| Fort Cuyo | |
|---|---|
 Fort's facade | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Cuyo, Palawan |
| Country | Philippines |
| Coordinates | 10°51′19.76″N121°0′29.20″E / 10.8554889°N 121.0081111°E |
| Completed | 1680 |
| Height | 10 meters |
| Grounds | 1 hectare |
| Designations | National Historical Landmark |
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]
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]
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]
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the fort as a historical landmark in 1939. [3]
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]
A fortification is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin fortis ("strong") and facere.
Palawan, officially the Province of Palawan, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of 14,649.73 km2 (5,656.29 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Puerto Princesa wherein it is geographically grouped but administered independently from the province. Palawan is known as the Philippines' Last Frontier and as the Philippines' Best Island.
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The Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) is a mendicant Catholic religious order of friars and nuns. It is a reformist offshoot from the Augustinian hermit friars and follows the same Rule of St. Augustine. They have also been known as the "Discalced Augustinians".
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