QUEEN OF THE NORTH: THE DECLENSION

Isabela Province During the Dark Ages

Service-Learning Program | ARCH 1021: Architectural Design 5 – Space Planning 2

 References:

 Chronological History of Isabela. Retrieved from http://provinceofisabela.ph/index.php/general-info/history-culture

 The Dark Ages: Definition, History & Timeline. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-dark-ages-
definition-history-timeline.html

 Bahay Na Bato: The Parts Of A Stately Filipino House During The Spanish Colonial Period. Retrieved from
https://www.tatlerasia.com/homes/architecture-design/rediscovering-bahay-na-bato-the-parts-of-a-stately-filipino-
house-during-the-spanish-colonial-period
 Santiago’s Glorious Past. Retrieved from https://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2012/06/balay-na-santiago.html
 The Beautiful San Pablo Church, Isabela. Retrieved from https://www.shiningmom.com/the-beautiful-san-pablo-
church-isabela/
 Spanish Religious Architecture. Retrieved from https://www.visitphilippines.org/about-philippines/spanish-religious-
architecture/

 July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained Independence from the United States. Retrieved from
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/july-4-1946-philippines-independence
 House approves conservation of Gabaldon school buildings. Retrieved from
https://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=10099
 Facilities. Retrieved from https://isabelahigh.wixsite.com/isabelahigh/support

 A Trip Down to Isabela Province’s Memory Lane: The Ilagan Japanese War Tunnel. Retrieved from
https://thequeensescape.com/a-trip-down-to-isabela-provinces-memory-lane-the-ilagan-japanese-war-tunnel/
 Ilagan Japanese Tunnel: A Mark of History in Isabela. Retrieved from https://thejerny.com/travel/ilagan-japanese-
tunnel-isabela/
 The Ilagan Japanese Tunnel Museum In Isabela Blog Review. Retrieved from
http://www.mariaronabeltran.com/2018/04/the-ilagan-japanese-tunnel-museum-in.html

Group Members:

1602443 Cabauatan, Daniel G. 055

1602637 Capalungan, Rona Mae D. 055
1300247 Dalumay, Julie Anne Pearl D. 055
0700609 Ines, Alloana P. 055
1300828 Narag, Kristine Joy Narag F. 055
1900479 Galamay, Nieza Leah G. C11
1900360 Ramos, Ghiether Lanz A. 055
1900159 Sioson, Shaina Mae L. 055
1901970 Time, Kier D. 055
1902782 Mabanag, Angelika F. 055
1900464 Narag, Joyce Abigail D. C11
1902162 Novencido, Yurev Yen B. 055
1900768 Oliver, Maan Jazel C. C11
1300831 Ramirez, Justin Joel H. 055
1300804 De Leon, Ralph Amanette P. 055
1700277 Lappay, Reymark A. 055
1602489 Dela Cruz, Jenric Shane Q. 055
1902498 Agsalda, Jessabel M. C11
1900201 Garo, Queenie Anne G. 055

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 Table of Contents:

I. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND ............................................. 4
II. OBJECTIVES ............................................................ 6
III. CONTENTS.............................................................. 7
PREEMINENCE OF SPANISH ARCHITECTURE .................................. 7
⎯ BALAY NA SANTIAGO ............................................... 8
⎯ SAN PABLO CHURCH ............................................... 10
AMERICA’S EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION ...................................... 12
⎯ ILAGAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ..................................... 13
JAPANESE OCCUPATION AND LIBERATION OF ILAGAN .......................... 15
⎯ ILAGAN JAPANESE TUNNEL ......................................... 16
IV. WRITE-UPS ............................................................ 18

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 I. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

As our ancestors fought for Philippine Independence, Isabela also had its own share of fight towards the liberation of
the province. The history of Philippine architecture is rich in culture, and many of the structures of the old eras still stand
as a reminder of the country’s humble beginnings. Though its history is tainted by war and colonial misgivings, these
buildings still represent the country’s cultural heritage. It is a culmination of international inspirations from the nation
and its neighboring countries, and its significance will only die if its people let it (Pinoy Builders, n.d.).

