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GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The Philippines is located in the southern part of Asia north of the equator. In terms of
latitude and longitude, the Philippines lies between 4 23 and 20 00 north and longitude 116 00
and 126 30 east.
Immediately to the north of the Philippines is the island republic of Taiwan, formerly known as
Formosa. Immediately to the west is communist Vietnam which, together with Laos and
Cambodia, make up or comprise the Indochinese peninsula. Further west beyond Vietnam is
Thailand. Immediately to the south of the Philippines is the republic of Indonesia. To the
southwest are Malaysia and Republic of Singapore. These countries ----- Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia together with Brunei and the Philippines---- comprise the
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seven - nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.

An insular or maritime country, the Philippines is separated from her nearest Asian neighbors
by several bodies of water. Our shores are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean in the east,
by the South China Sea and the coastal waters of Borneo on the South.
The strategic location of the Philippines has affected her history. Magellan accidentally
stumbled upon our country while searching for a sea route to the Moluccas, which is a part of a
modern Indonesia, our closest neighbor to the south. Because of its desire to have an economic
and military outpost in Asia, the United States decide to take over the Philippines from Spain in
1898. Since an American ruled Philippines stood in the way of Japans desire to obtain the oil and
rubber of British-ruled Malaya and Dutch-controlled Indonesia, the Japanese had to invade and
occupy our country during World War II.
Prior to 1992, the Philippines used to form an important part of Americas defense line
against communist aggression in Asia. With the collapse of communism in what used to be the
Soviet Union, the importance of American military bases in the Philippines diminished
dramatically. In September 1991 the United States formally returned Subic Naval Base to the
Philippines.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 big and small islands with a total land area of
300,000 square kilometers. The five biggest islands are Luon (105,000 sq. Km), Mindanao
(95,000 sq. Km), Palawan (14,896 sq.km), Negros (13, 672 sq.km) and Samar (13,429 sq. Km).
As an archipelago, the Philippines has an irregular coastline that extends to more than
17,000 kilometers. This coastline is dotted with many fine bays and harbors, the finest and most
famous of which is Manila Bay with a circumference of 193 kilometers. Another well - known bay
is Subic Bay in Zambales where the U.S Navy once maintained one of the its biggest bases in
Asia.
The landforms in the Philippines include mountains, hills, valleys, and plains. Possessing a
rugged terrain, the Philippines has seven major mountains ranges, the largest and longest of
which is the Sierra Madre which faces the Pacific Ocean in the eastern coast of Luzon. The
highest peak in the country is Mt. Apo, a volcano in Davao del Sur, with an elevation of 2, 953
meters.
Besides Mt. Apo there are several other volcanos in the Philippines, some of which are still
active. The two most famous volcanoes in our country are Mt. Mayon in Albay and Taal in
Batangas. Mt. Mayon is famous for its perfect cone, while taal is reputed to the worlds smallest
volcano. Bith are still active. The most recent volcanic eruption in the Philippines is that of Mt.
Pinatubo in Zambales. This volcano erupted in June 1991, causing hundreds of deaths and
rendering tens of thousands homeless. In addition, Mt. Pinatubo caused billions of pesos in
damage to public and private properties in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac. Also Mt.
Pinatubo damages the Clark US Air Force Base in Pampanga, leading to its early closure by the
United States.
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The largest valley and one of the most economically important is the Cagayan Valley in
northern Luzon. It is considered one of the greatest tobacco producing regions in Asia. Known as
the rice granary of the country is the great Central Plain in Luzon. It is the countrys largest plain.

GEOLOGY
The Philippines is rich in natural resources that are yet largely undeveloped as compared to
other asian countries. Indigenous materials which was used in the pre-spanish architecture such
as bamboo, coconut trees, palm, cogon grass, rattan, nipa are still very abundant. About 44% of
the land area is covered with forests. There are many kinds of trees which are used for building
construction. The sturdiest are molave, yacal, and guijo which could with stand the weather and
dampness used for posts and structural parts, as well as for exposed balconies for framing,
tanguijle and apitong is preferred. In Baguio City and Benguet, and Mountain Province there is an
abundance of pine trees which are used for panelings. In the lowlands, the reddish narra wood is
popular as paneling and for furniture. In the Ilocos and Pangasinan towns are found the clay,
which is used to manufacture sun dried and oven baked red bricks. This was introduced by the
spaniards in the 16th century.
Limestone, adobe stone, marble, gypsum, granite and many volcanic rocks and prevalent
everywhere in the country. Limestone is found in Baguio, Bulacan, Laguna, La Union and Bicol.
Marble is found in Antipolo, Bulacan and Romblon. Marble quarried from Romblon is comparable
to italian varieties. Coral stones are much used in the Visayas.
The riverbeds, which abound in the Philippines as a rich source of white and gray riversand
as well as riverstones. The Philppines, although small in area also yield a rich source of metals
such as gold, silver, tin, iron nickel and copper, and also coal, asbestos, chromite, manganese
and lead.

CLIMATE
The Philippines has a tropical climate with two distinct or pronounced seasons - the dry
season from March to June and the wet season from July to October. The period in between is
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neither hot nor dry but is generally cool. December is usually the coldest month while May is the
hottest. The countrys tropical climate is usually characterized by high temperature and humidity
and abundant rainfall.
Typhoons are regular annual occurrence in the Philippines. They are generally spawned in the
region of the Marianas and Caroline Islands in the Pacific. They greatly influence the climate and
weather conditions of the Philippines.

GOVERNMENT
The Government of the Philippines, also known as the Philippine Government is
the national government of the unitary state of the Republic of the Philippines. It is
a presidential, representative, and democratic republic where the President of the
Philippines is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multiparty system.
From the time when the Philippines declared itself a sovereign state in 1898, the nation has
had four major constitutions:
(1) the 1899constitution, which established the first republic in Asia;
(2) the 1935constitution, which served as the basic law during the period of selfgovernment while the Philippines was still under American rule and after it became independent
in 1946;
(3) the 1973 constitution, which allowed Ferdinand Marcos to continue to hold office as
president; and
(4) the 1987 constitution, upon which the present government is based, which essentially
restored institutions and processes dismantled by Marcos during his regime

The Executive Branch

As chief executive, the president has the power to execute laws.
The president is assisted by a cabinet, which currently comprises twenty-three departments.
Among the more important departments are Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Finance,
Interior and Local Government, Justice, and Trade and Industry.
Both president and vice president are elected at large for a six-year term with no possibility
of reelection.

The executive branch consists of the President and his Cabinet. The Senate and the
House of Representatives make up the bicameral legislature. The Supreme Court heads the
systems of courts under the judicial branch.

