Spanish colonial fortifications in the Philippines

The Spanish fortifications of the Philippines, or fuerzas, are strongholds constructed by Filipinos and Spaniards primarily for protection against local and foreign aggressors during the Spanish colonial period, and during the subsequent American and Japanese occupations. Structures built included fortresses, watchtowers, and bastions. Many are badly damaged, either due to old age or past conflicts. Currently, there are initiatives for restorations of all forts, beginning when the Baluarte Luna of La Union and the Intramuros of Manila were restored in the 2010s. In 2013, a typhoon and earthquake hit Central Visayas and damaged numerous Spanish fortifications, leading to the largest restoration activity for fortifications in Philippine history.

List of forts Northern Luzon Batanes ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesFuerza de San Vicenteca. 1798BascoruindefenseRemains near Basco PierFuerza de San FelixunknownMahatao (?)unknowndefensestatus unconfirmed Cagayan ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesAparri watchtowerunknownAparri, Cagayanunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedCastillo de San Franciscoca. 1755Lal-lo, Cagayandestroyedquadrilateral masonry fortno remainsPresidio de San José de Capinataca. 1755Lal-lo, Cagayandestroyedfortno remainsPresidio de San José de Cavicungaca. 1755Claveria, Cagayanruinirregular trapezoidal palisadeno remainsFuerza de Tuaoca. 1738Tuao, Cagayanruinquadrilateral masonry fortquadrilateral form still visibleFuerza de Cabaganca. 1738Cabagan, Isabeladestroyedtriangular masonry fortDestroyed by earthquake and transferred to CavicungaFuerza de Santiagoca. 1738Itugud, Isabelaunknownpalisadestatus unconfirmedSimbahan ng Parokya ni San Vicente Ferrer1776Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcayarestoredfortress church Ilocos ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesaddress: 8HJX+662, pasuquinPasuquin watchtower1851Pasuquin,Ilocos NorterestoredwatchtowerBotched restoration was subject of controversyVijia watchtowerca. 1600sBacarra, Ilocos Norterestoredwatchtoweraddress 2F8M+X3G CURRIMAOCurrimao northern watchtower1893Currimao, Ilocos NorterestoredwatchtowerOne of twin watchtowers of CurrimaoCurrimao southern watchtower1893Currimao, Ilocos Norteleftover restoredwatchtowerOne of twin watchtowers of Currimaocoordinates 17.965362, 120.473401Gabut norte watchtowerca. 1800sBadoc, Ilocos Norterestoredwatchtowerwith an observation deck, a fixed staircase leadingup ,and a panoramic viewIglesia de San Agustin de Paoay1710Paoay, Ilocos Norterestoredfortress churchSalomague watchtowerca. 1800sCabugao, Ilocos SurdestroyedwatchtowerSinait watchtowerca. 1800sSinait, Ilocos SurunknownwatchtowerBantay watchtower1590Bantay, Ilocos Surrestoredbelfry and watchtowerPart of Bantay ChurchSanta twin watchtowersca. 1800sSanta, Ilocos Surunknownwatchtowersstatus unconfirmedarderss: CCWR+PH6, Narvacan,Ilocos surNarvacan watchtowersca. 1500sNarvacan, Ilocos Surrestoredwatchtowerwith an observation deck, a fixed staircase leading up , and a panoramic viewSan Esteban watchtowerca. 1500sSan Esteban, Ilocos Surrestoredcircular stone watchtowerwith an observation deck, a fixed staircase leading up , and a panoramic view Santiago watchtowerca. 1500sSantiago, Ilocos Surruinscircular stone watchtowerBaluarte Lunac.1600sLuna, La Unionrestoredcircular rick watchtower and bastionDarigayos watchtowerc. 1600sLuna, La Unionrestoredwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedBalaoan watchtowerc. 1600sBalaoan, La UnionruinwatchtowerThe outside of the building is still standingBacnotan watchtowerc. 1600sBacnotan, La UnionruinwatchtowerConfined within private propertyaddres: J8M6+3C8,san fernandoSan Fernando watchtowerc. 1600sSan Fernando, La UnionFixer-upperwatchtowerIt is accessible; it is on privete propertyaddress: G8G7+MM5 pogo,bauangBauang watchtowerc. 1600sBauang, La Unionrubblewatchtoweronly the foundation remainsaddress: 5GHF+HH5,laoag city, Hilagang IlokosGabu sur watchtower c. ? laoag, La union restoredwatchtower Central and Southeastern Luzon Manila ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesFuerza de Santiago1571Intramuros, ManilarestoredCrown citadelFuerza de San Antonio Abad1584Malate, ManilarestoredCrown defenseCorregidor1570Corregidor Islandbuilt over by Americansdefense, barracks, bastion, watchtower Southern Tagalog ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesFortaleza de San Felipe1616Cavite City, CaviterestoredCrown defensePorta Vaga1602Cavite City, CaviteruinCrown palisadeFuerza de Batangas (?)unknownBatangas, BatangasdestroyeddefenseAplaya watchtower1775Bauan, BatangasruinwatchtowerIglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción1754Balayan, Batangasrestoredfortress churchFort itself no longer exists, only the church and convent remainLoual watchtowerca. 1689Laurel, Batangasunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedLemery watchtowerunknownLemery, Batangasunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedPunta BaluarteunknownCalatagan, Batangasunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedNasugbu twin watchtowersunknownNasugbu, Batangasunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedFuerte de la CotaunknownLucena, Quezonunknowndefensestatus unconfirmedKutang San Diegoc.18th centuryGumaca, QuezonrestoreddefenseIskong Bantay1752Atimonan, QuezonrestoredwatchtowerAtimonan Church1752Atimonan, Quezonretsoredfortress churchKutang San Pablo1790Pitogo, QuezonrestoredwatchtowerMacalelon watchtower1784Macalelon, QuezonrestoredwatchtowerLighthouse built overCuartel de Santo Domingo1877Santa Rosa, Lagunaruingarrison Central Luzon ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesSubic naval station1885Subic, Zambalesonly restored west gatefortressLa Playa Honda1738Iba, Zambalessubmerged in laharquadrilateral fortressFortaleza de Mamalas?Lubao, Pampangapalisadeno remainsMorong Church?Morong, Bataanfortress churchintact, in good conditionBaler naval station1800s (?)Baler, Auroraunknownnaval stationstatus unconfirmed Mimaropa Mindoro and Marinduque ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesFuerza de Bongabong1737Bongabong, Oriental MindororuingarrisonMangarin Fort1844San Jose, Occidental MindororuindefenseCalapan watchtowerunknownCalapan, Oriental Mindorounknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedPunta Baluarteca. 