Fuerza de San Pedro (Fort San Pedro)

Fort San Pedro is a military defense structure built in 1738 under the command of Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi and the Spanish Government in Cebu.It was built to repel Muslim raiders. This oldest bastion fort in the Philippines served as the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

The original structure of Fort San pedro was built to provide immediate security to the members of the Spanish expedition encamped in the shores of Cebu. Construction started on May 8, 1565, eleven days after Miguel López de Legazpi’s arrival in the island. The fort was named San Pedro, probably in honor of de Legazpi’s flagship. The same ship was sent back to Mexico aftger the establishment of the Spanish settlement in Cebu.

The fort, now located in the area called Plaza Indepedencia, in the Pier Area of Cebu City, is triangular shaped, with two sides facing the sea and the third side facing the land. The two sides facing the sea were defended with artillery and the front side with strong columns made of wood. Fourteen cannons were mounted in their emplacements most of which are still there today. There are three bastions in the fort namely La Concepción located in the southwest; Ignacio de Loyola located in the southeast, and San Miguel on the northeast.

Fort San Pedro became a part of the American Warwick Barracks during the American Regime after the victory of the Americans led by Commodore Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 that marked the end of the Spanish era in the Philippine Islands.During World War II from 1942 to 1945, Japanese residents of the City took refuge within the walls. When the battle to liberate the City of Cebu from the Imperial Japanese Forces was fought, the fort served as an emergency hospital for the wounded.

The fort went numerous modifications and changes. Today, it is under the care and administration of the City of Cebu, as historical park. Inside the fort houses the legacies of the Spanish Government. The well preserved Spanish artifacts such as Spanish documents, paintings and sculpture.