Ruins of the Franciscan Church, Intramuros

One of the greatest losses brought about by the War was the destruction of Intramuros and its seven great churches. Today, only San Agustin, the oldest, survives-- the neo-classical San Ignacio, and the neo-Gothic Santo Domingo, among others, are now no more than memories. Up until the American colonial rule, Intramuros retained an air of mystique that was nothing short of medieval, with purple and black clad penitent women wandering about at any given time, the sonorous tolling of bells announcing the time, the multitude of lights and flowers that flooded the streets in any major procession. I would have loved to have spent even a day in it.