Architecture of the Philippines

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The architecture of the Philippines (Filipino: Arkitekturang Pilipino) reflects the

historical and cultural traditions in the country. Most prominent historic structures in the
archipelago are influenced by Austronesian, Chinese, Spanish,
and American architectures.
During three hundred thirty years of Spanish colonialization, the Philippine architecture
was dominated by the Spanish influences. The Augustinian friars, along with other
religious orders, built many grand churches and cathedrals all over the Philippine
Islands. During this period the traditional Filipino Bahay na bató (Filipino for "house of
stone") style for the large houses emerged. These were large houses built of stone and
wood combining Filipino, Spanish and Chinese style elements.
After the Philippines was ceded to the United States as a consequence of the Spanish–
American War in 1898, the architecture of the Philippines was dominated by American
aesthetics. In this period, the plan for the modern City of Manila was designed, with
many neoclassical architecture and art deco buildings by famous American and Filipino
architects. During World War II, large portions of Intramuros and Manila were destroyed.
Many heritage districts in the provinces were burned down by the Japanese before the
end of the war. In the reconstruction period after the Second World War, many of the
destroyed buildings were rebuilt, however, a majority of heritage structures, especially in
the provinces, were lost and never rebuilt. Most of the structures that were lost are
considered a focal properties of former heritage towns.
In the late 20th century, modern architecture with straight lines and functional aspects
was introduced, particularly in the Brutalist architecture that characterized government-
built structures done in the Marcos period. During this period many of the older
structures fell into decay due to the imposition of martial law. After the return of
democracy in 1986, a new age of Philippine architecture came into focus through
modernism. Early in the 21st century, a revival of the respect for the traditional Filipino
elements in the architecture returned.
There have been proposals to establish a policy where each municipality and city will
have an ordinance mandating all constructions and reconstructions within such territory
to be inclined with the municipality or city's architecture and landscaping styles to
preserve and conserve the country's dying heritage sites, which have been demolished
one at a time in a fast pace due to urbanization, culturally-irresponsible development,
and lack of towns-cape architectural vision. Such policies are used by countries which
have preserved their architectural marvels, and entire cities as a whole, for hundreds of
years, such as Italy, France, Romania, Germany and Spain. The proposal advocates for
the usage and reinterpretations of indigenous, colonial, and modern architectural and
landscaping styles that are prevalent or used to be prevalent in a given city or
municipality. The proposal aims to foster a renaissance in Philippine landscaping and
townscaping, especially in rural areas which can easily be transformed into new
architectural heritage towns within a 50-year time frame. Unfortunately, many
Philippine-based architecture and engineering experts lack the sense of preserving
heritage townscapes, such as the case in Manila, where business proposals to
construct structures that are not inclined with Manila's architectural styles have been
continuously accepted and constructed by such experts, effectively destroying Manila's
architectural townscape one building at a time. Furthermore, the singular architectural
proposal has yet to be manifested into an actual policy due to the lack of a Department
of Culture. Only the city of Vigan has passed such an ordinance, which led to its
declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and awarding of various
recognition for the conservation and preservation of its unique architectural and
landscaping styles. In 2016, senator Loren Legarda filed a bill establishing the
Department of Culture. The bill was introduced in the Senate in January 2017 and is
expected to be passed into law in late 2018 or early 2019. The bill is backed by 9 other
senators from different political parties, namely, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Francis
Escudero, Juan Zubiri, Joseph Ejercito, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa
Hontiveros, and Sonny Angara. Three counterpart bills that aim to establish a
Department of Culture has also been filed in the House of Representatives, authored by
Christopher de Venecia, Evilina Escudero, and Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado. [1][2]