The Legislative Branch

The Philippine Congress is a bicameral body, the upper house being the Senate and the lower
house being the House of Representatives.
These two houses possess equal power, although budgetary bills must originate in the lower
house, while treaty ratification rests exclusively with the upper house.
Congress consists of a 24-member Senate and a 250-member House of Representatives. The
voters of the entire nation elect senators to six-year terms.
Voters from different districts elect 200 of the representatives to three-year terms. The
remaining 50 representatives are selected from lists drawn up by the political parties to
ensure representation of women, ethnic minorities, and certain economic and occupational
groups.
The number selected from each party's list is about one-fourth of the number of the party's
elected representatives. All Philippine citizens who are at least 18 years old may vote.

The Judiciary
Judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and in the lower courts.
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Members of the judiciary are chosen by the president from a list of nominees provided by
the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutional body composed of representatives from the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, the legal profession, and the
private sector.

Once appointed, judges have secure tenure and can serve until the age of seventy or
until they become incapacitated.

Constitutional Commissions
The constitution also provides for independent constitutional commissions, namely, the Civil
Service Commission, the Commission on Elections, and the Commission on Audit.

Islam Influence on the Political System

Islam has a great influence on the political system of the natives in the Southern
Philippines. The sultan of the Muslim community is still the sultan of Muslim provinces.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES

PREHISTORIC PHILIPPINES

DATUS, RAJAHS, SULTANS

SPANISH COLONY
CROWN COLONY

PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION

KATIPUNAN

Andres Bonifacio
Gregorio del Pilar
Melchora Aquino

LA LIGA FILIPINA

Jose Rizal
Marcelo H. del Pilar
Graciano Lpez Jaena
Mariano Ponce
La Solidaridad

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

FIRST REPUBLIC (Revolutionary Government/The Philippines under Spanish
rule)

General Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899 April 1, 1901)

first president of the first republic

youngest president he became the countrys leader at age 28

longest-lived president he died when he was 94 (wow!)

one of the active leaders of KKK

signed the Pact of Biak na Bato

known as the President of the Revolutionary Government

he fought against the Spanish and American to retain our independence

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR

AMERICAN TERRITORY

Arthur MacArthur, Jr.

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US MILITARY GOVERNOR

COMMON WEALTH PERIOD (American Period)

Manuel L. Quezon (November 15, 1935 August 1, 1944)

Father of National Language (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa)

first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines

first president elected through a national election

first president under the Commonwealth

Sergio Osmea (August 1, 1944 May 28, 1946)

(Assumed the presidency upon the death of Quezon while the Philippine Commonwealth
government is in exile in the U.S.)

he was 65 when he became president making him the oldest president to

hold office

he was the first Visayan to become president

he joined US Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 starting the freedom of
the Philippines from the Japanese during World War II

during his time, the Philippine National Bank has been rehabilitated and the country joined the
International Monetary Fund

on his time, the Bell Trade Act was approved by the US Congress

SECOND REPUBLIC (Japanese Occupation)

Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943 August 17, 1945)

he was considered as the legitimate president of the Philippines

he organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas).

he declared Martial Law in 1944

he and his family developed the establishment of Lyceum of the Philippines

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

THIRD REPUBLIC

Manuel Roxas (May 28, 1946 April 15, 1948)

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fifth president of the Philippines, but he was considered as the third and last
president under the Commonwealth and the first of the Third Republic of the
Philippines.

was inaugurated as the new and first president of the new Republic because the
Philippines was finally free after the WW II

in his time, the country has started reconstruction from war damage and the
Philippines started breathing without foreign rule

under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were
accepted by the congress

Elpidio Quirino (April 17, 1948 December 30, 1953)

He was the vice president at Roxas time. He became president when the
latter died in 1948.
under his term Hukbalahap movement was active
he created Social Security Commission

he also created Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption

in 1948, Quezon City was the capital of the Philippines

peso and dollar exchange rate at his time was 1 US = P2

Ramon Magsaysay (December 30, 1953 March 17, 1957)

was a chairman of the Committee on Guerilla Affairs

was the first president sworn into office wearing Barong Tagalog in his
inauguration

his presidency was referred as the Philippines Golden Years for it was the
cleanest and zero-corruption

the Philippines was ranked 2nd in Asias clean and well-governed countries

he established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA)

among his agrarian reforms

Carlos P. Garcia (March 18, 1957 December 30, 1961)

he was known for Filipino First Policy

he established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce

was known as the Prince of Visayan Poets and the bard from Bohol

cultural arts was revived during his term

was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

Diosdado Macapagal (December 30, 1961 December 30,

1965)

he established the first Land Reform Law

he placed the Philippines currency peso, on the currency exchange market

he made June 12 1898 as the Philippines Independence Day

Ferdinand Marcos

(1965-1972)

he was the first president to win a second term

he declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972

he increased the size of Philippine military and armed forces

in 1980, GNP was 4 times greater than 1972

in 1986, the Philippines was one of the most indebted countries in Asia

he built more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals and infrastructures than all former
presidents did combined

is the only president whose remains interred inside a refrigerated crypt

FOURTH
REPUBLIC (Martial Law, "The New Republic" & Parliamentary
Government)

Ferdinand Marcos (1972-1986)

(unseated by the People Power Revolution)

(Marcos died in exile in Hawaii on September 28, 1989 of Lupus complications)

FIFTH REPUBLIC (Under the new "People Power" Constitution)

Corazon Aquino (February 25, 1986 June 30, 1992)

was named Woman of the Year in 1986 by Time magazine

first woman president of the Philippines and Asia

shes known to bring back democracy in the country

Fidel V. Ramos (June 30, 1992 June 30, 1998)

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during his time, the Philippines was cited as Asias Next Economic
Tiger because he brought back economic growth

hes the only Filipino who received British Knighthood from the United
Kingdom, bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of
St. Michael and St. George)

his Philippines 2000 vision made the Philippine Stock Exchange one of the
best in the world in the mid-90s

Joseph Estrada (June 30, 1998 January 20, 2001)

during his time, the MILFs headquarters and camps were captured

he joined other leaders and politicians who supported against the Charter
Change

was cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989

was among the Magnificent 12 who voted for the termination of the
Philippines and US Military Bases Agreement from Clark Airbase and Subic
Naval Base

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (January 20, 2001 June 30, 2010)

second female president of the country

first and only female vice-president of the Philippines so far (to date)

first president to had oath taking outside Luzon

she regained higher economic growth than the past 3 presidents

before her

Peso became the best performing currency of the year in Asia in

2007

Benigno Aquino III (June 30, 2010 present)

he created the no wang-wang policy and this was practiced on his

inaugural address

he assigned the notable Jesse Robredo as the secretary of DILG in 2010.

he initiated the K-12 education in the Philippines

he renamed the Office of the Press Secretary into Presidential

Communications Operations Office and appointed new officers

he signed an EO about suspension of allowances and bonuses of GOCCs

and GFIs board members

has paved peace in Mindanao thru the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom

Movement
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in 2012, the Philippine economy grew 7.1% besting other South East
Asian countries

SOCIAL / CULTURAL
The Filipino people are not pure Malay. They are a mixture of races. This came about when
foreigners came to these shores either to trade or to conquer the natives. Thus, some natives
intermarried with the Chinese, a few with the Japanese. Some with the Indians from India, many with
the Spaniards and later, with the Americans. The mixture of native or Malay and foreigner, whether
Chinese, Spanish or American, is called mestizo. In spite of this mixture of races in the present Filipino
people, the majority belongs to the Malay race.
The social and political organization of the population in the widely scattered islands evolved into
a generally common pattern. Only the permanent-field rice farmers of northern Luzon had any notion
of territoriality. The basic unit of settlement was the barangay, formerly a kinship group headed by a
datu (chief). Within the barangay (Malay term for boat; also came to be used for the communal
settlements established by migrants who came from the Indonesian archipelago and elsewhere. The
term replaces the word barrio, formerly used to identify the lowest political subdivision in the
Philippines), the broad social divisions consisted of nobles, including the datu; freemen; and a group
described before the Spanish period as dependents. Dependents included several categories with
differing status: landless agricultural workers; those who had lost freeman status because of
indebtedness or punishment for crime; and slaves, most of whom appear to have been war captives.

The Filipino people have many common traits.

Perhaps the most important trait of the Filipino is his hospitality.
The Filipino has close family ties.
Respect for the elders is one of the best Filipino traits.
The Filipino is sentimental.

Several values of the Filipinos are those of life, such as customs, usages, traditions, etc. which the
people regard as necessary and important in their dealings with one another.

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SYNOPSIS OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY

According to an old scientific theory, the Philippines .was once a part of the Asian continent during the prehistoric times. About 25,000 years ago, the level of the seas rose up and flooded the lower regions on the
earth. The land-bridges connecting the Philippines and Asia were submerged. Thus, it came to pass that
the Philippines was separated from the big mass of land that is Asia. The Filipinos are virtually a race of
races. They are the product of the mixture of various races.of the world.
Three and a half centuries of foreign rule-first by Spain and then by the United States-superimposed a
Western-style culture on the Muslim way of life in this outcrop of islands. Spain gave the Philippines its
main religion, Roman Catholicism. American influence shows in the country's bustling, skyscraper cities,
such as Manila and Makati and in the use of English as the main language

Early History or Pre-Colonial Period

The Philippine archipelago was settled at least 30,000 years
ago, when migrations from the Indonesian archipelago
and elsewhere are believed to have occurred.
Additional migrations took place over the next
millennia. Over time, social and political organization
developed and evolved in the widely scattered islands.
The basic unit of settlement were the barangays (a
Malay word for boat that came to be used to denote a
communal settlement). Kinship groups were led by a
datu (chief), and within the barangay there were
broad social divisions consisting of nobles, freemen, and dependent and landless agricultural
workers and slaves.
Over the centuries, Indo-Malay migrants were joined by Chinese traders. A major development in
the early period was the introduction of Islam to the Philippines by traders and proselytizers from the
Indonesian islands. By A.D. 1500, Islam had been established in the Sulu Archipelago and spread from
there to Mindanao; it reached the Manila area by 1565. In the midst of the introduction of Islam came
the introduction of Christianity, with the arrival of the Spanish.

Pre-Spanish Times
There are two theories on the origins of the first Filipinos, the inhabitants of what will later be
called the Philippine Islands and eventually the Republic of the Philippines. See the Early Inhabitants
of the Philippine Islands.
In the beginning of the 3rd century, the inhabitants of Luzon island were in contact and trading
with East Asian sea-farers and merchants including the Chinese. In the 1400's the Japanese also
established a trading post at Aparri in Northern Luzon.
In 1380, Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago and established settlements which became
mini-states ruled by a Datu. They introduced Islam in the southern parts of the archipelago including
some parts of Luzon and were under the control of the Muslim sultans of Borneo. They had a
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significant influence over the region for a couple of hundreds years. The Malay Muslims remained
dominant in these parts until the 16th century.

Spanish Colonization
The Spanish set up their capital at Manila in 1571, and they
named their new colony after King Philip II of Spain. The reason
why they want to colonize the Philippines is because of the '3Gs':
(1)Glory- to rule Philippines, (2) Gold- take advantage of
Philippine resources so they can earn and, (3)God- to spread
Christianity. After 333 years (1521-1898), Spain surrendered the
Philippines to the Amercians after the Battle of Manila Bay. The
Treaty of Paris, at the end of the SpanishAmerican War,
transferred control of the Philippines to the United States.

American Colonization
The Philipines has established a
government and Aquinaldo as
President. Also declared
independence on the 12th of
June, 1898. The Treaty of Paris was
not recognized by the
insurgent First Philippine Republic
Government which, on June 2,
1899, proclaimed a Declaration of
War against the United
States. The PhilippineAmerican
War which ensued resulted in
massive casualties. The U.S. had
established a military
government in the Philippines on
August 14, 1898, following
the capture of Manila. U.S. had established a military government in the Philippines on August 14,
1898, following the capture of Manila.

Japanese Invasion
Commonwealth status was granted in 1935, preparatory to a
planned full independence from the United States in 1946.
Preparation for a fully sovereign state was interrupted by the
Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II. After the
end of the war, the Treaty of Manila established the Philippine
Republic as an independent nation.

The Philippine Republic

On July 4, 1946, Manuel Roxas of the Nationalista Party was
inaugurated as the first President of the Republic of the Philippines. Roxas died in April 1948. He was
succeeded by Elpidio Quirino. Both Roxas & Quirino had to deal with the Hukbalahap, a large antiJapanese guerrilla organization which became a militant group that discredited the ruling elite. The
group was eventually put down by Pres. Quirino's Secretary of Defense, Ramon Magsaysay.
Magsaysay defeated Quirino in the 1953 elections. He was a popular president and largely loved by
the people. Magsaysay died in an airplane crash on March 17, 1957 and was succeeded by Carlos
Garcia. Diosdado Macapagal won the 1961 presidential elections and soon after he changed history
by declaring June 12 as independence day - the day Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence in
Cavite from Spain in 1898. Aguinaldo was the guest of honour during the fist Independence Day
celebrations in 1962.
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Philippine History During the Martial Law Regime

Ferdinand E. Marcos won the presidency in 1965 and was the first president to be re-elected for a
second term in office. Marcos He embarked on an ambitious public works program and maintained his
popularity through his first term. His popularity started to decline after his re-election due to
perceived dishonesty in the 1969 campaign, the decline in economic growth, government corruption
and the worsening peace & order. He declared Martial Law in 1972 near the end of his second & final
term in office. Staunch oppositionist, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino (later went on self exile to the
U.S.) & Senator Jose Diokno were one of the first to be arrested. During the Martial Law years, Marcos
held an iron grip on the nation with the support of the military. Opposition leaders we imprisoned and
the legislature was abolished. Marcos ruled by presidential decrees.

