Intramuros

Intramuros is the traditional walled city within the old Manila, and is used as a marker of time with cultural, religious, and political significance throughout several stories. Intramuros was the center of political power during the Spanish Colonial period, with construction beginning in the late sixteenth century. In "Mass of St. Sylvestre," the city is described as having seven primary gates to enter the city, including Puerto Postigo, which was reserved for "private use of the viceroys and the archbishops" (32).

Modern Manila

Modern Manila, for the purposes of this collection, generally refers to Manila in the mid- to late-twentieth century, a few decades after Spain ceded Manila to the United States, and directly after Intramuros is effectively reduced to ruins in World War II. As a result, much of Modern Manila was reconstructed after severe bombings during the war, replacing much of the historic Spanish-era buildings with more...