Philippine Colonial Furniture

MESA ALTARTable intended for display of santos or religious icons. In large antillan houses, where there is an oratorio or prayer room, the mesa altar was a part of it

GALLINERAA wooden bench,under which chickens were safely kept. It was also used to store cisitors gifts. It was also told that local churches then do not allow roosters in the church, so this bench was created to accommodate the villagers roosters while they hear mass.

APARADORAn armoire or a wardrobe cabinet for storing clothes in single or double door. Sometimes the door panels are provided with glass or full length mirror

TOKADORA dresser table with vanity mirror and sometimes with matching chair

TRES LUNASAn extremely rare late 19th century aparador de tres lunas with full length mirrors combined with a dresser space.

LAVABOA washstand with a detachable mirror, ceramic basin and pitcher and towel rack on both sides. This was a status symbol back then

KAMA NI AH-TAYDecorative four poster bed. A typical canopy bed which was often decorated with cloth drapes.

ALMARIOPillow rack 0 used of storing mats at the top, pillows in the middle and linen in the enclosed cabinet below.

SILLON OR BUTACALounging chair with long arms and carved calado crownPLATERACabinets for displa of silverwares and ceramicsPAMINGGALANCame from the word pinggan. It is a slatted, airy cabinet that serves as plate and left over food storage.ESPEJO GRANDEGrand mirror with matching console table usually located at the bulwagan or living roomBAULWooden chest

PLANTSA DE-ULINGFlat iron made of cast iron with stand. It uses heated charcoal for ironing

MORINA MASA HARINACorn and rice grinder

CIERRA DE PERTAFasting device installed on doors to restrict access on the property wrought iron fastener.

ALDABADoor knocker usually metal attached by a hinge and maybe lifted to stricke a matchin plat that is fited to the door.

VOLADASecond floor overhang to shade passersby

INTRAMUROS(within the walls)

Manilas self-contained colonial city, built exclusively for the habitation of western elites

Long before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, communities prospered along the banks of the Pasig River. One of these was Maynila, a colony with a palisaded fort.

Ruled by Rajah Soliman, a Tagalog chieftain, the citadel was a trade center for Asian goods.

Peace in the thriving community was shattered upon the arrival of the Spaniards led by Martin de Goiti and later by conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

On June 24, 1571 Legazpi founded the city of Manila on the site of the old settlement. The city became the capital and seat of Spanish sovereigntyin the Orient for over three hundred years.Threats of invasion by Chinese, Japanese, Dutch and Portuguese pirates prompted the construction of defences consisting of high stone walls, bulwarks and moats. The walls stretched to 4.5 kilometers in length, enclosing a pentagonal area of approximately 64 hectares. The area consisted of residences, churches, palaces,, schools and government buildings. Entry was made possible through gates with drawbridges which were closed before midnight and opened at the break of dawn.

It was in this manner that the city earned the name Intramuros, meaning within the walls. Honored by King Philip II with the title Insigne y siempre Lel Ciudad (distinguished and Ever Loyal City), it served as the political, cultural, educational, religious and commercial center of Spains empire in the East. The riches of Aisa were gathered in the Ciudad Murada or Walled City (as Intramuros was later known), and loaded on galleons in Cavite for transport to Acapulco, Mexico.

But the walls did not discourage other ambitious European powers. Dutch pirates were driven off several times from Philippine waters. The british invaded Intramuros in 1762 and ruled for almost two years before returning the country to Spain.

The Spanish-American War in 1898 brought the Amreicans to the Philippines. Intramuros was surrendered to them after a mock battle.

The Japanese occupied the Philippines at the outbreak of World War II. For three years, fear and death stalked the city.

After surviving a number of earthquakes, typhoons, fires and wars through the centuries, Intramuros took the deathblow when the American liberated the Philippines from the Japanese in 1945. Artillerry shells reduced the walls and buildings to ashes. Thousands died during the eight-day siege.

When it was over, Intramuros was a dead city.

In 1946, the United States recognized Philipppine Independence but the city did not spring back to life. Decades after the war, it became a vast wasteland overrun by squatters and warehouses. Trucks with container vans rumbled through streets, further damaging the ruined buildings and endangering the foundations of the four century-old San Agustin Church.

