The Impenetrable Fort Santiago

div class="googleright">Fort Santiago is located at the foot of the Pasig River
‘Fuerza de Santiago’ or Fortand is regarded as one of the oldest forts in the city.
Santiago is currently located on which one was theThis imposing structure was utilized as a safe heaven
settlement of an ancient ruler in Manila who was calledby most invading foreign armies who set foot these
Rajah Suleiman. This Muslim leader did not hand hisshores including the British, Japanese, Spanish and the
kingdom over to the conquistadors on a silver platter. InAmericans. This historic location has a dark past when
contrast he fought to the very end in an effort to keenit was chosen the location where many people were
the invader at bay. But in 1571 the Spanish army wasjailed, mercilessly executed and even tortured by the
able to annihilate the native resistance and constructedmilitary police force of Japan during World War II. An
Fort Santiago symbolizing its dominance over the localend to this horrific time was brought to an end when
population.American forces destroyed the fort in 1945.