Isabela, the second largest province in the Philippines, is situated in the northeastern part of Luzon. It is
bounded on the north by the province of Cagayan Valley, on the east by the Pacific Ocean. Its origins date back to the
Stone Age over 25,000 years ago when a pygmy race called the Agtas were the first indigenous people to inhabit the
Philippines. The formal history of the province dates back on May 1, 1856, when by a Royal Decree, Isabela was carved
from the existing provinces of Cagayan Valley and Nueva Vizcaya with the town of Ilagan as its capital. The new
province was named in honor of Her Royal Highness Queen Isabela II of Spain, at the time when Urbiztondo was the
Governor-General of the Philippines. Hence, the province is also known as the “Queen of the North”.

Dark Ages, coined by Italian scholar Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374), used this label to describe what he
perceived as a lack of quality in the Latin literature of his day. Other thinkers came along and expanded this designation
to include not only literature, but also culture in general, thus, it generally has a negative connotation. Increasingly,
many scholars are questioning whether the term Dark Ages is an accurate description or not. In this paper, however,
the term dark ages is characterized by the economic, intellectual, and cultural downfalls – declension; how the
colonizer’s architecture came about in the country; how it shaped and affected the life of Isabelanyos until today. The
Spanish preeminence of architecture among residential buildings and churches, the strengthening of public education
established by the American military government, and the Japanese tunnels that served as scars from World War 2 –
in a nutshell, these colonial periods – dark ages – have greatly influenced Isabela their culture, tradition religion and
architecture.

Preeminence of Spanish architecture. One of the lasting legacies of Spanish rule in the Philippines is the
Antillean1 style of architecture: bahay na bato. Common in many old residential houses, this architectural style can also
be seen in convents, municipal and provincial offices as well as schools. With adobe walls as its structural foundation
and wood as the main material for the large open-layout top levels, the Hispanic style was suitable for the Philippine
climate, especially against the natural disasters that constantly ravage it. The parish priests gradually came to dominate
administrative and social as well as religious activities, and greater attention was paid to the church buildings. The
Baroque architecture, developed there during the 17th and 18th century, is evident in the churches as a way to introduce
Christianity. These group of churches established a style of building and design that was adapted to the physical
conditions in the Philippines.

America’s emphasis on education. After the United States ruled, changes were instituted in the political
system, but the economy of Isabela remained agricultural. One of the country’s hallmarks under the American Insular
government was an emphasis on public education, which was a no-brainer as the United States (1892) at the time was

1
European (but originated from Central America and not Spain) which was tweaked to suit the tropical climate of the Philippines and thereafter, had its own Filipino
and unique character

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also strengthening its public education system, with the National Education Association’s recommendation of 12 years
of instruction. Spanish era schools were already in the country though these were limited to the cities and large towns
of the country. Gabaldon buildings, as they came to be known, would be built anywhere in the country from the largest
city to the smallest barangay. They became historical and cultural features in the provincial towns, aside from providing
the people with much-needed education.

Japanese occupation and liberation of Ilagan. The invasion of the Philippines (December 8, 1941) started
ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After World War II, Japanese troops had retreated at the mountains of
northern Luzon but not within the Gabaldon school buildings. Instead, they stayed in a suspected man-made cave and
they called it the Japanese tunnels which have been built through the sweat and blook of Filipinos, ad used by the
Japanese soldiers as base or prison during the war. Also used as a passage, hideout, and torture chambers, it runs
from Camunatan as the entrance to Isabela National High School to St. Ferdinand to Malalam.

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 II. OBJECTIVES

The paper discusses the main points that elucidate how important the pattern of history in Isabela is during the dark
ages, specifically the colonization period of Spaniards, Americans and Japanese.

Moreover, the paper aims to develop appropriate understanding and initiate discussion about these periods regardless
to its superiority that is known to end in time and set the province into liberation, and ultimately how it is thriving today.

The considerations that the paper needed to achieve the aforementioned objectives are as follows: historical, cultural
significance, and how the province of Isabela, the Queen of the North, thrived amidst declension with the help of
architecture.

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 III. CONTENTS

PREEMINENCE OF SPANISH ARCHITECTURE

Behind a residential building, indigenous tribal

Filipinos pose for photograph with two Spaniards in a
mock wedding in Echuague, Isabela, ca. 1906-ca. 1910.

