Intramuros being revitalized as major ASEAN tourist site
June 30, 2002 | 12:00am
In preparation for the "Visit Philippines 2003" worldwide promotion, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon and the private sector kicked off last June 11 an ambitious beautification drive for the historic Walled City of Intramuros in Manila.
Intramuros, former bastion of Spanish colonial oppression that was walled off to keep Filipinos and Chinese outside, will now be cleaned up, recast and revitalized as the flourishing center of 21st century Philippine cultural renaissance, tourism revival and economic regeneration.
It was at Fort Santiago, inside Intramuros, where national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was imprisoned before he was executed. The Walled City was the center of absolute Spanish political and religious authority over the Philippine archipelago for 333 years, and the Chinese traders were forced to stay in the ghetto called Parian outside its walls (now said to be where the Post Office building now stands).
During the launch reception attended by private sector leaders and foreign ambassadors, donations amounting to P900,000 were pledged by Alfredo and Presy Ramos of National Bookstore, Tony and Marietta Cuyegkeng, Conrad and Ruby Benitez, Betsy Tenchavez, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Syling, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Jacinto, Pablo Panlilio and many others. The government and private sector pledged to revitalize Intramuros as one of the crown jewels of a revitalized Philippine tourism industry.
Gordon envisions Intramuros not only as one of the country’s major tourist destinations, but also as a truly valued heritage site of the ASEAN region. He has issued several directives to dramatically upgrade facilities in Intramuros, such as the complete lighting of the whole area, installation of an Intramuros community organization to advise and assist the Department of Tourism (DOT) in developing the area, upgrading of garbage collection, cooperation of vendors to ensure orderliness and safety, and non-stop cleanliness efforts.
One of Gordon’s instructions involves the bidding for the construction of an Intramuros museum, which is envisioned to be a venue for a light-and-sound presentation on the history of the Walled City. The museum will be located on Sta. Lucia street.
Gordon instructed Tourism Undersecretary Evelyn Pantig to ensure that the production highlights Rizal’s vision for his countrymen and his values for self-improvement through education. "The production must uplift the Filipino spirit," he stressed.
Gordon said he hopes to fast-track plans for a proposed "cultural night market" where distinctive products of the various regions will be sold, as well as the retraining of tourist guides and the staging of musical presentations and mini-festivals like the famous Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang and Sinulog, among other new projects. Pantig recently met with officers of the Intramuros Administration led by Butch Ferrer, and representatives of the Intramuros business community and other service providers to discuss the comprehensive plans to revitalize Intramuros.
To ensure better development planning and immediate implementation of the numerous plans, Gordon recently formed a 10-member Council for Intramuros Development composed of barangay chairman Pedro Yacub, Lynn Abadilla of Manila Bulletin and Rotary Club Intramuros, Elvira Rodriguez of ECJ Building, lawyer Luis Flores of Flores Building, Carmencita Delgado of Palacio Grande, Robert Lane of Silahis Arts, Maggie Shih of Lyceum University, Fr. Pedro Galende of San Agustin Church, Steve Tamayo of Tamayo’s Restaurant, and Rodrigo Agunaldo of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines.
Intramuros, former bastion of Spanish colonial oppression that was walled off to keep Filipinos and Chinese outside, will now be cleaned up, recast and revitalized as the flourishing center of 21st century Philippine cultural renaissance, tourism revival and economic regeneration.
It was at Fort Santiago, inside Intramuros, where national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was imprisoned before he was executed. The Walled City was the center of absolute Spanish political and religious authority over the Philippine archipelago for 333 years, and the Chinese traders were forced to stay in the ghetto called Parian outside its walls (now said to be where the Post Office building now stands).
During the launch reception attended by private sector leaders and foreign ambassadors, donations amounting to P900,000 were pledged by Alfredo and Presy Ramos of National Bookstore, Tony and Marietta Cuyegkeng, Conrad and Ruby Benitez, Betsy Tenchavez, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Syling, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Jacinto, Pablo Panlilio and many others. The government and private sector pledged to revitalize Intramuros as one of the crown jewels of a revitalized Philippine tourism industry.
Gordon envisions Intramuros not only as one of the country’s major tourist destinations, but also as a truly valued heritage site of the ASEAN region. He has issued several directives to dramatically upgrade facilities in Intramuros, such as the complete lighting of the whole area, installation of an Intramuros community organization to advise and assist the Department of Tourism (DOT) in developing the area, upgrading of garbage collection, cooperation of vendors to ensure orderliness and safety, and non-stop cleanliness efforts.
One of Gordon’s instructions involves the bidding for the construction of an Intramuros museum, which is envisioned to be a venue for a light-and-sound presentation on the history of the Walled City. The museum will be located on Sta. Lucia street.
Gordon instructed Tourism Undersecretary Evelyn Pantig to ensure that the production highlights Rizal’s vision for his countrymen and his values for self-improvement through education. "The production must uplift the Filipino spirit," he stressed.
Gordon said he hopes to fast-track plans for a proposed "cultural night market" where distinctive products of the various regions will be sold, as well as the retraining of tourist guides and the staging of musical presentations and mini-festivals like the famous Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang and Sinulog, among other new projects. Pantig recently met with officers of the Intramuros Administration led by Butch Ferrer, and representatives of the Intramuros business community and other service providers to discuss the comprehensive plans to revitalize Intramuros.
To ensure better development planning and immediate implementation of the numerous plans, Gordon recently formed a 10-member Council for Intramuros Development composed of barangay chairman Pedro Yacub, Lynn Abadilla of Manila Bulletin and Rotary Club Intramuros, Elvira Rodriguez of ECJ Building, lawyer Luis Flores of Flores Building, Carmencita Delgado of Palacio Grande, Robert Lane of Silahis Arts, Maggie Shih of Lyceum University, Fr. Pedro Galende of San Agustin Church, Steve Tamayo of Tamayo’s Restaurant, and Rodrigo Agunaldo of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines.
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