1800sSan Teodoro, Oriental MindororuindefenseParokyang Katedral ng Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi1580, 1792Boac, Marinduquerestoredfortress churchBoac watchtowerunknownBoac, MarinduqueruinswatchtowerOnly foundation remainsSanta Cruz Parish Church1760Santa Cruz, Marinduquerestoredfortress churchSan Isidro Labrador Parish Church1807Mogpog, Marinduquerestoredfortress churchLubang watchtowerunknownLubang, Occidental Mindorounknownstone watchtower Palawan and Cuyo Islands ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesFuerza de Sta. Isabel1667Taytay, PalawanrestoreddefenseCulion Fort1683Culion, PalawanrestoreddefenseDumaran Church and watchtowerunknownDumaran, Palawandestroyed, Church restoredfortress church and wooden watchtowerSilanga Church and watchtowerunknownTaytay, Palawandestroyed, Church restoredchurch fortress and palisadePlaza CuartelunknownPuerto Princesa, PalawanrestoredgarrisonFuerza de Caseledan1690Linapacan, PalawanrestoreddefenseFuerza de Cuyo1680Cuyo, Palawanrestoredpentagonal fortressFuerza de Cagayancilloca. 1710Cagayancillo, PalawanruindefenseTook nearly 130 years to finish constructionLucbuan FortunknownMagsaysay, PalawanruindefenseBaluarte de San Juan Bautista1683Agutaya, Palawanrestoreddefense Romblon ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesTwin Forts of Romblon1645Romblon, RomblonrestoreddefenseFuerza de San José1645Banton, Romblonunder restorationdefense Bicol Camarines & Albay ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesLibmanan Fort?Libmanan, Camarines Surunknownstockade fortressstatus unconfirmedFuerza de San Fernando de Malaguit1756Paracale, Camarines Nortedestroyedfortressstatus unconfirmedPanganiban watchtowers?Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norteruinwatchtowerone tower remainsDaet watchtower?Daet, Camarines Norteunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedTalisay watchtower?Talisay, Camarines Norteunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedVinzons (Indan) watchtower?Vinzons, Camarines Norteunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedCapalonga watchtowers?Capalonga, Camarines Norteunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedSinimbahanan1658Tiwi, Albayruinfortress church and watchtowerDakulang Simbahan1879Tabaco, Albayrestoredwatchtower belfryMalinao watchtower?Malinao, Albayunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedLibon watchtowers?Libon, Albayunknownwatchtowersthree watchtowers, status unconfirmed Sorsogon ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesFuerza de Sorsogon1799Sorsogon City, SorsogondestroyedfortressCasiboran watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedCapuy watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedIntramuros 1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonruincitadel with bastionsRuins within the public marketBacon watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedManlalabong watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedMontufar Point watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedSogod watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmed, site uncertainBilar watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmed, site uncertainPinatolan watchtower1799Sorsogon City, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmed, site uncertainFuerza de Monreal1799Gubat, SorsogonruinfortressBagacay watchtower1799 (?)Gubat, SorsogonruinwatchtowerAriman watchtower1799Gubat, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedDanglog watchtower1799Gubat, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedTagdon watchtower1799Gubat, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedBulusan watchtower1799Bulusan, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedMacabare watchtower1799Bulusan, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedMatnog watchtower1799Matnog, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedBulan watchtowers1799Bulan, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowersstatus unconfirmed, four watchtowersBoton wawtchtower1799Casiguran, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedCasiguran watchtower1799Casiguran, Sorsogonruinwatchtowervisible at low tide, other reported watchtowers status unconfirmedMaohon watchtower1799Casiguran, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedIbalon watchtower1799Magallanes, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedBagatao watchtower1799Magallanes, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedJuban Fort1799Juban, Sorsogondestroyedpalisade and watchtowersno remainsJuban stone watchtwer1799Juban, Sorsogonsubmerged, ruinwatchtowerpoor conditionDonsol watchtower1799Donsol, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedDonsol Viejo watchtower1799Donsol, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedSanta Magdalena watchtower1799Santa Magdalena, Sorsogonunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmed Masbate ImageNameFoundedLocationConditionTypeNotesEl Invincible de Obando1752Masbatedestroyedquadrilateral fortressBaleno watchtower?Baleno, Masbateunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmedSan Jacinto watchtower1799Ticao Islandunknownwatchtowerstatus unconfirmed