Philippine Architecture

(Las Casa Filipinas De Acuzar and Corregidor Island)

For years of studying Architecture I had assimilated what really are the concepts

of Philippine Architecture. One of the features of Philippine Architecture reflects the historical

value and cultural traditions in the country, but during the hundred years of Spanish

Colonization, the Philippine architecture was dominated by the Spanish influences. Most

prominent historic structures in our country are influenced by Spanish architecture.

I used to watch some documentaries about old Manila on how it changed from

ages and by watching this documentary about Las Casa Filipinas De Acuzar, it brings me back

through what Manila really looks like before, only if Manila maintains and preserves the beauty

of the place; if only the people were well disciplined and responsible.

During this period the traditional Filipino “Bahay na Bato” (Filipino for "house of

stone") style for the large houses emerged. These were large houses built of stone and wood

combining Filipino and Spanish style elements which I noticed on the documentary. I’ve also

learned before from history that if the Philippines was not dominated or colonized by Spanish;

most of the population of us were muslims than roman catholic.

By the time that the houses were presented, on how these houses dismantled

brick-by-brick, numbered, transported to the Bagac site, and were re-assembled and restored.

Casa Lubao was the one beautifully built and when I saw the design between the ceiling and the

wall part of Casa Lubao which is called Callado I remembered some scenario when I was in

grade school, we have a house before that all of the interior walls have that kind of ventilation; I
also remembered asking myself like “Why does this wall have this kind of design on the upper

part of it?”, “What’s the use or function of that?”. I just figured it out in the first years of

studying architecture the importance and function of that design in the circulation of air within

the house.

The documentary explained why Casa Irosin was saved or reserved by the time of

Japanese invasion and I also read some documentary about the reason why Casa Lubao is still

standing. A story goes that a Japanese colonel stopped his men from burning the house out of

gratitude to the Arrastia family, who had unknowingly hired him as a driver and gardener before

the war. The house has a tall and striking front balcony / covered porch. Wenceslao designed it

as such so his wife can catch the breeze while under the balcony's protection from the searing

tropical sun.

I’ve also learned another feature of Philippine Architecture which is the small

window at the lower part of the exterior walls called Ventanilla. This kind of design can still be

used; just improve and develop the materials but the idea (of the small window being placed at

the lower part of the exterior wall) is still the same.

We all know in our field that Philippine architecture responds to the climate. Its

characteristics have many variations, generally the roof of the first Philippine houses, ​nipa huts,

or ​bahay kubo​, were high pitched and usually open gabled to allow for ventilation. The steeply

sloping pitch also protected from the wind and rain in the typhoon season. Having wide opening

windows and the roof also provided wide overhang eaves, to provide shade from the hot sun.

Also, when talking about Philippine Architecture it reminds me of Francisco

“Bobby” Mañosa because I really admire how he promotes Philippine architecture. He also said
that he strongly believed that Philippine architecture must be “true to itself, its land and its

people,". He intensively studied, mastered and interpreted the untapped DNA of Philippine

architecture, especially the ​Bahay Kubo and ​Bahay na Bato.​ He also pushed for the use of

indigenous materials such bamboo, coconut, rattan and capiz, among others for architectural

finishes, furniture and furnishings that I saw through the materials of the house in the

documentary.

In the last part of the documentary I never went to Corregidor Island. I just know

that ruins serve as a military memorial to American, Filipino and Japanese soldiers who served

or lost their lives on the battlefield and the island is now a designated national monument and

war memorial. The ruins have been maintained in memory of the American, Philippine, and

Japanese soldiers who fought and died there.