One of the lasting legacies of Spanish rule in the Philippines is the Antillean2 style of architecture. Common in many
old residential houses, this architectural style can also be seen in convents, municipal and provincial offices as well as
schools. With adobe walls as its structural foundation and wood as the main material for the large open-layout top
levels, the Hispanic style was suitable for the Philippine climate, and especially against the natural disasters that
constantly ravage it. Despite the vestiges of Spanish, Chinese and Filipino influences in local culture, the bahay na
bato3 is unique to the Philippines. The grandeur of structural materials, beauty of intricate details and opulence of the
furniture are signs of affluence and the stature the family holds in society.

The baroque churches, the building of which usually extended over several decades, were also a symbol and
a measure of the missionaries success in the task of conversion, and accordingly no effort was spared in their
construction. The people of the Philippines contributed both money, through the taxes they paid, and their own labour.
It is not difficult to imagine what a concentration of effort and of thought went to the building of a new church or the
enlargement or alteration of an earlier one. The variations between these churches, reflecting the different personalities
of the builders or differences in local conditions, result from the participation of local craftsmen and contribute to the
distinctive originality of each one.

2
European (but originated from Central America and not Spain) which was tweaked to suit the tropical climate of the Philippines and thereafter, had its own Filipino
and unique character
3
"Stone house", as the Antillean residential architecture was popularly called

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 BALAY NA SANTIAGO

Location Melegrito St, Santiago, Isabela

Founded 1625
Purpose Residential
Condition Now a museum
Architecture Spanish stone house

* * *

Balay4 na Santiago, a bahay na bato, is a museum that showcases a collection of the ethno-linguistic lifestyle of those
who made Santiago the melting pot of culture that it is today. It houses the remnant of the present day urban glory that
Santiago City. The museum showcases a collection of the ethno-linguistic lifestyle of those who made Santiago the
melting pot of culture that is today. It shows a glimpse of the past customs and traditions that have united the multi-
race Santiaguenos. It has a collection of old photographs, antique furniture, memorabilia and jars, artifacts, religious
items, and dresses. It has a room with grand four-poster-bed, and an elegant period living and dining rooms.

4
Gaddang word for house

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 The entresuelo leads to the antesala, also known as caida which means “to fall”, referring to the stair landing that
connects the two levels. Here in the antesala, visitors are entertained. It is also where the masters of the house
take their merienda (afternoon snacks).

Sala mayor is the most important part of the house for it is opened to guests on special occasions only. Its
contents—furniture, figurines, artworks— are used to show off one’s status in society. It becomes a grand hall
where tertulia (late afternoon parties) and baile (ball) are held. Here, prominent guests of the masters of the house
discuss the latest in politics, business and fashion, while the children lead the singing, dancing and playing of
musical instruments.

Up to now, modern houses carry some elements inspired by the traditional bahay na bato such as the usage of
pasamano (windowsill) or barandilla (handrail) by the balconies and stairwells.

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 SAN PABLO CHURCH

Location San Pablo, Isabela

Founded 1625
Purpose Religious building
Condition National religious tourist attractions
Architecture High Baroque

* * *

San Pablo Church was founded by Dominican Fr. Pedro de Santo Tomas; the present structure was built in 1709 by
Fr. Diego de la Torre. 1949 Intensity 7 earthquake further damaged it. The church’s two-level High Baroque-style
façade has a semicircular arched main entrance flanked by semicircular arched statue niches containing icons of St.
Paul, St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Isidore, now all defaced. It is said to be the oldest in the province. The church is said
to be the only church in Cagayan Valley built with soft stones, hence its “fast” deterioration.

The second level has a centrally located statue niche flanked by circular windows. The undulating pediment
has a centrally located circular window and finials. Gorgeous clay insets of rosettes and sun emblems decorate the
elegant walls.

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Its six-storey square bell tower, on the church’s right, is the tallest in the Cagayan Valley. Rising in receding storeys,
it has blind semicircular arched windows and is topped by a dome.

(left) This area was once part of the church and was covered but it is now renovated into a beautiful garden. (middle)
Within the old church, they built a new one which is being used by the people of San Pablo these days.

