0:04 Hi everyone, I am Reja and Pñena and in
0:06 this video I'll be sharing about the
0:08 fort San Pedro. The oldest triangle fort
0:11 in the Philippines built in Spanish era
0:14 in Baranga San Cebu City near Plaza de
0:17 Patentia. The Fort San Pedro story
0:20 begins on May 8, 1565 when the Spanish
0:23 concessor Mikuel Lope is still broke
0:25 ground for its construction just 11 days
0:28 after arriving Cebu. The fort was
0:31 initially a modest wooden palacet built
0:34 hustily to protect the fledgling Spanish
0:36 settlements from local resistance and
0:39 maritime threats. By the early 17th
0:42 century, it was replaced with a more
0:44 durable stone constructed from coral
0:46 stone sourced from Cebu's coastal
0:49 waters. The Fort San Pedro is triangular
0:52 in shape and it has two sides facing the
0:55 sea and the third side facing the land.
0:58 And those two sides were safeguarded
1:00 with cannons and the front with strong
1:04 fence made with wood. And it has three
1:06 bastions and they are named La
1:09 Conception, the Ignasha de Lyola and San
1:12 Miguel. The fort and cannons were
1:14 settled in their locations and most of
1:17 them are still there today.
1:20 The fort was named after St. Peter or
1:23 San Pedro in Spanish because Legospish
1:25 also carried the same name and the
1:28 Spaniards believe that the saint
1:30 protected their voyages and missions. So
1:33 naming the fort after a saint symbolized
1:35 their fate and hope for divine
1:37 protection over their colony and their
1:40 soldiers in Cebu. Now moving to its
1:43 significance. The Fort San Pedro before
1:45 serves as military fortress guarding
1:47 Cebu's cost from prior trades and
1:50 uprising. Inside its coral stone walls,
1:52 the Spanish soldiers stored weapons,
1:55 ammunition, and supplies to defend their
1:57 settlements. Later, it was reused by the
1:59 Americans as a barracks and by the
2:01 Japanese as a prison camp during World
2:04 War II. The fort witnessed centuries of
2:07 war, colonization, and change, making it
2:09 one of Cebu's oldest surviving
2:11 structures. And today, the Fort San
2:13 Pedro has taken on completely new
2:15 meaning. Instead of soldiers and
2:19 cannons, it now houses a museum, garden,
2:21 and historical exhibit managed by the
2:23 Cebu city government. It stand as a
2:26 peaceful reminder of Cebu's journey from
2:29 colonization to independence. The site
2:32 now promotes education, tourism, and
2:34 heritage preservation, serving as a
2:35 learning space for students and
2:38 visitors. Its transformation from
2:41 Fortress of War into a center of culture
2:44 shows how Cebu continues to value its
2:49 past while moving towards progress.
2:51 Fort San Pedro stand as a quiet yet
2:53 enduring witness to the Philippines
2:56 complex. As the oldest and smallest
2:58 triangle fort of the country, this
3:00 crablstone structure has withstood
3:03 centuries of change from Spanish
3:06 colonization to Filipino resilience
3:08 serving as a tangible link to the
3:11 nation's past. Over time, it has changed
3:14 hands and purposes. A Spanish fortress,
3:17 archery base, an American barracks, and
3:19 even a Japanese garrison during World
3:22 War II. More than a relic, Fort San
3:25 Pedro is a testament to endurance
3:27 through war, revolution, and time
3:29 itself. It's stand not just as a
3:31 monument to Spain's colonial footprint,
3:34 but as a mirror reflecting Cebu's
3:35 resilience and the layers of history
3:38 that continue to shape it. Fort San
3:41 Pedro stands not just as a fort, but a
3:43 symbol of Cebu's resilience and
3:45 identity. And that concludes my
3:48 presentation about Fort San Pedro, the
3:50 oldest triangle fort in the Philippines.
3:52 I hope you learned something new. Thank
3:54 you for watching and may we continue to
3:56 value and preserve our historical
3:58 landmarks that reminds us of our
4:02 resilience and identity as Filipino.
