The document discusses the origins and evolution of architecture in the Philippines. It describes how early Philippine shelters were influenced by Austronesian traditions but varied depending on location and culture. The arrival of Islam brought mosques to the country, though the oldest one was not what the author expected. Spanish colonization had a major impact, as they constructed stone structures like churches and government buildings and organized settlements. They introduced the bahay na bato style, blending local and Spanish influences. Various commercial and entertainment structures were also later established by the Spanish and other European groups. In conclusion, the document outlines the intermingling of indigenous, Islamic, and Spanish architectural influences that shaped modern Philippine architecture.
The document discusses the origins and evolution of architecture in the Philippines. It describes how early Philippine shelters were influenced by Austronesian traditions but varied depending on location and culture. The arrival of Islam brought mosques to the country, though the oldest one was not what the author expected. Spanish colonization had a major impact, as they constructed stone structures like churches and government buildings and organized settlements. They introduced the bahay na bato style, blending local and Spanish influences. Various commercial and entertainment structures were also later established by the Spanish and other European groups. In conclusion, the document outlines the intermingling of indigenous, Islamic, and Spanish architectural influences that shaped modern Philippine architecture.
The document discusses the origins and evolution of architecture in the Philippines. It describes how early Philippine shelters were influenced by Austronesian traditions but varied depending on location and culture. The arrival of Islam brought mosques to the country, though the oldest one was not what the author expected. Spanish colonization had a major impact, as they constructed stone structures like churches and government buildings and organized settlements. They introduced the bahay na bato style, blending local and Spanish influences. Various commercial and entertainment structures were also later established by the Spanish and other European groups. In conclusion, the document outlines the intermingling of indigenous, Islamic, and Spanish architectural influences that shaped modern Philippine architecture.
The document discusses the origins and evolution of architecture in the Philippines. It describes how early Philippine shelters were influenced by Austronesian traditions but varied depending on location and culture. The arrival of Islam brought mosques to the country, though the oldest one was not what the author expected. Spanish colonization had a major impact, as they constructed stone structures like churches and government buildings and organized settlements. They introduced the bahay na bato style, blending local and Spanish influences. Various commercial and entertainment structures were also later established by the Spanish and other European groups. In conclusion, the document outlines the intermingling of indigenous, Islamic, and Spanish architectural influences that shaped modern Philippine architecture.
AR153-1/B67 REFLECTION PAPER AR. J ANTONIO VICENTE MERCADO
Arkitekturang Filipino
The architecture of the Philippines is a product of centuries of intermingled cultures from
the country and various parts of the world – may it be through trade or colonization. As a result, we have adapted a multitude of aspects from foreign architecture which we integrated into our own. The first documentary entailed the origins of early Philippine shelters and Islamic architecture while the second documentary focused on the impact of Spanish colonization to the architecture of the country.
Upon finishing the first documentary, I have come to realize how similar yet different early Philippine shelters were despite having descended from Austronesian traditions. Thus, it is known that our vernacular architecture for the archetypal house is a wooden structure elevated on posts with a thatched roof. I learned that they vary greatly depending upon the landscape, weather condition, and embedded cultural traditions. A great example would be lowland and mountain shelters where the former is much more open to light and ventilation while the latter is designed to withstand the cold weather.
Another example would be the variation of houses in Mindanao which were situated near the shoreline, above shallow waters, and houseboats – all of which were Austronesian descent. From the information presented, I have inferred that these houses were designed for a waterborne lifestyle so as to serve as a shelter and a way of living through fishing for the residents. On the other hand, the Ifugao houses and the Maranao Torogan have distinct features such as their circular rat guards and stout posts that are largely from their traditions which separate them from other types of early shelters.
The advent of Islam in the Philippines brought the proliferation of mosques in the country but most especially in the island of Mindanao. It astounds and perplexes me to learn that the oldest standing mosque in the country is not what I expected it to be because I assumed it looked like how most mosques were designed today. It did not occur to me that the oldest mosque used indigenous materials (like in bahay kubo) to create the multi-layered roof of the pagoda style mosque as I pictured it to appear as Middle Eastern-inspired such as that of the golden mosque in Quiapo with stylized and colorful abstract motifs. Meanwhile, the second documentary exhibited the architectural contributions of the Spanish colonization in the country. After successfully conquering Muslim communities, the colonizers began to convert structures from light materials into a “stone fortified metropolis” and then organized the settlements into larger villages. Although I am familiar with how they structured and planned towns, it stills frightens yet amazes me of their strategic placement of churches and government buildings. I know for a fact that almost every major city in the country has a plaza mayor which signifies just how much power the Spanish had during the time they controlled the country.
One notable contribution that stood out to me was the invention of arkitektura mestiza, a structure wherein the lower floor was built of stone while the upper floor was of wood which would be able to give them a better chance of surviving earthquakes. Then, centuries later, the bahay na bato came to be which was the integration of bahay kubo and arkitektura mestiza into one house. My family’s former house was an example of a bahay na bato before it was renovated to a modern home. I was told that my great grandfather and his children built it together during the early 1900s. I grew up in a bahay na bato before it was renovated in 2009 which is why this type of house is special to me.
Based on how the master builders modelled towns such as that of Intramuros, it can be deduced that they took ideas from their homeland then embedded it to our lands. This is why structures like Casa del Ayuntamiento, Palacio del Gobernador, and Colegios exist. I also realized how Colegios and Escuela Primaria were placed because the former can be seen in highly- urbanized areas while the latter is usually found in pueblos or what is known today as barangays. From this, one can tell how they categorized and separated urban areas from rural areas.
However, it was not wholly the Spanish who introduced industrialization and commerce to the country. European companies began the expansion of businesses in Manila which led to the construction of trading houses and commercial firms through retrofitting the bahay na bato. We can denote that the bahay na bato was not only meant to be a shelter but a place of business and trade as well. Moreover, theaters (although scarce in number), sabungan, gambling places, and many others were also established to provide amusement to residents and workers in urban areas.
To conclude, I believe that the three architectural influences aforementioned are just some of the myriads of developments in the Filipino architectural scene. Nonetheless, the impact of each one is very much palpable and evident for it is manifested in a lot of structures we see today whether it would be in urban or rural areas.
