Posted on by Victoria D.

The Philippines has for centuries been a place where kingdoms have fought and made peace. Because of that, the country has a rich history, embodied in the many historical sites that dot this lush and beautiful land. Read on for a guided tour of some of the famous sites that chronicle the history of the Philippines.

Fort San Pedro

This is a Spanish fort that was built in the 17th century by Lopez De Legazpy to help bolster the shores of the province of Cebu from attacks by Muslim raiders. The original structure was made of wood but later rebuild with stone and mortar. The fort formed the nuclei of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines and played a historic part in the Philippines revolt against the Spanish in the 19th Century.

Corregidor Island

This is an important island because it is located right at the entry point of the Bay of Manila and thus any defense of the important city of manila has always revolved round the island of Corregidor. The island was at the center of the Japanese battle to take control of the Bay of manila during the Second World War and served as the headquarters of the Allied Forces during the same period.

Basilica Del Santo Nino

Also located in Cebu, this church is the oldest Catholic Church in the Philippines and was built in 1565. In 1965, Pope Paul IV declared the church a basilica and said it symbolized the growth of the Roman Catholic faith in the Philippines.

Sultan Kudarat Monument

This is a statue of Sultan Kudarat who fought the Spanish invaders in a valiant and successful war to defend his country and Islamic faith from the Christian invaders. Because of Sultan Kudarat’s stubborn resistance, the Spanish invaders were forced to sign a peace treaty with him and left him alone to rule his kingdom peacefully. The province where the statue stands is also named in his honor.

Leyte Landing Monument

This is a monument built to honor the US military commander General Douglas MacArthur. It is located at the site where MacArthur landed back into the Philippines and thus honored his promise to the people of the country that he would return after retreating from a Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

Sandugo Shrine

This is built on the site where the Spanish military commander Lopez De Legazpi and the chief of Bohol Datu Sikatuna made a blood pact to seal a friendship deal. Sandugo means blood and the site is important because it marks the only friendship pact that the Spanish ever made with a local chief in the whole of the Philippines.

Rizal Park

Located in the capital Manila, it is built to honor Jose Rizal who was killed by the Spanish rulers on that same spot for speaking out against their rule. Rizal tried very hard to encourage his people to rise up against their Spanish rulers.

Calle Crisologo

This is a famous cobblestone street in the city of Vigan that is one of the best symbols of the fusion between Spanish and Filipino-Chinese cultural influences. Because of the rich heritage of the area, the entire city of Vigan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City.

The Philippines has a lot to offer a visitor looking to sample its rich historical heritage. These are but a few of the many historical sites in the country. And you can explore with peace of mind knowing that if you ever run out of cash, Sharemoney can have you sorted out in no time. Sharemoney is a fast and convenient way to send and receive money in the Philippines. All you or your sender will need is to open a free account with Sharemoney and link it with his or her account, debit or credit card. In no time at all, you will receive the cash and be able to continue exploring these amazing sites.

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