Spanish & American

Architecture in the Philippines

• Architecture in the Philippines today is the result of
a natural growth enriched with the absorption of
varied influences. It developed from the pre-
colonial influences of our neighboring Malay
brothers, continuing on to the Spanish colonial
period, the American Commonwealth period, and
the modern contemporary times. As a result, the
Philippines has become an architectural melting
pot-- uniquely Filipino with a tinge of the
occidental.
Pre-colonial Architecture

• The pre-colonial
architecture of the
Philippines consisted of
the Nipa hut made from
natural materials. A great
variety of the Nipa hut
exists over the
Philippines.
Pre-Colonial Architecture

• The bahay-kubo (nipa hut) is a typical

traditional house found in most
lowlands all over the Philippines.
Originally built as a one-room
dwelling, the nipa hut changed as
family needs become more
diverse.Modern urban dwellings, on
the other hand, are typically two-story
structures with a concrete ground
floor, sides of brick, concrete blocks,
or wooden slats, and an iron roof.
During the 19th century, wealthy
Filipinos built some fine houses,
usually with solid stone foundations or
brick lower walls, and overhanging,
wooden upper story with balustrades
and kapis shell sliding windows, and a
tiled roof.
 Philippine Architecture
during the Spanish Colonial
Period
Fort Santiago
• Fort Santiago (Fuerza de Santiago) is a
defense fortress built for Spanish
conquistador, Miguel López de
Legazpi. The fort is part of the
structures of the walled city of
Intramuros, in Manila, Philippines.
• The location of Fort Santiago was also
once the site of the palace and
kingdom of Rajah Suliman, chieftain of
Manila of pre-Spanish era. It was
destroyed by the conquistadors upon
arriving in 1570, encountering several
bloody battles with the Muslims and
native Tagalogs. The Spaniards
destroyed the native settlements and
erected Fuerza de Santiago in 1571.
 Intramuros
• Intramuros, located along the
southern bank of the Pasig
River, was built by the
Spaniards in the 16th century
and is the oldest district of the
city of Manila. Its name, taken
from the Latin, intra muros,
literally "Within the walls",
meaning within the wall
enclosure of the city/fortress,
also describes its structure as it
is surrounded by thick, high
walls and moats. During the
Spanish colonial period,
Intramuros was considered
Manila itself.
• The Rizal house in
Calamba, Laguna .Vigan,
Ilocos Sur as well as Taal
in Batangas have the
best surviving Spanish
quarters.
• During three hundred years of Spanish colonialization
the philippine architecture was dominated by the
Spanish culture. During this period Intramurous, the
walled city, of Manila, was built with its walls, houses,
churches and fortresses. The Augustinian friars built a
large number of grand churches all over the Philippine
Islands. During this period the traditional Filipino
"Bahay na Bato" style for the large mansion emerged.
These were large houses built of stone and wood
combining Filipino, Spanish and Chinese style
elements. The best preserved examples of these
houses can be found in Vigan , Ilocos Sur and Taal,
Batangas.
Bahay na Bato

• The , the Colonian Filipino House, is a mixture of native Filipino,

Spanish and Chinese influences. In ViganThe , the Colonian Filipino
House, is a mixture of native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences.
In Vigan, Ilocos SurThe , the Colonian Filipino House, is a mixture of
native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences. In Vigan, Ilocos Sur,
excellently preserved examples of the houses of the noble Filipinos
can be admired. In Taal, Batangas, the main street is still ligned with
examples of the traditional Filipino homes
Old Colonial houses in Vigan
Heritage houses in Taal
Colonial Churches

• Philippine colonial churches are unique in their own sense.

Some of the best preserved colonial churches in the country
are found in the Ilocos Regions, as well as those in the
provinces of Laguna and Batangas, as well as the Visayan
islands of Panay, Cebu and Bohol.
Colonial Churches

• Dr. Jose Rizal was baptized in

this church on 22 June 1861
by Fr. Rufino Collantes.
During World War II, the
fleeing Japanese soldiers
herded Calamba’s residents
inside the church and then
burned it down in what
became known as the
Calamba Massacre. The
church was rebuilt after the
war.
Colonial Churches

• The Cathedral of San Pedro

and San Pablo was started to
be constructed in 1761. It is
the biggest colonial church to
be built by the Spanish in
Cagayan and became the
pattern of what is called as
the “main Cagayan style” of
Spanish churches in the
province, and in Nueva
Vizcaya and Isabela.
 Colonial Churches

