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- Notes - Photoengraving of a view of the fort originally built by Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, 1590-1593. House on top was built during the American regime. Fort Santiago was formerly a crude palisade built by Rajah Sulaiman on the south side of the mouth of Pasig River even before the coming of Goiti and Salcedo. The wooden defense had 12 bronze cannons made by the natives. Upon the establishment of Manila by Legazpi in 1571, the old palisade was reinforced with earth, but seeing the need for greater protection, Governor Santiago de Vera (1584- 1590) laid the cornerstone of the fort named after Santiago de Campostela, and continued by his successor, Perez Dasmariñas, to protect the city. A thick wall surrounded the fort beside the Pasig River which became the Spanish military headquarters and a jail for prisoners. During the American regime, a building was built on top of the circular wall and the fort was made the headquarters of the U.S. Army. During the Japanese occupation, the fort was converted into a prison camp complete with torture chambers and dark dungeons. The fort was destroyed in 1945 during the liberation and today, the reconstructed fort houses the place where Rizal was imprisoned before his execution. The "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" guards the entrance of Fort Santiago. See AR00240
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