Contents
 1House structures
o 1.1Bahay Kubo
o 1.2Bahay na bato
 2Religious structures
o 2.1Churches
o 2.2Iglesia Ni Cristo churches
o 2.3Mosques
 3Fortifications
o 3.1Kuta
o 3.2Igorot Forts
o 3.3Idjang
o 3.4Intramuros
o 3.5Fort Santiago
o 3.6El Fraile Island
 4Rice terraces
 5Limestone Tomb complex of Kamhantik
 6American period
o 6.1Art Deco buildings
 7Modern period
o 7.1Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex
o 7.2Antipolo Church
o 7.3Iloilo Convention Center
 8United Architects of the Philippines
 9Heritage towns and cities
 10Filipino National Artists for Architecture
 11See also
 12References
 13External links

House structures[edit]
Bahay Kubo[edit]
See also: Nipa hut
Houses were built in a more or less similar manner, in the same way that the
settlements were built beside rivers and streams. The houses were built near rice fields
and coconut groves and orchards. The houses sit on posts raised above the ground.
The rooms were small, and generally, with a single multipurpose room, having only the
cooking space differentiated among the areas in the houses. There is a particular
architectural piece called ‘batalan’ that is often situated in the rear part of the house,
and is utilized for domestic work like washing, bathing, water storage, etc. The houses
were made of raw material like wood and bamboo. Tree houses or houses built on trunk
of trees rooted to the grounds were seen as an advantageous position.
The doors of the houses were usually oriented to the direction where the sun rises and
never faced towards the west, an architectural tradition which can be explained by the
values and belief systems that early inhabitants of the land have.
Bahay Kubo

Later on the invention of various tools allowed for the fabrication of tent-like shelters and
tree houses. Early Classical houses were characterized by rectangular structures
elevated on stilt foundations and covered by voluminous thatched roofs ornamented
with gable-finials and its structure could be lifted as a whole and carried to a new site.
Examples include the Ifugao House and the Royal Nobilities' Torogan.
The architecture of the classical period of the Philippines is based on vernacular
architecture for most of its centuries and Islamic architecture in some coastal areas at
the south, plus the interior of Lanao, after the 13th century.
The bahay kubo is the term for huts built out of nipa. These types of edifices were
characteristic of the way that indigenous people of the Philippines built homes prior to
the arrival of the Spanish colonizers. They are still in use today, especially in rural
areas. Different architectural designs are present among the different ethnolinguistic
groups in the country, although most homes built along the shorelines conform to being
stilt houses, similar to those found in neighboring countries such
as Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries of Southeast Asia.
Bahay na bato[edit]
See also: Bahay na Bato
The arrival of the Spaniards in 1571 brought in European colonial architecture to the
Philippines. Though not specifically suited for the hot tropics, European architecture was
transposed via Acapulco, Mexico into a uniquely Filipino style.

Bahay na Bato is a Filipino colonial house during the Spanish period.

In this era, the nipa hut or bahay kubo gave way to the Bahay na bato (stone house)
and became the typical house of noble Filipinos. The Bahay na bato, the colonial
Filipino house, followed the nipa hut's arrangements such as open ventilation and
elevated apartments. The most obvious difference between the two houses would be
the materials that was used to build them.
The bahay na bato was constructed out of brick and stone rather than the traditional
bamboo, timbre and other wooden materials that elevates the house. It is a mixture of
native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences. 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 capiz shell sliding
windows, and a tiled roof.[3] Excellent preserved examples of these houses of the
illustrious Filipinos can be admired in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.[4] Preserved examples of "bahay
na bato" are also found in Taal, Batangas and Boac, Marinduque in southern
Luzon, Iloilo, Iloilo and Carcar, Cebu in the Visayas, and Dapitan, Zamboanga del
Norte.
During World War II, many heritage districts and towns outside Metro Manila were
heavily destroyed and damaged by American and Japanese bombs. Reports of
deliberate burning of colonial structures by Japanese soldiers were also rampant. Most
destroyed or damaged heritage structures have never been restored and now lay in
ruins or have been replaced with shanty houses or concrete structures with no
significant architectural aesthetics. Many scholars have championed for Japan and
America's accountability for the destruction of many Filipino architectural landscapes
and towns, but to no avail.