On April 10,1979, Presidential Decree 1616 created the Intramuros Admisnistration (IA) to undertake the restoration and development of Intramuros as a monument to the Spanish period in Philippine History.

IA was attached to the Department of Tourism (DOT) in 1987, and was given the additional task of promoting the Walled City as a principal tour destination.

Today, efforts to preserve the Walled City and revive its illustrious past are stronger than ever. The present generation of Filipinos has come to realize its historical value. As in the days of our forefathers, Intramuros is a priceless treasure to be shared with the world.

Extramuros (exclusionary spatial category)Referring to non western people residing otside the walls

The Spanish colonial government issued series of decrees that restricted the number of non-Europeans who could work and reside within the intramuros.

THE PUERTASThe gates of intramuros refer to the original gates of the wlled city of intrmuros in manila, built during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. The gates are called either in the original Spanish word for gate

PUERTA DE BANDERASBuilt in 1662 as the governor generals gate when the first governors palace was still located in fort SantiagoDestroyed during during an earthquake and was never rebuilt.

PUERTA DE POSTIGO Lead to the palaces of governor general and archibishop of manila was built in 1662. Original gate located several meters to the left. Renovated in 1782 Jose Rizal passed through this gate from Fort Santiago to his execution at bagumbayan field on December 30,896 Damaged during the battle of Manila in 1945 Restored in 1968PUERTA DE STA. LUCIA One of the original entrances to the walled city when it was buildt in 1603 Underwent improvement in the late 18th century and became favoured as an entry point to maleconPUERTA REAL The original real gate royal gate was built in 1663 at the end of calle real de palacio (now general luna street) Used exclusively by the governor general for state occasions located west of Baluarte de san andres and faced the old village of bagumbayan destroyed during the british invasion of 1762 along with the removal of the village Rebuilt in 1780 and moved further west to it s present location Damaged during the battle of manila Restored in 1969 with additional work made in 1989

GATE FACING THE EASTSPUERTA DE PARIAN Named after the parian de Arroceros area across the city where chinese merchants lived. Built in 1593 it is one of the earliest entrances to Intramuros. Became the official entrance of the governor general in 1764 following the destruction of puerta real during the British invasion. Damaged during the battle of manila in 1945 Restoration was begun in 1986 and completed in 1982.GATES FACING THE NORTHPUERTA DE ALMACENES Built in 1690 for trading with the other side of the river Continually renovated until its completion in 1739 lasted until 1903 when American military engineers Demolished the walls for widening the river wharves along IntramurosPUERTA DE SANTO DOMINGO/PUERTA DE ADUANA Named after the nearby Santo Domingo church was built in the 18th century during the renovation of the riverside defences Opened to the river wharves but the American engineers tore down the gate and fortification in 1903 to open ta road to Intramuros from Magallanes drive.PUERTA DE ISABEL II Named after queen isable II whose statue is located near the gate Last gate to be built in intramuros was opened in 1861 Became part of the route of the tranvia (streetcar) during the battle of Manila in 1945 restored in 1966.

FORTRESS ARCHITECTUREBastion system Spanish fortifications were designed in accordance with the bastion system with straight trenches of polygonal perimeter wall connected by protruding precincts called bastions at every corner of the polygon. Typical fortification walls maybe three sided or more.

PARTS OF FORTIFICATIONCortinas fortification walls 3.00 to 10.00 m thick

Casamastas ambrasures on top of the cortinas on which artillery weapons were propped up

Bulartes or bastions - four-sided bulwarks shirting the cortinas on both ends

Garitas or sentry box, were little turrets resting on other corners, where sentinels kept watch.

Foso or moat is a deep and wide ditch filled with water surrounding the fortification as a form of defense

Revellin a massive structure on one side of the entrance consisting of two embank ments shaped like an arrowhead that points outward on front of a larger defense work

Interior of a fortification could include Living quarters for soldiers Jail Foundry Chain of warehouses for ammunition, powder Well Chapel

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