Manila Route of ASEAN Ladies Foundation Debuts at Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church 

Members of the ASEAN Ladies Foundation with H.E. Tull Tesorat, Royal Thai Ambassador in the Philippines (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac and Royce Vann Paul Pantua)

MANILA 04 December 2024 – The ASEAN Ladies Foundation, Inc. (ALF) led by its Chairperson, Mme. Pamela Louise Manalo, launched its inaugural project, Manila Route, on 22 November 2024 in Intramuros. The event is a collaborative effort among the Intramuros Administration (IA), San Agustin Church and Museum, the Office of the Manila City Mayor, and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). 

Manila Route, envisioned to be an annual project for the ALF members, is a guided tour highlighting heritage sites, places of historical interest, and iconic landmarks and monuments in and around Metro Manila, with the aim of promoting Philippine culture, arts, music, and traditions among the members of the ALF, as well as other distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Focusing on the Spanish colonial period, Manila Route: A Tour of the Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church and  Museum, took the participants along two cultural heritage sites, the Fort Santiago and the San Agustin Church and Museum. The program commenced with a short welcome ceremony led by Atty. Joan Padilla, Administrator of the Intramuros Administration and Mr. Joshue Santiago, Chief of Staff of Hon. Sheilah Marie Lacuna-Pangan, Mayor of the City of Manila.  

It was then followed by the tour of Fort Santiago conducted by Mr. Diego Torres, IA’s Senior Tourist Guide. The Fort was the seat of power of Raja Solaiman, the last Muslim ruler of Manila, before it was re-established by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1571 and named after St. James the Moor-slayer, also known to the Spanish as “Santiago Matamoros.” It became the new capital for the growing Spanish empire in the Far East. It also served as the military headquarters and an entry port of trade from China and Siam. To date,  Fort Santiago is one of the most significant historical sights in Manila and has stood major milestones in Philippine history. It has been considered as a National Shrine and National Monument  since 1951 and a National Cultural Treasure since 2014. 

The ALF members then boarded colorful trams which transported them to the next destination, the San Agustin Church and Museum. It is the first stone church constructed in the Philippines and declared as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1993. During the tour, Ms. Lourabelle Baysic,head of conservation of the Church, highlighted the importance of the Manila-Acapulco galleons which allowed the Agustinian friars to travel from Spain to the Philippines. Through these galleons, important religious items, essential to the conduct of holy masses, were also brought to the Philippines. The participants were also introduced to the church chambers which depicts the way of life of the friars, such as the refectory where they share their common meals, the sala de capitular where they discussed matters that concerns the community or missionary works, and Father Blanco’s Room which displays recorded Philippine fauna of medicinal properties by the Augustinian friars. It is also notable that the first pharmacy established in the Philippines is located at the gardens of the church.The San Agustin church also houses the remains of the Spanish conqueror and founder of Manila, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. 

Midway through the tour, the participants were served refreshments, including Kalamansi juice, courtesy of Ms. Alice Guerrero, ALF Treasurer.

The final part of the event is the sumptuous Spanish-Filipino fusion lunch menu prepared by the Ilustrado restaurant, through the generosity of the Office of the City Mayor of Manila. The restaurant is set in an old Spanish house for the diners to enjoy the charm of the 19th century.

This project recognizes and pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of the  Intramuros Administration, the San Agustin Church, and the City Government of Manila in promoting culture and heritage conservation on the one hand, as well as the efforts of the Foreign Service institute to cultivate diplomatic relations. END

Mr. Joshue Santiago, Chief of Staff of the Mayor of Manila, Hon. Sheilah Marie Lacuna-Pangan welcomes Mme. Pamela Manalo and Hon. Francisco Noel Fernandez III, FSI, Director. General. (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac and Royce Vann Paul Pantua)

From Left to Right: Mr. Jushue Santiago, Ms. Nora Salazar, ALF Corp. Sec., Ms. Veronica Jimenez, ALF, Auditor, Atty. Joan Padilla, IA Administrator, Mme. Pamela Louise Manalo, ALF, Chairperson, Mme. Bouavanh Souksavanh, ALF President, Ms. Louse Baysic, Head of Conservation, San Agustin Church and Museum, H.E. Tull Traisorat, Royal Thai Amb. to the Phils., and Hon. Francisco Noel Fernandez, III (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac and Royce Vann Paul Pantua)

Photo taken at the entrance of Fort Santiago (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac and Royce Vann Paul Pantua)





Photos taken during the San Agustin Church and Museum tour (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac and Royce Vann Paul Pantua)

H.E. Sonexay Vannaxay, Amb. of Lao PDR joined the participants during the lunch (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac and Royce Vann Paul Pantua)