Religious structures[edit]

Paoay Church, an example of Philippine earthquake baroque architecture.

Churches[edit]
See also: Earthquake Baroque and Baroque Churches of the Philippines
The order of the Augustinians, Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of
the Philippines, built many churches all over the Philippines. These magnificent
structures can still be found throughout the Philippine Islands.The Paoay
Church in Ilocos Norte is one of the most prominent types of these churches. This
unique specimen of Filipino architecture called Filipino Baroque from the Spanish era
has been included in the World Heritage Sites List of the UNESCO. The church was
built by the Augustinian friars from 1694 until 1710. It shows the earthquake-proof
baroque style architecture. The bell tower served as an observation post in 1896 for the
Katipuneros during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, and again by the
Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II. [5]
The present structure is the third to stand on the site and has survived seven major
earthquakes, and the wars in Manila. The church remains under the care of
the Augustinians who founded it. The church also houses the legacies of the
Spanish conquistadors, Miguel López de Legazpi, Juan de Salcedo and Martín de
Goiti who are buried and laid to rest in a tomb, underneath the church.
The church has 14 side chapels and a trompe-l'oeil ceiling. Up in the choir loft are the
hand-carved 17th-century seats of molave, a beautiful tropical hardwood. Adjacent to
the church is a small museum run by the Augustinian order, featuring antique
vestments, colonial furniture, and religious paintings and icons. It was named a National
Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976. [6] Together with three other
ancient churches in the country, it was designated as part of the World Heritage
Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines" in 1993.
Iglesia Ni Cristo churches[edit]
During American colonial rule over the Philippines, there were a variety of rural anti-
colonial movements, often with religious undertones,[7] and American Protestant
missionaries introduced several alternatives to the Roman Catholic Church,
the established church during Spanish colonial period.[8] Iglesia ni Cristo church
buildings primarily serve as places of worship and are used for other religious functions.
[9]

INC Central Temple at Central Avenue, Quezon City

Anthropologist Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita,[10] said that INC churches can be uniquely

identified for "its exuberant use of fanciful forms and ornaments". Churches were started
to be built in this style during the late 1940s and early 1950s with the first concrete
chapel built in Sampaloc, Manila in 1948. The Pioneer Concrete Structures of the
Church are Mostly Influenced by Mixing Neo-Gothic and Art Deco, and some are Built in
Art Deco Alone.
The INC Central Temple which opened in July 27, 1984, can accommodate up to 7,000
persons, and cost about US$2 million. [11] The Central Temple features octagonal spires,
"fine latticework" and ribbed windows. Recent buildings are variations of Carlos A.
Santos-Viola's designs on the Central Temple. These are designed to accommodate
250 to 1,000 persons while larger churches in Metro Manila and provincial capitals can
accommodate up to 3,000 persons. Prominent architects, such as Juan Nakpil and
Carlos Raúl Villanueva, had been involved in designing INC churches while the
Engineering and Construction Department of INC oversees the uniformity in design of
church buildings.[9]
Mosques[edit]
See also: List of mosques in the Philippines
Prior to the usage of the common Islamic mosque architecture, which can also be seen
in Arabia and modern architecture, the vernacular mosques of the Philippines used to
be the hut-style and the pagoda-style, which were very common until the late 19th
century. Most of the mosques in the Philippines today have common Islamic
architectures imported from Arabia merged with modern style, though some vernacular
pagoda-style mosques can still be seen in Mindanao such as the Masjid Datu Untong
Balabaran of Taviran in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. There have been proposals
to put the Heritage Mosques of the Philippines into the Philippine tentative list
for UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration in the future. The proposals made were to
input the historic mosques of the Philippines (mosque in Simunul), to input the
vernacular mosques of the Philippines (langga/rangga-style and pagoda-style
mosques), or to combine both and input them in the tentative list of UNESCO.[12][circular reference]