Philippine Independence
The Philippines became an independent republic in 1946. The country repaired the devastation of
the second world war, notably under Ramon Magsaysay, President from 1953 to 1957. It survived
a rebellion by communist guerrillas, the Hukbalahaps (People's Liberation Army) popularly known
as " HUK's. The country also made slow but steady progress in developing its economy. This was
aided by large-scale American investment.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos, re-elected to a second terms of office in 1969, discontent
again grew. Students allied with workers in mass anti-government demonstrations over the issues
of political corruption, poverty and continuing American influence. In the provinces, Huk guerrilla
activity flared up again. Marcos placed the country under Martial Law, and in 1973 announced a
new constitution which enabled him to rule with unlimited powers for an indefinite period.
February 1986 is a date of people power. Due to discontent in the dictatorial type of presidency,
a snap election was held. With the opposition to the present ruling party winning according to
Namfrel, an independent body to protect and Quick count the polls and votes, the people were
divided as the present administration insists through its legal election arm body or comelec. That
it was the winning party. In the end, the opposition initiated a Civil disobedience to boycott
peacefully all government crony businesses. Then Minister of National defense Juan Ponce Emile
and Gen. Fidel Ramos supported by thousands of common people' and sanctioned by the Catholic
Bishops staged a peoples power rally. This forced President Marcos to Flee the Philippines. The
new President, Madam Corazon C. Aquino, became the first woman President.

TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY

1380 - Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago.

1521 - Ferdinand Magellan "discovers" the islands and names them: Archipelago of San Lazaro.
1542 - Spanish expedition commandeered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos claims the islands for Spain;
names them "Philippines" after Prince Philip, later King Philip II of Spain; the Philippines becomes part
of Spanish Empire.
1872 - Gomburza (Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora) were executed by the
Spaniards.
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 1892 - Jose Rizal founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina.

1896 - Katipuneros tear their cedulas & shout in contempt of the Spaniards in what is called the Cry
of Pugadlawin.
1897 - General Emilio Aguinaldo establishes the a new republic at Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan.
1886 - Jos Rizal publishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (The Lost Eden); and seers up
independence sentiment.
1896 - Spanish execute Rizal for instigating insurrection; public outrage spawns rebellion.
1898 - American warship Maine was blown up in Havana harbour, triggers the the Spanish-American
war, the battle of Manila Bay ensues.
1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo assembled the Malolos Congress in Bulacan, then declares independence in
Kawit, Cavite
1899 - Treaty of Paris ends Spanish-American War, cedes Philippines to U.S. after payment to Spain
by U.S. of $ 20 million. Emilio Aguinaldo declares independence then leads a guerrilla war against U.S.
1901 - U.S. captures Aguinaldo; William Howard Taft arrives as first U.S. governor of Philippines.
1902 - Insurrection ends; Taft improves economic conditions, settles disputes over church ownership
of land, establishes "Pensionado" program, allowing Filipinos to study in U.S., which helped modernize
and westernize the country.
1916 - U.S. congress passes the Jones Law establishing elected Filipino legislature with house and
senate.
1934 - U.S. congress approves the Tydings-McDuffie Law promising Philippine independence by
1946; transition to independence begins.
1935 - Filipino people approve constitution creating the Philippine Commonwealth with Manuel
Quezon y Molina as president.
1941 - Japanese invades the Philippines, and defeats Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Bataan and
Corregidor; Quezon establishes government in exile in the U.S.
1944 - Quezon dies in exile; Vice President Sergio Osmea assumes the presidency; MacArthur
returns to the Philippines and lands in Leyte with little resistance.
1945 - Gen. MacArthur liberates Manila and President Osmea establishes government.
1946 - The U.S. gave the Philippines independence and Manuel Roxas y Acua is elected as the first
president of the new republic.
1965 - Ferdinand E. Marcos is elected by a big majority as president.
1972 - Martial Law was declared by President Marcos.
1981 - Marcos lifts Martial Law.
1983 - Opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino returns from exile and is assassinated on arrival at
Manila International Airport; Aquino's widow Corazon leads the "People Power" protest movement.
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 1986 - Marcos was declared winner in a presidential election beating Corazon Aquino amid charges
of fraud; demonstrations erupt; Marcos flees to Hawaii; Aquino is declared president and forms a new
government.
1992 - Endorsed by Aquino, her Secretary of Defense Gen. Fidel Ramos wins presidential election.
U.S. Philippine congress rejects a new treaty with the U.S. and Subic Bay naval base and Clark Air Field
returns to Philippine government, ending American military presence in the Philippines.
1996 - The government of Ramos agrees to greater autonomy for southern island of Mindanao. Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) ends the guerrilla war with the government.
1997 - Asian financial crisis grips Asia and the Philippines escapes the crisis despite series of
currency devaluations.
1998 - Former movie actor Joseph Estrada is elected president.
2000 - On charges of corruption, the lower house impeach Estrada.
2001 - Estrada was forced to step down due to public outrage over corruption allegations. Vice
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumes the presidency.
2004 - Presidential election takes place. Arroyo's closest rival (a dear friend of Ex-President Estrada)
is film actor Fernando Poe, Jr. Arroyo narrowly defeats Poe, taking 39.5% of the vote to Poe's 36.6%.
2005 - A taped conversation between President Arroyo & an election official surfaced during the
2004 elections implying she influenced the official election results. Calls for her resignation and
demonstrations followed soon after. In September 2005, Congress voted down the filing of an
impeachment against Arroyo.
2007 - Former President Joseph Estrada is convicted of plunder, the first ever in the history of the
Philippines.
2010 - First automated national elections in the Philippines.
2010 - Benigno "Noynoy" Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III wins the Presidential elections and sworn in at
Manila's Rizal Park on June 30, 2010.

