Ciudad Murada
is a highly interesting and entertaining guide to landmarks–both extant and vanished–and to the history of Manila’s Intramuros. It also serves as possible inspiration and guide to policy makers and planners and to private sector developers, as an object lesson on what can be done to recover some of the old glory of Manila The Beautiful.
JOSÉ VICTOR Z. TORRES brings back life to Intramuros. His book makes us walk the streets, telling the history behind the buildings that have long vanished. His writing teaches the Intramuros visitor how to “read” the historic cityscape, what stories are behind the vanished structures, and to appreciate the little architecture that exists within the walls. Intramuros is no longer in the realm of memory. It turns into reality. Walking the
Ciudad Murada
lets us experience Philippine history.
– Architect AUGUSTO F. VILLALON