• Binondo's Basilica of San

Lorenzo Ruiz was first built
sometime in the 18th
century. It was damaged
during the British invasion of
1762, repaired and improved,
damaged again during the
1863 earthquake, repaired,
and restored and improved
from 1946 until 1971.
 Baroque Churches in the
Philippines
--refers to four Spanish-era churches in the
Philippines designated by UNESCOrefers to
four Spanish-era churches in the Philippines
designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage
Site in 1993.
Baroque Churches in the Philippines
• The Baroque Churches have been at the forefront of Philippine
history since their construction in the 1500s. During the time of
Spanish colonial rule, the Church and State worked hand in glove.
They had served the Catholic church in the archipelago and as the
political backbone of Spanish colonial rule.
• The unique design of the churches reflects the integration of Spanish
and Latin American architecture to indigenous architecture of the
Philippines, including a fusion with Chinese style. The Church's
political power of that period manifests in the architecture. They had
been designed to withstand attacks during revolts and rebellions,
giving the Churches the appearance of fortresses.
• The Baroque churches of the Philippines had been designed similar
to the Spanish churches in AmericaThe Baroque churches of the
Philippines had been designed similar to the Spanish churches in
America. They had the appearance of a fortress. Spain sought to
protect itself from the native peoples (who had killed Ferdinand
MagellanThe Baroque churches of the Philippines had been designed
similar to the Spanish churches in America. They had the appearance
of a fortress. Spain sought to protect itself from the native peoples
(who had killed Ferdinand Magellan) and from the Muslims in the
south. The formidable appearance outside the Church buildings hide
the remarkable beauty and spirituality inside.
4 most Prominent Baroque Churches
1. Church of San Agustin in Manila
2. Church of La Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria,
Ilocos Sur
3. Church of San Agustin in Paoay, Ilocos Norte
4. Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miag-ao, Iloilo
Church of San Agustine, Manila

• The The Order of St. Agustine

built the Church of San
Agustine located inside the
historic walled city of
Intramuros in Manila.
Completed by 1607, The
Church of San Agustine
constitutes the oldest church
building in the Philippines.
Features
Church of La Nuestra Señora de la
Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur

• The Church of La Nuestra Señora de

las Asuncion marked a departure from
the traditional Spanish church
building. Rather than setting the town
church in the central plaza, the
Augustinian mission chose to build the
church and convento on a hill. A
formidable defensive wall surrounds
the structure. The builders, taking
cues from the topography of the hill,
set convento parallel to the front of
the cathedral while building the bell-
tower at the center of the sanctuary
wall. That showed an adaptation to
Philippine-Hispanic architecture.
 Church of San Agustin in Paoay, Ilocos
Norte
• The first church was built in 1731
near the Tumagbok River three years
before the arrival of the first Spanish
priests. Moro pirates burned this in
1741 and another one was built in
1746. This was again looted and
burned by marauding pirates and
another one was built in 1787 this
time on top of a hill called Tacas. The
church was designed to serve as a
fortress against frequent pirate raids
and has withstood typhoons and
earthquakes. It underwent
restoration work in 1869, was razed
during the Philippine Revolution of
1898 and the Filipino-American War
of 1899, rebuilt but was again
damaged by fire in 1910, repaired
and damaged again by fire during
the Japanese occupation
Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in
Miag-ao, Iloilo
• The Miag-ao Church, built in
1786 by Spanish Augustinian
missionaries, had been
declared as part of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site
"Baroque Churches of the
Philippines" in 1993. On the
front facade, flanked by two
watchtower belfries, the
unique blending of Spanish
and native influences
manifests.
Philippine Architecture
during the American
Colonial Period
• After the Spanish American war in 1898 the Americans took over rule of the
Philippines until after the second world war. During this period the
Americans constructed many Art Nouveaux buildings in Manila. In 1902
American Colonization
Judge William Howard Taft was appointed to head the Philippine
Commission to evaluate the needs of the new territory. Taft, who later
became the Philippines' first civilian Governor-General, decided that
Manila, the capital, should be a planned town. He hired as his architect and
city planner Daniel Hudson Burnhamdecided that Manila, the capital,
should be a planned town. He hired as his architect and city planner Daniel
Hudson Burnham, who had built Union Stationdecided that Manila, the
capital, should be a planned town. He hired as his architect and city planner
Daniel Hudson Burnham, who had built Union Station and the post
officedecided that Manila, the capital, should be a planned town. He hired
as his architect and city planner Daniel Hudson Burnham, who had built
Union Station and the post office in Washingtondecided that Manila, the
capital, should be a planned town. He hired as his architect and city planner
Daniel Hudson Burnham, who had built Union Station and the post office in
Washington. In Manila, Mr. Burnham had in mind a long wide, tree-lined
boulevard along the bay, beginning at a park area dominated by a
magnificent hotel. To design, what is now known as, the Manila
Hoteldecided that Manila, the capital, should be a planned town. He hired
as his architect and city planner Daniel Hudson Burnham, who had built
Union Station and the post office in Washington. In Manila, Mr. Burnham
had in mind a long wide, tree-lined boulevard along the bay, beginning at a
park area dominated by a magnificent hotel. To design, what is now known
as, the Manila Hotel Taft hired , a New York architect, who envisioned an
impressive, but comfortable hotel, along the lines of a California mission,
Manila Hotel
The Metropolitan Theatre

• is an art deco building designed by

the Filipino architect Juan M. de
Guzman Arellano, and built in
1935. During the liberation of
Manila by the Americans in 1945,
the theatre we totally destroyed.
After reconstruction by the
Americans it gradually fell into
disuse in the 1960’s. In the
following decade it was
meticulously restored but again fell
into decay. Recently a bus station
has been constructed at the back
of the theatre. The City of Manila is
planning a renovation of this once
magnificent building.
The Metropolitan Theatre

• The sculptures in the façade of the Theatre are from the Italian
sculptor , who lived in Manila from 1930 until his death in 1958, and
worked closely together with J.M. de Guzman Arellano. Highly
stylized relief carving of Philippine plants executed by the artist
decorate the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building.
End.