Fort Cuyo is a citadel built in 1680 during the Spanish-era in the Philippines. It was constructed to protect the locals from Muslim invaders and other threats.[1]

Fort Cuyo
Fort's facade
Map
General information
Town or cityCuyo, Palawan
CountryPhilippines
Coordinates10°51′19.76″N 121°0′29.20″E / 10.8554889°N 121.0081111°E / 10.8554889; 121.0081111
Completed1680
Height10 meters
Grounds1 hectare
DesignationsNational Historical Landmark

History

edit
 
National Historical Commission of the Philippines historical marker

In 1636, Muslim raiders looted Cuyo.[2] To protect the locals from future raids, the Recollect Augustinians built the fort in 1680 .[3]

Originally, Fort Cuyo was made from stone and mortar, and square-shaped with four bastions. The fort has an area of one hectare. Its wall is 10 meters high and 2 meters thick, and has a tall belfry and watchtowers.[4]

Present use

edit

Built in 1622, Saint Augustine Church, is situated inside the fort complex. It is considered as the oldest church in Palawan. In addition to the church, a convent and a chapel are within the fort's walls.[5]

Recognition

edit

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the fort as a historical landmark in 1939.[3]

Notable people

edit

In 1899, Trinidad Legarda was born inside Fort Cuyo. Her parents temporarily took refuge to escape the looting in Cuyo by bandits, led by Kausapin.[4] In the Philippines, Legarda was the first female to become an ambassador of the country when she took office in Vietnam in 1958.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ Castello, Lea T. (1977). This is the Philippines!. Casa Linda.
  2. ^ "Cuyo Island, Palawan: Cuyo Fort and St. Augustine Parish Church | EAZY Traveler". 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  3. ^ a b "Fort Cuyo | Registry". Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  4. ^ a b "The fortress of Cuyo". Palawan Daily News. 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  5. ^ Santos, Katya (2022-08-12). "Palawan to launch year-long 400 years of Christianity celebration". Interaksyon. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  6. ^ Abueva, Jose Veloso (1959). Focus on the Barrio: The Story Behind the Birth of the Philippine Community Development Program Under President Ramon Magsaysay. Institute of Public Administration, University of the Philippines.