Cuartel de Santo Domingo: Old Spanish barracks building in Santa Rosa, Laguna

Cuartel de Santo Domingo: History and Significance

The Cuartel de Santo Domingo, also known as Fort Santo Domingo, is a historical site in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. Built in 1877, the Spanish-era barracks building was originally intended to protect Silang against bandits. With walls made of adobe stones, the entire fort takes up 8.2 hectares of land. Today, it is used as the headquarters of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.

The National Museum recently declared the Cuartel de Santo Domingo an Important Cultural Property of the Philippines. Dubbed as the “Intramuros of the South,” the fort is a significant reminder of the country’s colonial past. Despite its rich history, the Cuartel de Santo Domingo is perhaps best known as a detention facility for high-profile crime suspects in recent years. Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles was held inside the compound in 2013.

For history buffs, the Cuartel de Santo Domingo is a must-visit destination. The Spanish-era adobe structure is an advance post of the Guardia Civiles meant to deter brigands from Cavite. In 2005, the fort was declared a historical site and has since been preserved as a testament to the country’s past. The Cuartel de Santo Domingo is a unique blend of history, culture, and architecture, making it a must-see destination for anyone visiting the Philippines.

Historical Background

Cuartel de Santo Domingo, also known as Fort Sto. Domingo is an old two-storey Spanish barracks building in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. It was built in 1877 and declared a National Historical Landmark in 2005. The Spanish-era adobe structure served as an advance post of the Guardia Civil, a Spanish police force meant to deter brigands from Cavite from attacking Santa Rosa.

During the Philippine Revolution, the Spanish colonial government used the fort as a military barracks and prison. General Jose Lachambre, the highest-ranking Spanish official in Laguna, was imprisoned in the fort by revolutionary forces led by General Emilio Aguinaldo.

After the revolution, the fort was occupied by the Dominican Order and used as a seminary until the 1980s. In the 1990s, the Philippine National Police acquired the property and converted it into the headquarters of the Special Action Force.

Today, the Cuartel de Santo Domingo is an Important…