Trip to Manila, Philippines - October 2007

In early October I went on a short business trip to Manila to visit the Accenture facilities in the Philippines. It was a very short trip and I probably only spent 36 hours in Manila - but I managed to get some work done, do some shopping and a little bit of sightseeing. First stop on my sightseeing tour was a cemetery that paid tribute to the fallen American soldiers in World War II.

I also saw "Intramuros", located along the southern bank of the Pasig River that divides Manila. Intramuros was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city. Its name, taken from the Latin, intra muros, literally "Within the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. Inside the walls there is an old defense fortress "Fort Santiago" - also built by the Spaniards.Fort Santiago is famous because Dr. Jose Rizal - the national hero of the Philippines - was held prisoner here the last days leading up to his execution in 1896. Dr. Rizal was the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. All the way from Fort Santiago - i.e. his prison - up to the place where he was executed, a series of footsteps made of Copper shows the route he walked.