VIGAN AND INTRAMUROS

There are two beautiful cities. One is saved by love and one is destroyed by war. What can we learn?

Vigan and Intramuros, two old cities yet beautiful.

These two places went through a devastating part of our history, the World War 2

One is saved and preserved.

The Spaniards discovered Vigan in 1572, and the rest was history. Structures are built, religion and colonial culture was introduced, government was established and so on. Vigan was shaped into a well-planned and beautiful Hispanic town. Fast forward in latter days of 1941, when the world war two began. There was arising chaos around the world. Japanese military reached Vigan and occuppied the town. Yet in the middle of war, love blooms. A Japanese military commander fell in love with a Bigueña, got married and had children. Not yet the happily ever after though. As the war was ending, Vigan was at risk of destruction. In 1945, as the Japanese military were ready to leave, so as the bombs ready. But in fear of the Japanese commander of the consequences it would bring to him and his family, he brought his family in a church and asked the priest to protect them and in return he will protect the whole town. In the morning, there were no Japanese military, there were no bombs, and there were no destruction and death. The town was saved and preserved.

But the other was destroyed. Grievously.

Intramuros 'within walls. The Spaniards constructed the stone wall in 1590 to protect the center of their colony during Spanish colonial era. The city was planned and beautiful until such time where war would left it in ruins. On December 1941 Japanese bombed Manila and the next month they occupied the city. There were invasion, resistance and battles. The worst of this war happened in the Battle of Manila in 1945. By bombs, cannons, bullets and others weapons of war, the Manila was left the second most devastated city in World War 2. People were massacred, starve to death, bombed, beheaded, raped, buried alive, burned alive, bulldozed, tortured in different ways, to the point where getting shot by gun is to be lucky. Paul Rogers quote, "This was not Manila. It was simply hell." Hundred thousand of Filipinos died miserably and inhuman.

Words cant describe the extent of destruction.

You see, if love can save a whole town from destruction how much more it can save a single soul. It may be other person or it could be ourselves. Maybe if love leads everything that we do, there were more souls that'll be saved. History already told us that war killed many people, men, and women, old, young and the innocents. War isnt just by bombs and guns. It is made up of hatred, greed, and lack of compassion, unforgiving, selfishness, and so much more that inhibits our capacity to see the worth of one's soul and love them instead. May we be a kind and compassionate to our co-travelers here on earth.

And as the Vigan was saved by love and preserved, we can fully enjoy the beauty it holds. So was to all of us. By love we are saved and may we choose to be saved so that we can fully enjoy the beauty of life to come which is eternal.

Jacob 6: 5 Wherefore my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while His arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.

May we not choose the path to endless torment. Where war doesnt end, the suffering doesnt end. Coz if in history gun shot was easier death and escape to suffering, in the time to come there will be none.

Jacob 6:10 And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment.