Fort Santiago gates given restorative cleaning by hot water high pressure cleaners by German brand Kärcher. Photo:Republika News / Izel Abanilla

MANILA, Philippines – The historic gates of Fort Santiago is now getting restorative cleaning after over 400 years.

For this project, Intramuros Administration (IA) has teamed up with German brand Kärcher to clean up portions of the reconstructed main gate as well as the wall façades of Baluartillo de San Miguel and Medio Baluarte de San Francisco. 

The process of deep cleaning was done using pressurized steam coming from hot water high pressure cleaners. The heat of the steam not only leans the walls but also kills the seeds of biological growth that settled in stone pores through the centuries. 

“This wall is very very dirty and we see stone is suffering. Because of this layer of dirt, the stone cannot breathe and stones are like organisms, like us,” said Kärcher Cleaning Expert Mr. Gerd Heidrich.

“What comes out in the machine when you’re cleaning very delicate monuments like this, we’re not using water, we’re using steam to clean it. Low pressure steam at 0.5-1 bar at a temperature of 95 degrees,” Heidrich said. 6

Heidrich assured that the stones were cleaned very carefully and preserved to its full glory after its steam bath. 

“Some of the cement came down but nothing on the stone. The stone is really very strong and now the stone will be happy to breathe again,” Heidrich said. 

IA Administrator Attorney Joan Padilla, the project will unveil the “full magnificence” and grandeur of the historical sites within the 454-year old fortress that stands guard where the Pasig River meets Manila Bay.

“As you can see there are certain portions that need repair. So hopefully this is just the start and this is just the beginning of ensuring that our walls and fortifications in Intramuros are well-preserved. Especially that we are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. So this is the start of our commitment that we will be able to preserve all the built heritage here in Intramuros,” IA Administrator Attorney Joan Padilla said at a media event last February 20.  

“And hopefully we can as volunteers from the general public to help us in our effort to preserve and revitalize Intramuros,” she added. 

Padilla added that the IA will be launching a Cleantramuros campaign to clean the walls and fortifications within Intramuros next month. 

Fort Santiago is the ninth historical landmark in the country to be part of Kärcher’s restoration efforts. The German company had previously worked on other historical sites such as the Rizal Monument, the People Power Monument, the San Agustin Church, Plaza Miranda, the Bonifacio Shrine, the San Sebastian Minor Basilica, the Silang Church in Cavite, and the St. Andrew’s Cathedral.