MARCOSIAN ARCHITECURE

I. Introduction
Edifice Complex
“Golden Age of Philippine Architecture”
Launched its “New Society”
Extravagant “Building Programs”

Good morning everyone. My name’s Irene Basilio. Together with my pair for this
activity is Terrence Mendoza. We were assigned to report about Marcosian
Architecture ---- pertaining about the structures established and built during the late
President Ferdinand Marcos’ administration.

Before we proceed, we wish to have a little disclaimer. We’re here to talk about the
history of the architecture of their time. In case there will be some information that
will discomfort you --- particularly your political viewpoint --- rest assured that all
data to be presented are facts and are supported with reliable references.

With that being said, we’ll proceed with the introduction.

“Marcosian Architecture” is mostly being related to the term “Edifice Complex”. This
basically serves as a description to the practice of Ferdinand Marcos’ wife Imelda
Marcos who used the government’s money to fund their projects with hidden agenda.
The so-called “hidden agendas” are mainly those that are built for their personal gain.

In simple terms, tinawag na “Edifice Complex” lahat ng kabuuang proyekto nina

Ferdinand at Imelda Marcos kung saan gamit nila ang pera ng gobyerno upang
maipatayo ang mga ito. Providing structures during one’s administration for the
benefit of the Filipinos with them as the utmost priority? That’s ideal. But burying the
Philippines in much debt --- na we’re still paying up to this day, I may add --- just
because a structure was given as a “gift” or treated as an “object” that one could brag
about to other countries --- that’s obviously uncalled for.

Moreover, during this time, the buildings built were described to have “extravagant”
characteristics --- and we would furthermore discuss about it as Terrence explains the
history of it first.

EDIFIS – edifice

II. Organizations
-UAP, LPA, UPGA, PIA
III. Examples

CCP Complex - Basilio

-Cultural Center of the Philippines
-cultural-convention facility on land reclaimed from the historic Manila Bay
-venue for folk festivals and spectacular state rituals
-first major and biggest reclamation project in Manila Bay
-includes the “National Theater”, “Film Center”, “Folk Arts Theater” and “Coconut
Palace”
-Architect Leandro Locsin

The first example we have is the Cultural Center of the Philippines or more
commonly known as the “CCP Complex” designed by our national artist and architect
Leandro Locsin

As stated, CCP is a venue for folk festivals and spectacular state rituals..

It is the first major and biggest reclamation project in Manila Bay. Kapag sinabing
“reclamation project”, this is the process of creating new land from oceans, seas, or
riverbeds. Manila Bay, in general, has a limited area of usable and natural land. The
government has roughly around 25 projects in mind na gusto nilang ipatayo roon pero
dahil sa limited space, they decided to make use of the “water zone”. To give you an
idea, just imagine a bodies of water na “tatapalan” ng large amount of heavy rocks,
cement, clay, and soil para magkaro’n ng livable and manageable area.

Batasang Pambansa Building - Mendoza

-seat of the Hose of Representatives of the Philippines
-Architect Federico Ilustre and Architect Anselmo Alquinto
-Interior (session hall and house offices)
-Exterior (main building, north wing building, south wing building, Ramon V. Mitra
Jr. building, and south wing annex building)

Philippine Heart Center -Basilio

-built using half of the total health budget of the government
-specializing in the treatment of heart ailments
-Architect Jorge Ramos
-brutalist style

The Philippine Heart Center was built using half of the total health budget of the
government. Mainly focusing in the treatment of heart ailments, Architect Jorge
Ramos decided to design the hospital with a touch of brutalist style.

Ground Floor – for admissions and discharges

*Emergency room, radiological science division, nuclear medicine division, invasive
cardiology division, electrocardiology division, pulmonary medicine division,

Second Floor
*operating room, neurovascular laboratory

3rd Floor
*ICU

4th Floor
*hospital wards

5th Floor
*Presidential Suite

7th Floor
*Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Section

8th Floor
*physical medicine and rehabilitation division

Nayong Filipino - Mendoza

-originally was maintained a cultural theme park
-centers around Philippine history and culture
-covers an area of 3.5 hectares
-money museum (features Philippine currency), textile museum (exhibits local
textiles)
-replicas of Rizal Shrine, Mabini Shrine, and Barasoain Church
-provides picnicking and green areas where performances of traditional dances occur

Malacanang of the North -Basilio

-extremely spacious residence constructed on the shores of Paoay Lake
-two-story mansion
-seven rooms which each of it having a theme of historical events from the Marcos’
era

The “Malacanang of the North” was originally built as a celebration of Marcos’ 60th
birthday. This, then, served as the family’s official residence that could be located in
Ilocos Norte.

Inspired by the classic “bahay na bato” style, the two-storey house has seven rooms in
total, and perhaps one of the impressive things about its architecture is how every
room in this layout has a designated theme of historical events. Some of these so-
called themes are “Agriculture, Diplomacy, and Nation Building”.

PICC - Mendoza
-Philippine International Convention Center
-host of numerous local and foreign conventions, meetings, fairs, and social events
-composed of five building modules (Delegation Building, Secretariat Building,
Plenary Hall, Reception Hall, and The Forum)
-facility designed by Leandro Locsin

San Juanico Bridge -Basilio

-most iconic infrastructure project of Marcos
-longest bridge spanning a body of water in the Philippines
-total length of 2.16 km
-built as a personal gift to Imelda Marcos

Probably considered as the most iconic infrastructure project of Ferdinand Marcos,

this 2.16 km long bridge was given to Imelda Marcos as a gift from her husband. It
was initially constructed last 1969, but completed only four years later.

The bridge itself is already the main tourists destination in Tacloban as it consists of
H-pile steels, rock seated pedestals, and cantilevered copings.

Manila Film Center -Mendoza

-construction was rushed so it would be open for a film festival
-scaffolding of the structure collapsed
-150 up to 170 people died
 -Architect Froilan Hong

IV. Conclusion
“Guiness World Record for the Greatest Robbery of a Government”
Brutalist Architecture

Without a doubt, the architecture during the Marcos’ administration is impressive ---
jaw-dropping even. The exterior and interior designs indeed showcase the talent of
every Filipino Architect’s creativity and uniqueness --- proving na kaya natin
makipag sabayan sa mga ibang bansa. However, we have to keep in mind that the
credit goes to the professionals who designed it and the Filipino citizens who funded
it.

That’s all for this lesson. Thank you so much for listening and feel free to ask us any
questions if there are some sort of misunderstanding or unclear information during the
discussion. Thank you again and have a good day ahead!

Do we need to say more? Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos hold the “Guiness World
Record for the Greatest Robbery of a Government”.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/65607-greatest-robbery-of-a-
government