from the guidebook of Casa Manila) Please make sure to like my facebook page and instagram Supermarkymacky. Thanks!