School of Architecture, Industrial Design and the Built Environment (ARIDBE)

M1 ESSAY DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE

ARCHITECTURAL ESSAYS

AR135-1 | E01

3Q 2023-2024

INSTRUCTOR: AR. ANNA CHRISTINA EALDAMA

AUSTRIA, MICKO ANGELO

2018121808
 It is another day and time to go home from Mapua. Walking along the intramural walls, a giant fortress
made of adobe or volcanic tuff quarried from Guadalupe. As I exited the intramural gate, I felt my exhaustion
and relief as I waited for a UV express for my ride home to Paranaque. In just a few minutes, I will pass by the
National Museum of Fine Arts, also known as the Pambansang Museo ng SIning. It is well-known for holding
an extensive collection of sculptures and paintings by well-known Filipino artists, such as Juan Luna, Félix
Resurrección Hidalgo, and Guillermo Tolentino. Entering the Roxas Blvd, I will pass by Rizal Park, located
in Ermita, Manila, Philippines, is a historic urban park called Luneta. At 58 hectares (140 acres), it is
regarded as one of the biggest urban parks in the Philippines. When Spain was still a colony, the park was
known as Bagumbayan.

After passing by Manila Bay, I will now reach the Cultural Center of the Philippines, a well-known
organization committed to protecting, advancing, and promoting Philippine culture and the arts. It's a 1966-
founded corporation that is owned and operated by the government. A variety of architectural styles are on
display at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex. However, brutalist architecture
predominates throughout the complex. It is distinguished using large-scale geometric shapes, rough
concrete, and a majestic quality. After a few kilometers, I will pass by Baclaran, Paranaque which is known
for two main things, the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known as Baclaran Church,
and Baclaran Market, a sprawling complex of flea markets. Exiting Roxas Blvd and entering the Paranaque
– Sucat road, I will pass by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the main international airport servicing
Metro Manila, Philippines, is also referred to as Manila International Airport (MIA). Located between the
cities of Pasay and Parañaque, some 7 kilometers south of Manila proper, it's the principal entrance for
international travelers to the Philippines. Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1's architecture is
predominantly brutalist. Leandro Locsin, a well-known National Artist for Architecture, created the
terminal, which embodies the traits of this mid-20th-century movement. NAIA Terminal 1 exhibits
prominent elements of brutalism, such as cantilevered parts and large exposed concrete.

In the middle of my usual one-and-a-half-hour commute, I will pass by the La Huerta, where St.
Andrew School and church is located, my alma mater during my junior high school years. A hint of its
fascinating past can be found in the name of the barrio of La Huerta, which is located in the busy metropolis
of Parañaque, Philippines. "La Huerta" translates from Spanish to mean "the orchard," a title that recalls a
time when the region was covered with lush gardens. History depicts a charming little community. The
fertile lands captivated Spanish missionaries, who were the first Europeans to set foot there in 1575. La
Huerta quickly developed into the center of Parañaque, home to the 1580 mission of San Andres el Apóstol,
which is now the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.

Reaching Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue, is a relief for me as I know that I’m just a few minutes near
my home, most of the buildings that I will pass by our commercial buildings, schools and large malls like
SM City Sucat, Waltermart Paranaque, Puregold Sucat, Olivarez College, Paranaque National High School
– Main, Universal Colleges, Patts and etc. Additionally, Paranaque has a rich past. Travel back in time with
a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Bamboo Organ Church. Here, the
church's distinctive organ is made of finely handmade bamboo tubes, which present an incredibly alluring
sight. Construction projects close to these sites need to combine contemporary architecture with
consideration for historical preservation.