Mattie's Scrapbook

Mattie Grumman, 1943

Philippine Cache: Secret of Morolonago

Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

This was the model for Fort Legaspi. This is three-hundred year old Spanish fort used as a military installation by Spain, Britain (it ruled the islands for two years in the 1860's), the US. Spain built this bastion in 1571 on the site of a former Muslim stronghold and Intramuros, the city within the walls, was built around it. The Spanish built it to last, and it even survived an American assault in World War II. I tried to describe it as best I could within the story, the large open parade field, the barracks and buildings surrounding the walls and even the secret tunnel that lead outside. The US Army's addition to this proud fortress? A golf course, built in what used to be a moat. The moat was festering with disease so it was necessary.

When I visited it was very overcast, and as the afternoon wore on my camera would refuse to properly focus. I think the off-lighting had a hand in this. That or the ghosts. After liberation 600 bodies where found in the dungeon after all. One of the exterior redoubts was also supposedly filled with dead children. It seems the Japanese troops who held Manila, defying orders from General Yamashita to withdraw, felt if they couldn't have Manila then no one would. By time the battle ended over 100,000 people where dead and Intramuros near razed to the ground.