PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE

What indeed a true filipino architecture?

DO WE REALLY
HAVE A FILIPINO
ARCHITECTURE?
WHEN WE SAY EGYPTIAN
ARCHITECTURE
WHEN WE SAY GREEK
ARCHITECTURE
WHEN WE SAY ROMAN
ARCHITECTURE
WEST ASIATIC ARCHITECTURE
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE
CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
THAI ARCHITECTURE
1. IS IT THE PRE COLONIAL STRUCTURES?
2. THE IFUGAO HUT?
3. OR, THE MUSLIM’S DWELLING?
4. IS IT THE TAGALOG’S BAHAY KUBO OR THE
VISAYAN’S PAYAG?
5. OR THE SPANISH AND AMERICAN-INTRODUCED
COLONIAL RESIDENTIAL, RELIGIOUS AND
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS?
WHAT IS A “FILIPINO”? AND WHAT IS
“ARCHITECTURE”
FILIPINO;
1. “Insulares”- the off-springs of Spanish parents
who were born in the archipelago.

2. “Peninsulares”- The parents themselves and

others like them who came from Spain.

3. Indios.- The already multi colored brown skinned

natives of the islands.
1. It is important to note that before the Spaniards came, there was no Filipino nation

2. there was no overall central government to forge them into one cohesive nation.

3. “Filipino” was first used to mean the hybrids of the Malay race such as those with the Chinese, Hindus, Arabs, Indo-Chinese, Japanese and Spaniards
by the nationalist propagandists and revolutionaries such as Jose Rizal, MHDel Pilar,Mabini and others who themselves were hybrids in his letter to his countrymen in the Philippines.
Later on with the 48 year colonization of the islands
by the Americans, followed by the 3 year
occupation by the Japanese and the 2 year British
colonial rule in 1762-1764, further hybridizing
occurred in the country.
The Education Society of the Philippines defines
“Filipino” as a natural born citizen of the
Philippines who shows the passions, attitudes and
emotion of a people whose culture is a unique
integration of the indigenous and other oriental and
Occidental cultures.
The cultural minorities such as the;
1. Aetas
2. Igorots
3. Mangyans
4. T’bolis
5. Tasadays
5. Manobos
5. Muslims
-----who have through the centuries, steadfastly
preserved their indigenous cultures and racial
integrity are relegated to being second rate citizens
as “Cultural Minorities”.
Let’s now tackle “Architecture”
It is the art and science of designing and
constructing a buildings or structures.
it must possess these immutable precepts:
1. Vitruvius’ Firmitas, Utilitas and Venustas
2. Morgan’s Durability, convenience and beauty
3. Granger’s Strength, Utility and Grace and
4. Wotton’s Commodity, Firmness and Delight

Expressed in another manner: logical function;

structural soundness and durability; and good
aesthetic composition.
Architecture, like literature, does not exist in
a vacuum.
According to Frank Lloyd Wright:

Architecture is life itself” and can only be realized if religion, science & government become one.
In seeking for a

TRUE “FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE”

therefore;
1. We must be true to ourselves as a people and
express ourselves with honesty.
2. Learn and adopt foreign ideas and technologies
that suit our country’s climatic and geographic
conditions
3. Foster our economic development while
conserving, preserving and enhancing our natural
and cultural heritage and social values.
A true Filipino ideology and Architecture can only be
had when Ilocano, a Tagalog, a Kapampangan, a
Maranao, a Maguindanao , etc. being true to himself.
as a member of a larger community of Filipinos, who
in turn is yet a part of the still larger community of
Asians, and seeing his identity as a Filipino and an
Asian, he will also see a vision of the universal man
himself. This vision will make our people fully
Filipino and fully human.
The unceasing intention or drive towards of truth
will gradually reveal more and more of being and
reality.

But the fullness of revelation will happen not in this

world of phenomenology but beyond.
What then is a true Filipino Architecture?

What is Filipino?
What is Architecture?
I am sure that you-being an Architect and a
true Filipino would know…….,
DO WE REALLY HAVE A FILIPINO
ARCHITECTURE?
YES
 https://philippinetravelforum.com/bahay-kubo-architecture/

BAHAY KUBO
The Bahay Kubo is a house built using local
The quintessential
materials such as wood, bamboo and nipa
representation of Philippine grass. The architectural principles of the Bahay
architecture. Kubo stemmed from the basic needs of the
Filipinos
Architecture must have:

Logical Function an arrangement of

“logical components”
that perform the
functions

Structural Soundness structural safety

and Durability
Good Aesthetic a combination of visual
Composition elements and visual
principles
Bahay Kubo is a work of architecture even
though it lacks the qualities that it considers a
real work of Architecture like function,
strength and most of the aesthetic quality.
Bahay Kubo manifests the true spirit of being
Filipino because the culture, values, customs
and traditions are present.