Fortifications[edit]
The architecture of the early Filipinos are also reflected in the historical military
structures in the country. There was often competition in trade between
the thalassocratic states in the archipelago. Neighboring kingdoms would often wage
wars against one another to gain control of trade and territory. Fortifications were then
necessary to keep their subjects and interests protected. Due to foreign attacks and
colonisation, only a few of these fortresses physically remain. However, many cities in
the country, such as Manila, were built on the basis of fortifications that predated the
colony.
During the colonisation of the Philippines, fortifications were also built by the foreign
powers to assert political control in the islands. The Spanish, for example, made use of
their forts against attacks from Chinese and Moro Pirates, as well as the Dutch and the
British. These forts were made almost entirely of stone; hence some of them have
survived numerous wars and are still standing to this day.
Kuta[edit]
The surviving attested forms of fortifications in the country before colonisation were
the kuta (stronghold) and moog (tower). The word kuta is cognate with the
Malay kota which has the modern meaning "city". Kuta, in addition to its military uses,
also served as a palace for the local lord. These structures were usually made of stone
and wood and were surrounded by trench networks.
Kuta were notably used by Muslims for defense against foreign invaders. It is said that
the Maguindanao Sultanate, at the height of their power, blanketed the area around
Western Mindanao with such fortifications to prevent the Spanish from advancing into
the region. However, the sultanate was eventually subdued after further Spanish
campaigns in the region and majority of the kuta were dismantled. During the American
occupation, insurgents still built strongholds and the sultans often had these reinforced.
[5]
 Many of these forts were destroyed during American attacks, which is why very few
have survived to this day.
Notable kuta:

 Kota Seludong: the foundation of the city of Manila

 Cotabato: "stone fort"; a stone fortification in Mindanao
 Kota Sug/Jolo: the capital and seat of the Sultanate of Sulu; converted into a
walled city by the Spanish upon occupation in the 1870s
Igorot Forts[edit]
The Igorot built forts made of stone walls that averaged several meters in width and
about two to three times the width in height around 2000 BC. [13]
Idjang[edit]
Main articles: Ivatan people and Idjang
Fortifications for wartime purposes were also built by the Ivatan in the islands
of Batanes. They built idjang which were a type of citadel on hills and elevated areas.
[12]
 These structures were designed so that the entrance was only accessible by the use
of rope ladder which was only lowered for villagers to the disadvantage of the enemies.
Intramuros[edit]
See also: Spanish Colonial Fortifications of the Philippines

Defensive walls of Intramuros

Intramuros was the walled city of Manila along the south bank of the Pasig River.[1] It

was established to replace Kota Seludong, the seat of the power of the Kingdom of
Maynila that was protected by a rammed earth fortress equipped with stockades,
battlements and cannons.[14]
The historic city was once home to many colonial churches, schools, convents,
government buildings and residences. Many of these products of Spanish architecture
were destroyed during World War II. Of all the buildings within the 67-acre city, only
one, the San Agustin Church, survived the war.
Fort Santiago[edit]
Fort Santiago (Fuerza de Santiago) is a defensive fortress established in 1571 by the
Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. It was the citadel of Intramuros, built on
the site of the palace and of Rajah Sulayman.[15] which was destroyed by the Spanish in
1570 while engaging in several battles with the Tagalog.
El Fraile Island[edit]

Fort Drum built by the Americans to guard the Islands nearby against invaders.

El Fraile Island or Fort Drum, also known as "the concrete battleship," is a heavily
fortified island situated at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines, due south
of Corregidor Island. The reinforced concrete fortress shaped like a battleship was built
by the United States in 1909 as one of the harbor defenses at the wider South Channel
entrance to the bay during the American colonial period. It was captured and occupied
by the Japanese during World War II, and was recaptured by the U.S.
after igniting petroleum and gasoline in the fort, leaving it permanently out of
commission.

