Manila City Hall

Address: Ermita, Manila.

Style: Neoclassical architecture

Date constructed: 1939

Architect: Antonio Toledo
The city hall is adorned by a hexagonal tower with three clocks on three of its
facets. After its completion, the building received negative reviews for its
lack of aesthetics, lack of entrances and how the clock tower was placed.
After the war, the city hall was rebuilt through the War Reparations program
of the United States and was criticized due to the shape of its floor plan
which looked like a coffin or a shield of the Knights Templar. According to
urban legends, it was made to look like a coffin to pay homage to those who
died during the Battle of Manila.
This was designed by Antonio Toledo, the same architect who built the
Finance Building and Old Legislative Building which are both adjacent to the
new City Hall. All the trees inside and around the vicinity of the City Hall were planted by Manila
Mayor Ramon Bagatsing during the early seventies.on all of the facade.
The clock tower, also designed by Antonio Toledo which was completed during the 1930s is the
largest clock tower in the Philippines.[4] It stands out during nighttime when the whole of the tower
lights up. Every hour, they rung the bell three times continued by a melody. It has now become the
icon for the city of Manila.