RELIGIOUS
The average Filipino is deeply religious and dedicated to his church and faith. The Cathedral,
mosque or chapel is the landmark of most communities; and although the constitution provides for
separation of church and state, the advise and guidance of religious leaders remains influential in
every area of social life, including politics. The Philippine Republic is the only catholic country east of
the Mediterranean Sea, a legacy of Spanish Missionaries who begun teaching in the early 17th
century, Catholicism has been fostered and expanded in the present century by U.S\German, and
Belgian missionaries. The Catholic educational association includes two Universities (Santo Tomas in
Manila and San Carlos in Cebu City), one hundred seminaries and colleges and more than 400 high
and 200 elementary schools. The church runs 13 hospitals, 9 assylums and shelters, 3 lepers colonies
16

and many dispensaries. In recent years it has helped in the training of anti-communist leaders within
these groups. .
The Philippine independent Church, popularly known as the Aglipayan Church, was formed in
1902 under the leadership of Gregorio Aglipay, a Roman Catholic priest, and lsabela de los Reyes, a
journalist politician. The doctrine was originally stated to be that of Roman Catholic Church, but
essential departured have appeared. For example, the vernacular replaced Latin completely as the
liturgical language and national heroes were added to the calendar of Saints. The Aglipayan followers
is strongest in Northern Luzon. American Protestantism entered the Philippines after Spanish ceded
the islands to the U.S, in 1898. The Pre- hysterians, Baptists, Methodist, Evangelical United Brethren,
Disciples of Christ, Epis- copaliens, and Congregationalists were all represented by 1902. It is reported
that 80% of the Protestant population belongs to denominations which are members of the Philippine
Federation of Churches, which is similar to the National Council of Churches in the U.S. The
association of Christian School and Churches includes Sillman University in Iloilo. There are several
Protestants hospitals of which Mary Johnson Hospital in Manila Protestant is best known, and many
clinics. In the field of social welfare. Protestant groups provide educational leadership, medical
missionaries and agricultural missionaries.
Islam was introduced to the Philippines shortly before the Spaniards arrived. Muslim Filipinos,
called Moros, are concentrated in Sulu Archipelago, southern and western Mindanao, and southern
Mindanao. Numbering more than 1,300.00 in 1960, the Moros are easily the largest Non-Christian
group. They are culturally advanced and cohesive, and any planning that concerns the southern
Philippines cannot ignore them.

RELIGIOUS DISTRIBUTION
Most Filipinos (93% in 1960) are Christians. More -than 80% are Roman Catholics; 5% are
Aglipayans, adherents of the Independent Church formed by some Filipino in the early years of this
country as an expression of religion and political nationalism. About 3% belong to various Protestant
churches. Muslims, who live principally in Mindanao and the Sulu. Archipelago, constitute about 5%
of the population about 1 o/o belong to the Iglesia ni Kristo, a Filipino church founded in 191 1.

17

ARCHITECTURE
The architecture of the Philippines (Filipino: Arkitekturang Pilipino) is a reflection of the history
and heritage of the country. The most prominent historic constructions in the archipelago are based
on a mix of Indian, Japanese, Chinese, indigenous Austronesian, American, and Spanish influences.
The pre-colonial architecture of the Philippines consisted of the Nipa hut made from natural
materials but there are some traces of large-scale construction before the Spanish colonizers came
but not well documented. An example of this is the pre-colonial walled city of Manila although later
after the Spanish colonization, dismantled by the Spaniards and rebuilt as Intramuros.
During three hundred years of Spanish colonialization, the Philippine architecture was dominated
by the Spanish influences. During this period, Intramuros, the walled city of Manila, was built with its
walls, houses, churches and fortress. The Augustinian friars built a large number of grand churches all
over the Philippine Islands.
During this period the traditional Filipino "Bahay na bato" style for the large houses emerged.
These were large houses built of stone and wood combining Filipino, Spanish and Chinese style
elements.
After the Spanish-American war, the architecture of the Philippines was dominated by the American
style. In this period the plan for the modern city of Manila was designed, with a large number
of neoclassical architecture and art deco buildings by famous American and Filipino architects. During
the liberation of Manila by the combined American and Filipino troops in 1945, large portions of
Intramuros and Manila were destroyed. In the period after the second world war many of the
destroyed buildings were rebuilt.
At the end of the 20th century modern architecture with straight lines and functional aspects was
introduced. During this period many of the older structures fell into decay. Early in the 21st Century a
revival of the respect for the traditional Filipino elements in the architecture returned.

18

1.

Pre-historic Period

Caves (Natural Shelters)

Caves and rock shelters like the Tabon Cave in Palawan served as shelters for the early Filipinos.

Banaue Rice Terraces

the Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000-year-old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in
the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by
Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with
minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 metres (5000 ft)
above sea level. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces.
It is said that if the steps were put end to end, it would encircle half the globe.

2.Classical

Period

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, Bahay kubo and the Royal
NobilitiesTorogan.

Skills in Fortification[edit]
The architecture of the early Filipinos are also the skills that were used at the time of war and on the
battlefield. Due to the creation of variousthalassocratic states within the archipelago, trade began to
flourish. Neighboring tribes would often wage war for territory and trade rights in certain areas, thids
ultimately led to the fortification of villages and towns. Another reason for the development of these
fortifications skills was that of prestige and intimidation, petty chiefs and Datus as they were called
often built forts and fortifications to intimidate other chiefs in their area.
The Muslim Kota[edit]
With the arrival of Muslim scholars from nearby Indonesia, the native Filipinos were introduced to the
concept of the Kota or fort. The Muslim Filipinos of the south built
strong fortresses called kota or moong to protect their communities. Usually, many of the occupants
of these kotas are entire families rather than just warriors. Petty chiefs often had their own kotas to
assert their right to rule, it served only as a military installation but as a palace for the Datus and
chiefs. It is said that at the height of the Maguindanao Sultanate's power, they blanketed the areas
around Western Mindanao with Kotas and other fortifications to block the Spanish advance into the
region. These kotas were usually made of stone and bamboo or other light materials and surrounded
by trench networks. As a result some of these kotas were burned easily of destroyed. With further
Spanish campaigns in the region, the Sultanate was subdued and majority of Kotas dismantled or
destroyed. Kotas were not only used by the Muslims as defense against Spaniards and other
foreigners, renegades and rebels also built fortifications in defiance of other chiefs and sultans in the
area.[2] During the American occupation, rebels built strongholds and Datus and Sultans often built
19

and reinforced their kotas in a desperate bid to maintain rule over their subjects and their land.
[3]

Many of these forts were also destroyed by American expeditions, as a result, very very few kotas

still stand to this day.

Notable Kotas:

Kota Selurong: an outpost of the Bruneian Empire in Luzon, later became the City of Manila.

Kuta Wato/Kota Bato: Literally translates to "stone fort" the first known stone fortification in the
country, its ruins exist as the "Kutawato Cave Complex"

[4]

Kota Sug/Jolo: The capital and seat of the Sultanate of Sulu. When it was occupied by the
Spaniards in the 1870's they converted the kota into the world's smallest walled city.