Rice terraces[edit]
See also: Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

A rainbow appearing after the rain at the Batad Rice Terraces, one of the rice terraces in Ifugao.

For years the mountainous province of Ifugao have been carefully cultivated with
terraced fields.[16] These rice terraces illustrate the ability of human culture to adapt to
new social and climate pressures as well as to implement and develop new ideas and
technologies. They also epitomize a harmonic, sustainable relationship between
humans and their environment. The structures' original builders used stone and mud
walls to carefully carve and construct terraces that could hold flooded pond fields for the
cultivation of rice. They also established a system to water these plots by harvesting
water from mountaintop forests. These engineering feats were done by hand as was the
farming itself.[16]
Maintenance of the rice terraces reflects a primarily cooperative approach of the whole
community which is based on detailed knowledge of the rich diversity of biological
resources existing in the Ifugao agro-ecosystem, a finely tuned annual system
respecting lunar cycles, zoning and planning, extensive soil conservation, and mastery
of a complex pest control regime based on the processing of a variety of herbs,
accompanied by religious rituals and tribal culture.[17]
Although popularly known as and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site believed
to be older than 2,000 years, there are some conflicting recent studies that report that
the terraces may in fact be less than 1,000 years old. [18][19]

Limestone Tomb complex of Kamhantik[edit]

See also: Limestone tombs of Kamhantik
The Limestone tombs of Kamhantik is the site of the excavated remains of a thousand-
year-old village, found in the jungles of Mount Maclayao in Sitio Kamhantik within
the Buenavista Protected Landscape of Mulanay, Quezon, Philippines.
The complex is composed of fifteen limestone coffins that can be dated back from the
period of 10th to 14th century, with one of the National Museum's top archaeologists
naming it "a complex archaeological site with both habitation and burial remains from
the period of approximately 10th to the 14th century ... the first of its kind in the
Philippines having carved limestone tombs." [20]

American period[edit]

The Manila Central Post Office is a neoclassical building built during the American period.

With the arrival of the Americans in 1898 came a new breed of architectural structures
in the Philippines. Foremost of the American contributions to the country was the
establishment of civil government. This led to the erection of government buildings from
the city all the way to the municipal level. Designed in the most respectable manner,
these government houses resembled Greek or Roman architecture.[11]
The revival period, popular at the turn of the century, became the foremost architectural
parlance of the era as seen in such buildings particularly in Manila. Education of the
masses also became the thrust of the American occupation, as such, public education
was established, foremost of which is the University of the Philippines. [citation needed] With
American rule firmly established in the Philippines, the military government at the time
invited the well-known architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham to develop Manila.
[21]
 Burnham's arrival led to the formation of the Burnham Plan which identifies the city of
Manila as a uniquely European city in the tropics and as such opposed to develop its
architecture in line with the existing style. The style of architecture, as suggested, varies
little from existing architecture at the time as typified by the Manila Hotel.[22] New
structures continued the use of conventional motifs but were made of more durable
materials such as concrete. This style of architecture prevailed even after the turn of the
century.
The Luneta Hotel, located in Kalaw Avenue, is one of the remaining structures that
survived the liberation of Manila in 1945. The hotel was completed in 1918. According to
Dean Joseph Fernandez of the University of Santo Tomas, the hotel was designed by
the Spanish architect-engineer Salvador Farre. The structure is the only remaining
example of the French Renaissance architecture with Filipino stylized Beaux-Arts
architecture in the Philippines to date.
At the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Quiapo, Manila, five Art Deco structures on the
campus were designed by National Artist Pablo Antonio. Three were built before World
War II and two, after. Although FEU buildings were totally damaged during the war, the
university was restored to its original Art Deco design immediately after. The university
was given a UNESCO Asia Pacific-Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage in 2005 for the
outstanding preservation of its Art Deco structures.[23]
Art Deco buildings[edit]
See also: Art Deco theaters of Manila

