DAILY PHOTO: Intramuros

Posted on January 16, 2018 by B Gourley

Taken inside Fort Santiago facing the Plaza de Armas in December of 2017

Baluarte de San Francisco de Dilao

In Fort Santiago

The Intramuros is the old fortified part of Manila constructed by the Spaniards during their reign. Back in the day, it was Manila proper, though there were “extramuros” (outside the walls) neighborhoods, such as the Chinatown set up across the Pasig for Chinese Catholics so that they could both have a place to live at a safe distance while being watched for the inscrutableness that was assumed to lurk in the hearts of foreigners.

DAILY PHOTO: Scenes from Manila’s Chinatown

Posted on January 9, 2018 by B Gourley

Taken in December of 2017 in Manila

Manila’s Chinatown, dating to 1594, is said to be the world’s oldest Chinatown. It was a neighborhood set aside for Chinese Catholics across the Pasig River from the Intramuros (the fortified part of the city controlled by the Spaniards.) Chinese trade activity in the city pre-dated Spanish colonial rule, but the Spanish facilitated the Chinatown so they could keep an eye on immigrants. Chinatown is locally known as Binondo.