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 AMERICA’S EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION

Façade of the old Gabaldon building of Isabela

National High School in Ilagan.

The goal was to train the Filipinos for self-government American military governance with the Philippine Commission
established a system of Public Education that grew slowly but surely throughout the archipelago. The public education
had its first big push when the late Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon sponsored Act No. 1801, which would be known as
the Gabaldon Act. Under the auspices of this law, school buildings designed by American architect William Parsons,
the designer of the Philippine General Hospital, were constructed from 1907 to 1915 with a budget of 1 million pesos
funded by Gabaldon across the country. By the end of that time, 3,000 schools were built.

The Gabaldon building is remarkable as it was inspired by a combination of traditional bahay kubo, bahay na
bato and American architecture. Like the bahay kubo the floor was raised and the building itself would stand on concrete
stilts. Like the bahay na bato the windows were made of capiz5 and there were intricate patterns in the walls to facilitate
good ventilation.

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shells commonly used as a glass substitute for windows, chandeliers, lampshades and most distinctively the beautiful architectural details of old traditional Philippine
houses

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 ISABELA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Location Claravall St, Ilagan City, Isabela

Established 1904
Purpose Educational institution
Condition Public secondary national school

* * *

Isabela National High School is a public educational institution founded in 1904, making it the oldest public
high school in the Cagayan Valley region. It was named Isabela High School before it was converted into a national
high school in 1982.

The building was not the end of the design process though as the standard plans stipulated that around the
Gabaldon buildings there were large fields and grass where children could play. It was built where the most people
were in the city or barangay and sometimes were built far away from the main poblacion6 so that people from areas
without Gabaldon buildings could use the school buildings in near the poblacion.

The House committee on basic education and culture has approved a substitute bill which mandates the
conservation of Gabaldon school buildings nationwide. RA 11194: Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act
mandates the preservation of these historical structures and, at the same time, finds funds for their rehabilitation and
reconstruction. Under this law, the Department of Education will consult with the NCCA, NHCP, and the National
Museum on how to implement a program of identification and conservation of Gabaldon schools nationwide. These
school buildings will now be recognized as cultural properties – in essence, as heritage structures – under RA 10066,
the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

Sadly, out of the 3,000 structures built only 1,446 remain according to a Department of Education estimate in
2015. Though these one to two-storey structures were made of hardwood and were certainly built to last, one hundred

6
administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippine city or municipality, which may take up the area of a single
barangay or multiple barangays

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years of use, the elements, and other events have certainly taken their toll. Some of them were damaged or destroyed
by typhoons, while others fell victim to fire.

Facilities: (left) Open pavilion is used for flag raising and flag rites ceremonies, programs, activities and special
announcements from school administrators, student government leaders, and various visitors. (middle) Quadrangle.
(right) The buildings also exhibits large windows and high ceilings for lighting purposes. Another special features are
the old callado 7and ventanillas 8 or transom windows which create a permeable walls that allow cross ventilation and
relieve humidity. These were also designed to achieve natural lighting inside the rooms.

7
tracery panels
8
window railings

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 JAPANESE OCCUPATION AND LIBERATION OF ILAGAN

Heading the town of Cordon, the 637th Tank Destroyer

Outfit crosses the Magat River which is flanked at
the approach by knocked-out Japanese vehicles.

On December 9, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Army conducted bombing raids over the Philippines, including
Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley. The following day, they landed in Aparri and proceeded southwards to the direction of
Isabela. Years later, on June 19, 1945, as part of the Isabela-Nueva Vizcaya liberation campaign (December 1944-
June 1945), the combined forces of the 14th Infantry, United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon,
under the command of Lt Col. Romulo A. Manriquez and the 37th Division of the U.S. Sixth Army liberated the town of
Ilagan, Isabela.

The liberation was not an easy feat for the troops. To weaken the enemy's presence in the area, they used
various warfare tactics such as ambushing and destroying enemy patrols and cutting off the Japanese's communication
and supply lines. It proved to be effective in the liberation campaign as the attacks on enemy strongholds led to the
diminished capacity of the Japanese to control the area, making it easier for the 37th Division to enter the site and
eventually seize the towns of Isabela one after another.