Batanes Castles[edit]
Main Article: Ivatan people
The Ivatan people of the northern islands of Batanes often built fortifications to protect themselves
during times of war. They built their so-called idjangs on hills and elevated areas.[5] These
fortifications were likened to European castles because of their purpose. Usually, the only entrance to
the castles would be via a rope ladder that would only be lowered for the villagers and could be kept
away when invaders arrived.
Igorot Forts[edit]
The Igorots 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. [6]

Torogan (The wooden palace)[edit]

This Classical Filipino House have three types of house: is lawig the small houses, The mala-awalai the large houses and the torogan. The existing torogans were built by the community and the
slaves for the King in 1800s. This house of the King has no partitions and it is a multifamily dwelling
where all the wives and the children of the Hari (king) lived. The windows of torogan are slits and
richly framed in wood panels with okir designs located in front of the house. The communal kitchen is
half a meter lower than the main house is both used for cooking and eating. The distinct
high gable roof of the torogan, thin at the apex and gracefully flaring out to the eaves, sits on a huge
structures enclosed by slabs of timber and lifted more than two meters above the ground by a huge
trunk of a tree that was set on a rock. The end floor beams lengthen as panolongs the seemed to lift
up the whole house. The torogan is suffused with decorations. There were diongal at the apex of the
roof, also an intricately carved tinai a walai, okir designs in the floor, on windows and on panolongs.
There were also brightly colored weaves or malongs hanging from the rafters, it was hung up using
ropes around a particular territory for privacy. The house was built to sway during earthquakes.
Twenty-five post of huge tree trunks were not buried but are freestanding. Sometimes, if needed,
wooden pegs were used to secure the wood members. These were all used to prevent the house from
collapsing.

3.

Pre-Spanish Era
20

Architecture in the Pre-Spanish era was expressed in the bahay-kubo style of dwellings, which was
cool and cozy and well adapted to tropical climate. Even before the Spanish colonial period, the
Filipino lived in permanent homes and wore clothes and ornamental handicrafts. Their houses were
constructed of wood, bamboo and pal~ leaves (nipa shingles). They were grouped into Barangays
along river banl<s.
In the North. in the Cordillera mountains, the lfugao built a one-room house on stilts with pyramidal
roof. The structural parts of the house were built without nails and were joined together by Iapping
etc.

DIFFERENT BAHAY - KUBO STYLE OF DWELLINGS

21

NIPA HUTS
In the lowland areas, the nipa houses has at least three (3) different versions: llocos, Central
Luzon and Southern Luzon. The characteristic shape for all three is that of the classic Malay Nipa
House with the pitched roof with wide overhang wide windows, light walls above stilts and front and
back porches. In the farms and poorer villages, the nipa hut is literally a grass hut, made of bamboo
poles, a that~h roof with woven split canes for walls and split bamboo slats for flooring. This is locally
called the " BAHAY KUBO" (cube house). Structures at this stage were built without nails, lashing of
rattan or strip of bamboo were used.

22

The Mindanao House in the. South, echoes the qualities of its

Muslim population. It has a proud, aggressive air with its prow
like roof, the poly chrome, extravagant wooden carvings derived
from the Malay Mythical bird, the sari-manok, the silken Muslim
canopies in the interiors. The Maranao crowned' his house with a
majestic roof and decorated the protruding ends of floor beams
with intricate carvings.

Particularly in the Eastern and Southern regions where

most people are sea-going, the houses look like boa.s,
many of them actually built on stilts buried beneath the
water.

4. Pre-Modern Era
Mosques, the masjid and the langgal in Tausug and Yakan or ranggar in Maranao, emerged as Islam
was established in Sulu (14th century) and in Mindanao (15th century).

5. Spanish Era (16th - 19th century) 1521 - 1898

In the sixteenth century, the scattered islands became a colony of Spain. With Spanish power and
the Christian faith came European Culture and new forms of building. On the tropical landscape rose
City Walls, fortresses, government buildings, churches and con- vents, and grand houses. The builders
of the period included Spanish friars, Chinese and native artisans, architects from the peninsula, and
the maestros de obras. The natives learned to work with brick and stone, and had to contend with the
intricacies of the baroque and rococo

1. Ilocos Province- in the North

A. The Vigan House
The features of the !locos house are derived from the sturdier look and stronger construction of the
whole house, a result of the llocano householder's character. The llocano believes in Frugality, solidity
durability and no non-sense practicality. It encloses the space under the main floor'"of the house with walls
of limestone, coral, even hollow-blocks and cement thus
creating an extra floor of living space. The llocano house
is highly functional and relatively free from useless
decorative items.
The other notable distinction of traditional !locos houses is a marked
Spanish flavor. Because the llocos provinces were amo.ng the first to be
settled by the Spaniards, !locos towns enjoyed the best of Sj)ffnish
culture longest and are today the most typically Spanish in architecture.
The best example is Vigan in llocos Sur with its an- cient cobblestone
streets, brick houses, tiled roofs, elaborate grillwork stone arches and

23

colonnades. Most I locos homes and towns display their familiarity with 17th cen- tury European technology in arches and domes, in
the skillfully executed long spans betwe.en columns and other typically European construction features.

Fragment of a ruin of an original Vigan House, Vigan House generally refers to

Antillan de- sign of brick, lime, and mortar with tile roofing and Philippine
hardwoods. Built in the early decades of the 19th century, these relics of Filipino
and Spanish craftsmanship are being restored by the government.
Presently there is no other place in the Philippines richer in Hispanic tradition
than Vigan. capital of llocos Sur province. un pedazo de Espana en el Oriente.

B. The Antillan House

This is the Filipino version of Spanish colonial architecture developed in Manila and other Philippine
cities and towns over several centuries. Many 19th century examples can still be found in the main streets
and plazas.
Characteristic:

wide windows running along the length and breadth of the house (to make air conditioning unnecessary),

high ceilings, tile roofs in the traditional high-pitched

design, eaves and overhangs, high ceilings, polished
wooden floors, are essential features.

The generous use of jalousies,

sliding lowed windows,

mother-of-pearl panes and panels,

ceramic balustrades,

brick walls,.

stone paving are other items of this traditional

architecture.

2.
Batanes
(18th Century)
The northern most frontier of the Philippine
24

Archipelago, is the Batanes islands inhabited by some 12,000 inhabitants called the lvatans, an ethnic
group. lvatan towns were laid out with a sharply angular corners at generally 90, streets are straight
lined. That is how these lvatan towns were laid out 200 years ago when the lvatans first came down from
their mountain-bound villages to live on the Littorals in more compact settlements. The Dominican
Missionaries, Fathers Baltazar Calderon and Bartolome Artiguez selected the places where the towns were
to be located. This done, ropes were used to mark out the streets and the lots on which houses were to be
built.

