Namesake to the apostle Saint James, the patron saint of Spain, the citadel of Fort Santiago has been synonymous with military power in Spanish Philippines. Here, the figure of James tramples the Moors according to Catholic tradition. In a similar way, Spanish conquistadors defeated the Tagalog Muslim rulers of Manila in 1570. They must have thought it apt to honour James by naming the fort to him.
Photo by I.R. Arenas
Visual Tales 