Fort Cuyo

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]

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
Completed	1680
Height	10 meters
Grounds	1 hectare
Designations	National Historical Landmark

History

National Historical Commission of the Philippines historical marker

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]

Present use

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]

Recognition

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the fort as a historical landmark in 1939.^[3]

Notable people

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]