Grade 5 field trip: a celebration of Philippine culture and history

Last 24 October 2025, the Grade 5 students of Ateneo de Manila Grade School traded their classrooms for cobblestone streets and centuries-old walls as they embarked on an exciting field trip to some of Manila’s most treasured historical sites. The trip aimed to bring history to life and help students appreciate the stories behind our nation’s heritage.

An Energizing Start

The day started with a bit of inclement weather, but that certainly did not dampen the mood of our young students. All came in high spirits as they assembled at the AGS Driveway, along with their class teachers and class parent representatives. When it was time to board the buses, everyone was in awe of an unexpected double rainbow that appeared once the weather cleared up - a wonderful sign of the purposeful and meaningful journey ahead.  

The First Destination: Fort Santiago

To motivate the students and get them even more excited about the itinerary for the day, the tour guides assigned to each bus facilitated trivia games about the Philippines. The first destination was Fort Santiago, a historic citadel and defense fortress in Intramuros, Manila, during the Spanish colonial period. Our Grade 5 students explored the area, learning more about the different ruins of barracks and dungeons, and antique war items such as canons, maps and documents. They were amazed by how well-preserved these were, and impressed by the efforts to keep history alive and continue to tell the story for their generation.

Visiting two major attractions became the highlight of the tour in Fort Santiago. The first was the iMake History Fortress, an exhibit featuring LEGO brick models of old Manila churches, a perfect preview and introduction to the walking tour to the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church later in the day. Here, students were able to appreciate the exemplary architecture of old Filipino-Spanish buildings, some of which were not able to stand the ravages of time. The second attraction visited by the Grade 5 students was the Rizal Shrine, a place of remembrance and tribute to Dr Jose Rizal. Here, they were able to forge a deeper connection with the hero they had previously only read about in their history books, as they encountered voice recordings of his diary entries and letters, wax figures depicting his final days, and artifacts that offered a clearer glimpse into his life and legacy. 

The Second Destination: Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church

The group then made their way on foot to Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, taking in the charm of Intramuros along the way, with its centuries-old buildings, passing kalesas, and crossing guards dressed as guwardiya sibil. Upon arriving at Manila Cathedral, the students immediately dedicated some of their time to pray and talk to God. They also had an opportunity to move closer to the altar to marvel at its intricacies and grandiosity.

The Last Stop: Pamana ng Lahi Show in St Scholastica’s College Manila

After a quick lunch in the buses, they then headed to St Cecilia’s Hall of St Scholastica’s College, Manila. Here, they attended the Pamana ng Lahi Visiting Encounters, a celebration of Filipino heritage through dance, music, and theater in one  educational show. 

A key feature of the show was how the production and creative teams made a clear effort and put a lot of thought into making it appealing to their young audience, by merging pop culture with history, and incorporating trendy language to communicate important lessons  about what it means to be a real Filipino in this day and age. The show was highly enjoyable for the students because of numerous opportunities given to them to participate, with the most significant and memorable one being the recitation of the Panatang Makabayan led by their batch representative. It made the students affirm their commitment to be proud Filipino citizens willing to take a stand and protect the nation.  

A Gratifying End

As the school bus headed back to the AGS campus, smiling faces filled the seats. Aside from the fact that the Ateneans enjoyed one another’s company and came back as a more bonded group, the students were also happy to have had the opportunity to explore history beyond the pages of a book. They ended their day by thanking the organizers, teachers, parents, coach captains, medics, tour guides and one another for that day’s unforgettable adventure.