Monday in Manila

Our free day in Manila gave us a chance to explore a bit of Makati City, exchange our dollars for pesos (142 pesos for every US dollar), and hit Starbucks for a critical Grande Coffee of the Day. Throughout the city we found armed guards every 20 yards and at the entrance of every public building, including Starbucks.


A quick cab ride delivered us to Fort Santiago - one of the oldest fortifications in Manila, dating back to 1571. The Fort boasts a colorful, continuously catastrophic history, including military attacks, earthquakes, and various military occupations by Britain, the United States and Japan. During the Japanese military occupation in 1942, hundreds of civilians and guerillas were imprisoned, tortured and executed. The Fort was eventually destroyed in the Battle of Manila in 1945. Restoration and maintenance of the Fort began in 1951, and it was turned over to the Intramuros Administration in 1992.

We spent some time walking within Intramuros - the oldest district and historic core of Manila. The Walled City was the seat of government during the Spanish Colonial Period. Its walls stretched 2.8 miles and enclosed an area of about .25 square miles, providing a space for residences, churches, palaces, schools, and government buildings.



Today, beyond the walls we saw the Pasig River on one side, and a modern-day golf course on the other.

After a pleasant lunch we left Intramuros to catch a cab back to Makati City. Along the way we observed local efforts to combat Global Warming.


That evening, the medical team convened at a nearby Cuban restaurant for Mahitos, goat (in some cases) and instructions for the day ahead. The day would begin with wake-up calls at 3:00 a.m. which didn't deter some from enjoying an extra Mahito or two.