Old Jaro municipal hall in Iloilo

During the rise of cinema in the Philippines as a form of recreation, several theaters
were constructed in the 1930s to 1950s in the Art Deco style designed by prominent
architects now recognized as National Artists. The Manila Metropolitan Theater is an Art
Deco building designed by the Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano, and built in 1935.
Another fine example of Art Deco is the old Jaro Municipal Hall in Iloilo built in 1934 by
Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano. It later became the Jaro District Police Station and
after the full restoration is now the regional branch office of the National Museum.
During the liberation of Manila by the combined American and Flipino troops in 1945,
the theatre was totally destroyed. After reconstruction by the Americans it gradually fell
into disuse in the 1960s. In the following decade it was meticulously restored but again
fell into decay. The sculptures upon the façade of the theater are by Italian sculptor
Francesco Riccardo Monti, who lived in Manila from 1930 until his death in 1958, and
worked closely with Juan M. Arellano. Highly stylized relief carving of Philippine plants
executed by the artist Isabelo Tampingco decorate the lobby walls and interior surfaces
of the building.
The following are the Philippine architects who contributed and lead to the design of the
classic Philippine theaters:

 Juan Nakpil, a Philippine national artist for Architecture

 Pablo Antonio
 Juan M. Arellano

Modern period[edit]
The aftermath of World War II brought major destruction especially in the capital city
of Manila and a time of rebuilding ensued. The modern era dawned on Philippine
architecture using the simple straight lines of the International Modern Style as a chief
mode of expression.[citation needed] By the 1970s, a new form of Philippine architecture
emerged with the filipinization of architecture. The Filipino style found its way in the re-
emergence of traditional motifs, the Bahay Kubo and the Bahay na bato became
popular forms to be copied and modernized such as the Batasang Pambansa and
the National Theater. By the 1980s the country's architectural idiom was swept by the
tide of Post Modernism, a hearkening back of some sort to classical architecture.
[24]
 Today, architecture in the Philippines continue to be vibrant and with the country
opening up to the world, more first rate architecture is pouring in. [24]
Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex[edit]

Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex is home to the National Theater

(Tanghalang Pambansa). The theater is the centerpiece of the 77 hectare (190 acres)
arts and culture complex located along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Designed
by Leandro V. Locsin, the construction of the National Theater began in 1966 and was
completed in 1969. The theater is a primary example of the architect's signature style
known as the floating volume, a trait can be seen in structures indigenous to
the Philippines such as the nipa hut. It houses three performing arts venues, one
theater for film screenings, galleries, a museum and the center's library and archives. [25]
The façade of the National Theater is an example of Brutalist architecture. It is
dominated by a two-storey travertine block suspended 12 meters (39 ft) high by deep
concave cantilevers on three sides. The building is built on a massive podium, and entry
is through a vehicular ramp in front of the raised lobby and a pedestrian side entry on its
northwest side. In front of the National Theater and below the ramp, there is an
octagonal reflecting pool with fountains and underwater lights. Aside from the National
Theater, other structures located inside the CCP Complex is the Tanghalang Nicanor
Abelardo or the Main Theater, Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino or the Little Theater, Folks
Art Theater and the Manila Film Center.
The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice is the landmark Catholic chapel in the University of the
Philippines Diliman. Known for its architectural design, the church is recognized as a
National Historical Landmark and a Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Institute
and the National Museum respectively. Five National artists collaborated on the project.
The building was designed by the late National Artist for Architecture, Leandro
Locsin. Alfredo Juinio served as the structural engineer for the project. Around the
chapel are fifteen large murals painted by Vicente Manansala depicting the Stations of
the Cross. The marble altar and the large wooden cross above it were sculpted
by Napoleon Abueva. The mosaic floor mural called the “River of Life” was designed
by Arturo Luz.
Antipolo Church[edit]
The image of "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage" has been venerated in the church
of Antipolo for centuries. The old church that housed the virgin was destroyed in
February 1945 when the combined American and Filipino forces bombed Antipolo as
part of the liberation campaign of Manila. In 1954, a new church was built designed by
the renowned Filipino architect Jose de Ocampo. The Antipolo Church is of
a cupolaed design centered around the image of the Virgin. It functions as the center
point of the pilgrimages to Antipolo.
Iloilo Convention Center[edit]

The Iloilo Convention Center.