The liberation of Ilagan, and the whole province of Isabela, was crucial in the Northern Luzon liberation
campaign. After retaking the town, the 37th Division established a bridgehead across the Pinacauan de Ilagan (now
Ilagan River), proving enemy control in Isabela immensely diminished. The retaking of Ilagan and its nearby towns also
affected the Japanese Army's ability to execute a coordinated enemy defense in Northern Luzon.

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 ILAGAN JAPANESE TUNNEL

Location Santo Tomas, Ilagan City, Isabela

Established February 16, 2016
Purpose Defense
Condition Not used by the military, converted to a tourism site

* * *

Japanese built many tunnels for defensive purposes during World War II (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945).
These tunnels are believed to have served as headquarters of the Japanese soldiers. Like a scar, Ilagan Japanese
Tunnel still stands today, one of the few remaining tunnels in the province.

Considered as one of the historical and cultural heritages of the town, the tunnel was restored, rehabilitated
and preserved by the City Government to give everyone, like students, historians, visitors and tourists, a taste of the
Japanese traditional culture and a slice of information on how the Filipinos, particularly the Ilagenyos suffered in the
hands of these hardened conquerors. According to the supervisor of the Ilagan Japanese Tunnel, it was established
through the combined efforts of the City Government of Ilagan, the Tourism Office, and the veterans who were able to
live under the Japanese Occupation.

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Span: It measures about 40 meters in length and a bit over 3.66 meters in width and height. The real size of the
cave, however, is yet to be determined and explored.

Maker: This man-made war tunnel was built with the sweat and blood of detained Ilagueños.

Objects: (from left to right) Japanese weapons, World War II Bombs found inside the Japanese Tunnel.

Facilities: (left) Chambers. (middle) Watchtowers can be seen above the tunnels, used to serve as a place where
the Japanese soldiers can stay and watch out if there are any American forces coming to attack them. Some people
say that the tunnel in Ilagan is only a decoy to a larger tunnel somewhere in Brgy. Camunatan where about six by
six army trucks can fit inside. Up to now, they couldn’t find that tunnel. (right) Japanese gates also known as Torri.

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 IV. WRITE-UPS

Decades have passed since the country experienced full liberation and independence from the colonizers. Its effect,
however, have impacted the culture of Filipinos, and in this research specifically, we found out how the people in Isabela
lived and thrived with the help of buildings around them.

Through the help of Spanish architecture which was much more advanced, it improved the characteristics of
bahay kubo when stone house (bahay na bato) was introduced. The geographical location of Cagayan Valley has
always been typhoon prone, hence, the two-storey plan introduced a practical lifestyle. Isabelanyos benefited from the
stone foundation during calamities, and natural ventilation is expected with the large patterned windows. A bigger part
of Filipino culture is valuing Christianity and the presence of the churches, no matter how many times they were rebuilt,
helped strengthened their faith in God despite the wars and revolutions that followed.

The presence of Gabaldon school buildings is a proof how the people in Isabela hoped in the power of
education – the chance that the Americans gave to the Filipinos made them recognize that they were not totally
independent despite the promise of the Treaty of Paris. The Gabaldon school buildings are historical structures where
many generations of Filipinos first experienced the light of knowledge, and now, wisdom. Until the independence of the
country was finally achieved, the Gabaldon school buildings became their training ground before their total liberation
from the Americans. Their resilience was further proved to be unwavering, evident in the tunnels the Japanese soldiers
made them dig up as they fought during the World War 2.

Architecture exists to create the physical environment in which people live, but during the declension periods
of Isabela, it was more than just the built environment – it is also a part of their culture, a representation of their fights
and feats not just in the wars that passed but also in their daily life. The history of these structures represents the
resiliency of Isabela, and allows people to understand what the society had gone through.

Knowing about our past is something we, Filipinos, should be proud of. It is then a national responsibility that
we preserve our cultural heritage and celebrate their contributions in the society, as a reminder of our nation’s past,
what we are now, and how we should go forward into the future – hence, architecture is intrinsically important to the
development to the Isabela Province, and ultimately the nation.

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