A. The IVATAN HOUSE

At the arrival of Western Civilization through the Dominican
Missionaries and the representatives of the Spanish Government
in 1783, the lvatans were dwelling in huts made mostly of light
and perishable materials. The huts were low, partly because high
structures would have been easily destroyed by typhoons, and
partly because Batanes did not have enough suitable timber nor
suitable tools for larger constructions. Cogon grass was the chief
roofing material. To close the sides of the hut, cogon and sticks
were used. Occasionally, the walling of the house was made of
stones held precariously together by mud mixed with chopped
cogon.

government and the missions were established

public buildings like churches and tribunates
and other constructions like fortifications and
necessitated stronger materials. Large timber
were imported, and more advanced tools and
carpentry and masonry were introduced. Masons
carpenters from Cagayan, the llokos and
were assign- ed to Batanes. Saws and other
and tools were brought in. Most important of ali,
introduced.

Once
the
Spanish
permanently,
{town halls).
bridges
from
Luzon
Technology of
and
Pampanga
implements
cal lime) was

Lime was long known to lvatans before the coming of the Spaniards, but its only use seems to have been as ingredient for the
preparation of mamahen (betel nut chew or buyo). The imported craftsmen under the direction of the missionaries and the
Spanish officials gave the native population opportunity for apprenticeship in the new skills of lime making and the use of recently
acquired and more advanced tools. The result was the gradual development of what is now known as the traditional IVA TANHOUSE made of thick (about 2 ~ ft.) stone and lime wall with thick thatched roof made of several layers of cog on and held
together by seasoned sticks or reeds and rattan. The primary consideration in the making of the lvatan house is the
durability and effective resistance to the power of the strongest typhoons.

B. Bahay na Bato -----up to 1920's

In the nineteenth century evolved the bahay na bato (house of stone). a happy marriage of the basic
native formhip-roof, elevated quarters, large windows, post-and- lintel construction- and European
influence - large, specialized interior spaces, classical ornaments, and the use of masonry. The churches
were on one hand, simple in plan and box-like in structure, but on the other hand, had richly decorated
facades and ornately carved altars in the baroque and rococo styles as interpreted, or modified, by local
artisans. In this period emerged a Filipino style, a synthesis of native and western forms.

The bahay na bato is a structure that meets the challenges of the Philippine landscape. It uses sawali
{woven bamboo slats). This type of ceiling was . cooler, readily available and surer protection against
earthquakes. "There was no danger of boards falling on your head when an earthquake happen- ed. The roof
of the provincial houses was made of Thatch.

25

House builders of any age have mined the materials from the sea, the forest, the earth and from the farm.
From the sea comes a variety of capiz shells for windows, oyster shells which are ground for mortar, and
blocks of coral stone for walls. The same material is used for most of the Spanish-type churches in the
Visayas. The farm yields as much building materials as the sea. For mortar, molasses {pulot) from sugar~
cane and egg white from the chicken coop are mixed with lime for cementing purposes. In Vigan, the ancient
builders used the sap of the Sablot Shrub to mix with lime for cementing the old houses in town. The
abundant supply of Philippine hardwood (narra, molave, tanguile, kamagong, mahogany, etc.) from the
forests are used for beams, posts, walls, and floors. And the good earth with its deposits of local stones,
bricks and tiles from Clay, and volcanic turf adobe stones, becomes an inexhaustible source of building
materials ..
The "bahay na bato'~ functions well in relation to Filipino lifestyle, customs and values", since the filipino has an
extended family so that there are at least two or three generations living under one roof. There is no sharp
demarcation between adult space and space for the ~hildren in the Filipino town house. Basically a close- knit
family, the Filipino wants to share the warmth and kinship of each family member thus there is no strict line of
space that divides parents and children, old and young.

Other features of the bahay na bato that make it a uniquely Filipino building concept include the banguera,
(dishrack) was a carry-over from the bangahan of the nipa house, where pots are kept to drain, slat floors in the
kitchen which is similar to the sahig (floor) of the bahay kubo, and the fact that these houses are built on stilts.
Whether the posts are embedded on the wall or exposed.
Another feature is the ventanilla. The idea of having an extra window for more ven- tilation is very filipino.
There is also the presence of the media-aqua (awning) popular at the turn of the century which gave double
protection from sun and rain. Movable walls, presence of barandillas or traceries on the wall and use of glass and
mirrors (espejol to create illusions. of transparency and space give the feeling that there are no real physical
boundaries in the stone house as there is none among the family members.

EXAMPLES

a) Late Spanish - Philippine period up to 1898 the roofing is 45 gradient or less. Building materials for
construction were available frcm the local market, but cer- tain items were imported from abroad. For
instance, galvanized iron roofing sheets or clay roofing tiles or glazed bathroom tiles were imported
articles, Fire bricks, limestone, hardwoods, capiz shells (for window panes) and lumber were available
locally.
Two-storied dwellings of wealthy Manilans often had provisions for the garage of horse-drawn coaches
quarters for stable boys and maids, commodious salas, as well as verandahs. Foundation works were
simple. Hard - wood posts usually anchored on buried stones (piedra china) or adobe are examples. Wide
windows and sliding window shutter were common; so were high ceilings, heavy door jambs and carved
doors; decorative iron grills were of typical Spanish artistry.

This latter part of the nineteenth century saw the

rise of the first Filipino architects, Felix Roxas,
trained in England and Spain who designed
churches government buildings and upper class
residences and Arcadio Arellano, trained as a
maestro de obras, who built houses that were
remarkable for their elegance

26

b. ANCESTRAL HOUSES OF NEGROS

The decades from 1860 to 1890 saw the scions of the Iloilo merchant families furiously carving our
haciendas from the wilderness and planting them to sugarcane. The success in business of the hacenderos
made them erect mansions and plantation houses. The earliest houses had wall of plain planks held
together by slats. The ground floor walls usually rested on a low stone base of coquina or coral rock. The
roof, hipped and very steep, was always of 11ipa palm shingles.
By 1870, elaborate lace like grillwork with designs as intricate as handmade tatting began to appear,
together with carved exterior paneling. Transoms with floral and foliate scrollwork pierced to increase
ventilation made their appearance in the 1880's. By then, wrought iron grills were decorated with cast lead
ornaments which usually featured rosenes and fleur-de-lis. The influence of art nouveau crept in the 1890's
and swirling vines and flowers giddily decorated staircase balustrades. Opulence became the norm as
fretwork arches appeared all over the salas and comedores (living and dining rooms). The capiz shell
windows, unique to the Philippines, were replaced by etched glass panes imported from Germany, which
gave way to colored glass towards the turn of the century.

ANCESTRAL HOUSE IN NEGROS

TUAZON HOUSE, arlegui St. Manila

Built toward the end of the nineteenth century i~ an elegant structure of wood and
brick. Entrance to the house is through tall massive wooden doors, whose panels are
decorated with floral carvings. Light comes in through wrought-iron grilles overhead
backed with glass pane. A brass knocker, shaped like a hand wearing a fob watch on
its wrist, summons the caretaker from within. The large gate is typical of the porte
cochere built for horse- drawn carriages. Slabs of piedra china (once used as ballasts
in chinese junks) line the inner courtyard .

