| Fort Cuyo | |
|---|---|
Fort's facade
| |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Cuyo, Palawan |
| Country | Philippines |
| Coordinates | 10°51′19.76″N 121°0′29.20″E / 10.8554889°N 121.0081111°E / 10.8554889; 121.0081111 |
| 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]