The Iloilo Convention Center (also known as ICC or I-Con) is a state-of-the-art
convention center in the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Philippines. Its
construction was completed in September 2015 in time for the APEC 2015 hosting. It is
built on a 1.7-hectare of lot in the district of Mandurriao donated by the Megaworld Corp.
[26]
 The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority allocated P200 million for
the construction of the convention center, while another P250 million was sourced from
the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Senator Franklin Drilon. [27]
The state-of-the-art convention center designed by Ilonggo architect, William
Coscolluela. The design was inspired by Iloilo's Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta festivals.
The paraw is a native double outrigger sailboat in the Visayas region, used in the
annual Paraw Regatta Festival sailboat race. Abstract designs of the famous Dinagyang
Festival are featured on the glass walls of the center. [28] It is a two-storey structure with a
total floor area of 11,832 square meters. The main hall on the ground floor has a 3,700-
seat capacity and 500-seat function rooms on the second floor. A rooftop of 1,500 sqm
is available for outdoor functions.[27]

United Architects of the Philippines[edit]

Main article: United Architects of the Philippines

Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig is the tallest building in the Philippines since its completion
in 2017 with a height of 281.78m.

The United Architects of the Philippines (officially known as the Integrated and
Accredited Professional Organization of Architects) is the official architectural
association of the Philippines. It is the first professional organization to be accredited by
the Professional Regulation Commission and it currently has 38,000 members. [29]

Heritage towns and cities[edit]