AQUILINO CALIXTO HOUSE (1920) Corner of Extremadura an.d Lepanto St. Manila
This two-storey house is built without using nails: Its parts were pains takingly
tenored and glued together, Section by Section. A latticed porch opens into
the spacious airness of the living room. Its ceilings are high in receding
:;~tterns with chandeliers at the center, and its doors tall, the partition walls
are topped with delicate wood panels perforated with floral scrolls. The allow
light and wind to circulate around the house. A grandfather's clock stand
27

against one wall. Two corner cup- boards and a mirrored sideboard holds the family porcelains and crystals.

OLD HOUSE

Iloilo being the historical and cultural cradle of the visayan islands is known
for is handwoven fabrics, historical artifacts and antiques, old churches of
varying designs, and old residences such as this old house of former Mayor
Zafiro Ledesma located within Iloilo City proper.

1940s

5. American Regime (Beginning of 20th Century) 1905

a. Neo-classic style (Americans up to 192D's)

American rule and the beginning of the 20th century marked a new era in architec- ture in the
Philippines. With the advent of the American culture, a corresponding change took place. Technological
advancement saw the introduction of structural steel and reinforced concreted as well as corrugated G. I.
sheets for roofing. As the influence of the Americans were felt, the ways of living were also changed.
People became more affluent and a more distinct division of the population into different levels became
apparent.
This era saw the rise of public buildings built along the European architecture, for in- spite of the fact that
Filipino Architects were influenced by the Americans, the Americans themselves look upon Europe as their
original source of architectural ap- proaches. Daniel Burnham, who designed the 1893 Chicago world's fair,
came to the Philippines in 1905 and prepared plans for Manila and Baguio City. From the Burnham plan,
executed by William Parsons and other American architects arose a new Manila. Government buildings
designed in the neo-classic style and made of reinforced concrete.

b. Neo-Classic Style (Filipino Architects 1920's-30's)

The Neo-Classic Style and the monumental approach to buildings continued to flourish in the work of
Filipino Architects who had taken over from the Americans: Carlos Baretto, Antonio Toledo, Tomas Mapua,
and Juan Arellano. They were go- vernment Architects, and the official style was Neo-Classic.
This monumental approach to buildings saw an influence even to the rural com- munities where the
Roman columns dominates the facade of buildings around which abound the bamboo post of the Nipa huts.
Tied down to the traditions and the man- nerism of the 19th Century, the architects failed. to achieve the
same honesty as the same era for here was an attempt to transplant a culture so foreign, directly into the
native soil where a different culture has thrived. The effect therefore of a civiHzation descending upon a
people almost overnight saw a corresponding effect on the type of architecture that rose in the Philippines
during the same period. The disastrous ef- fect is felt even today for the indiscriminate forcing of an alien
culture resulted in a confusion that saw even the identity of the Filipino as confused and more perplexed as
ever. He is now a Filipino Hispanized dressed in the Western clothes of the Americans.
The landmarks of this era include the legislative building, the Post Office, the Philip pine General Hospital,
the Philippine Normal College.

28

 PRE-WAR MODERN INFLUENCE-(1930's-40's)

This period of modern architecture in the Philippines began with Andres Luna de San Pedro, Juan Nakpil, Fernando Ocampo and Pablo
Antonio, who like their Forbears of the Neo-classic period were products of Foreign education. Their works marked the liberation from
Neo-classic formulas and the introduction of a new languages of design: clean lines, bold masses, the imaginative use of materials,
the G. I. sheets was rc:mpantly use as roofing. Use of the cantilever, and a more thoughtful adaptation to local ccndi tions.
During this period two schools of architecture were founded: The MAPUA Institute of Technology in 1925, and the school of
Architecture of the University of Santo Tomas in 1930. From these and from other schools that opened later came a new generation of
ar- chitects who began a new chapter in the evolution of Filipino architecture.
It is interesting to note that in 1933, the Philippine Architects Society (PAS! was or- ganized. Pertinent historical highlights of the
society included the drafting of the Con- stitution and by-laws and the adoption of a Code of Ethics and Standard Professional Fees.
The First ten {10) Filipino Architects are: 1) Tomas Mapua; 2) Carlos Baretto; 3) Antonio Toledo; 41 Cheri Mandelba.um; 5) Arthur
Chumbert; 6) Juan Villegas; 7) Sidney Rowlands; 8) Juan Altiveros; 9) Tomas Arguelles; and 10) Isidro del Valle.
THE POST-WAR PERIOD (1945-1950) LIBERATION The devastation brought about by the last World War II. coupled by economic exigen
cies gave way to the extension of a slowly emerging architectural concept to detach from the bondage of traditional forms.
A revolt against the obsolete concepts in architecture started to shape in the reconstruc- tion and rehabilitation that followed. A lack
ot thorough understanding on the part of the public, including most architects. regarding the correct interpretation of the new
developing concept of contemporary architecture, resulted in the erection of architec- tural blunders in the early post war years. The
urgent needs for building saw a rush of construction that revealed the hastiness and dire necessity made more grave by speed and
constructions grew haphazardly without direction or control.
Inspiration from fast progressively growing countries. like Brazil, Venezuela, America, and Japan, saturated our cities with horrible,
imitations of exterior treatments, at the sacrifice of logic. Borrowed external and internal treatment were abused in monotonous
decorative repetitions, disregarding their functional purposes. This confusing state of Filipino architecture to rely mostly on artificial
decorations and violations of purpose confused the understanding of the public.
PRESENT PHASE- 1960's to 1985
The Nationalistic fervor inherent in the Filipinos triggered the impetus for the search for identity. Gradually comprehending the
philosophy of modem architecture, the new buildings that are now rising in our urban areas tend to forestall a Filipino architecture
maturity. Young architects, influenced by a fresh educational background from de- veloping schools of thought are now gradually
giving a logical approach to Philippine ar- chitecture, particularly in commercial and other private buildings.

29

The Central Bank Main Office Building, the first structure to be built in the Central Bank Building Complex is composed of 5 floors of
office areas and related amenities, a partial basement, and the executive offices of the Bank. The building was designed to underline
the concept of function for the efficiency of the occupants.
MULTI-STOREY BUILDING FOR CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
Seventeen storeys high, to accommodate all other offices and departments not previously alloted in the Main Building, the MultiStorey Building forms a major part of the Central Bank Building Complex, as it houses the Operations area of the Bank.
ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING OFFICE BUILDING FOR CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
An 8-storey building planned mainly to shelter computer system equipments of the Central Bank Electronic Data Processing Center
and other relative offices. The basement parking are below, the podium level can accommodate approximately 500 cars.

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