See also: Japanese occupation of the Philippines
The Philippines is home to numerous heritage towns and cities, many of which have
been intentionally destroyed by the Japanese through fire tactics in World War II and
the Americans through bombings during the same war. After the war, the government of
the Empire of Japan withheld from giving funds to the Philippines for the restoration of
the heritage towns they destroyed, effectively destroying any chances of restoration
since the pre-war Philippines' economy was devastated and had limited monetary
supply. On the other hand, the United States gave minimal funding for only two of the
hundreds of cities they destroyed, namely, Manila and Baguio. Today, only the centres
(poblacion or downtown areas) of Filipino heritage towns and cities remain in most of
the expansive heritage cities and towns in the country. Yet, some heritage cities in their
former glory prior to the war still exist, such as the UNESCO city of Vigan which was the
only heritage town saved from American bombing and Japanese fire and kamikaze
tactics. The country currently lacks a city/town-singular architectural style law. Due to
this, unaesthetic cement or shanty structures have taken over heritage buildings
annually, destroying many former heritage townscapes. Some heritage buildings have
been demolished or sold to corporations, and have been replaced by commercial
structures such as shopping centers, condominium units, or newly furnished modern-
style buildings, completely destroying the old aesthetics of many former heritage towns
and cities. This is one of the reasons why UNESCO has repeatedly withheld from
inscribing further Filipino heritage towns in the World Heritage List since 1999. Only the
heritage city of Vigan has a town law that guarantees its singular architecture (the Vigan
colonial style) shall always be used in constructions and reconstructions. While Silay,
Iloilo City, and San Fernando de Pampanga have ordinances giving certain tax
exemptions to owners of heritage houses.[30] In 2010, the Philippine Cultural Heritage Act
passed into law, effectively giving protections to all cultural heritage properties of the
Philippines. However, despite its passage, many ancestral home owners continue to
approve the demolition of ancestral structures. In certain cases, government entities
themselves were the purveyors of such demolitions.[31] Because of the minimal reach of
the current governmental culture agency and the lack of awareness on the importance
of Filipino sites, a bill establishing a Department of Culture was formally filed in 2016.
The bill is expected to pass into law by late 2018 or early 2019 as it was declared a
priority legislation by both houses of Congress. If the bill reaches its deadline, a
secretary of culture will be appointed by June–July 2019. [32]
In Luzon, other notable heritage towns and cities include the UNESCO City of
Manila, Taal, UNESCO Town of Banaue, UNESCO Town of Mayoyao, UNESOC Town
of Hungduan, UNESCO Town of Kiangan, Laoag, Sarrat, Pila, UNESCO City
of Baguio, San Fernando, Bacolor, Guagua, Santa
Rita, Malolos, Angeles, Sabtang, Mahatao, Uyugan, Sariaya, San Pablo, Alaminos de
Laguna, Tayabas, Lucban, Lucena, Balayan, Calaca, Kawit, UNESCO Town
of Paoay, Batac, Roxas, Panay, Daraga, Legazpi, Camalig, Antipolo, Angono, Tanay, M
orong de
Rizal, Baras, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Paete, Pakil, Quezon
City, Naga, Maragondon, Lingayen, Alaminos, San
Miguel, Bustos, Plaridel, Angat, Baliuag, Los Baños, Calamba, Corregidor, San Juan de
Batangas, Cabuyao, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Tuguegarao, Malabon, Sagada, Baler, San
Juan de Manila, Daet, Tabaco, Batangas City, San Nicolas, UNESCO Town of Santa
Maria, and Santa Cruz.[33]
In the Visayas, notable heritage towns and cities include Iloilo City, UNESCO Town
of Miagao, Cebu City, Silay, Carcar, Argao, Dalaguete, Oslob, UNESCO City of Puerto
Princesa, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Bacong, Romblon, Boac, Baclayon, Tagbilaran, Dauis, 
Panglao, Victorias, Capul, Cuyo, Taytay, Culion, Lazi, and Bantayan.[33]
In Mindanao, notable heritage towns and cities include Dapitan, Lake
Sebu, Zamboanga City, Jimenez, Ozamiz, Oroquieta, Cagayan de
Oro, Jasaan, Balingasag, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Iligan, Marawi, Davao City, UNESCO
Town of Tugaya, UNESCO Town of Mati, and Glan.[33]

Dumaguete
 

Taytay, Palawan
 

San Fernando, Pampanga

 

Daraga
 


Capul
 

Jimenez, Misamis Occidental

 

Guiuan, Eastern Samar

 

Baclayon, Bohol
 

Laoag
 

Panay, Capiz
 
 

Nagcarlan
 

Malolos
 
 Zamboanga City

Marawi

Filipino National Artists for Architecture[edit]

 Leandro V. Locsin (1928–1994) was one of the modern architects who shaped
the modern Filipino Architecture. During his career, he built five churches, over 30
different buildings, over 70 residences, and major landmarks in the Philippines
including the Cultural Center of the Philippines.[34]
 Juan F. Nakpil (May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986) was a Filipino architect, teacher
and a community leader. In 1973, he was named one of the National Artists for
architecture. He was regarded as the Dean of Filipino Architects.
 Pablo Antonio (January 25, 1901 – June 14, 1975) was a Filipino architect. A
pioneer of modern Philippine architecture, he was recognized in some quarters as
the foremost Filipino modernist architect of his time.
 José María Zaragoza (December 6, 1912 – 1994) was a Filipino architect known
for his European style during an era which used American architecture in the
Philippines.

See also[edit]
 Philippines portal

 Cultural achievements of pre-colonial Philippines

 Culture of the Philippines
 Torogan
 Idjang
 Spanish Baroque architecture
 List of mosques in the Philippines
 Baroque Churches of the Philippines
 United Architects of the Philippines