AGUILAR, DIETHER R.

RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS

Ancient Philippines in the Eyes of an Architect

Philippines was ruled by Spain for three and a half century. Before the Spaniards came,

the major religion in the Philippines was Islam, especially in the Mindanao part. Islam was

established in Sulu in the 14th century and in Mindanao in the 15th century. The combination of

a strong, organized religion and a high degree of political organization enabled the Muslim

people of Mindanao to resist Spain’s attempts to bring them under her dominion. Luzon and

Visayas have tenaciously hung on to the Christian Heritage of the Spaniards, while Mindanao

prides itself on being the home of the unconquered Muslims. Spaniards brought the Catholicism

to Filipinos, which makes it to be the primary religion in the Philippines up until now.

The Americans took over the colonization when they bought the Island of the Philippines

from the Spaniards under a treaty. The Filipinos believed that the Americans would give them

the independence, but they now saw the prospect of self-government removed to the distant

future. Building the skyscraper cities, such as Manila and Makati and in the use of English as

the main language was an American influence. Filipinos are nearly mixture of different races.

They are the product of the mixture of various races of the world.

Before the colonizers came to the Philippines(Pre-Spanish Era), early Filipinos already

have their own style of architecture. It was expressed in the bahay kubo or nipa hut style of

dwellings. It was adopted to the tropical climate of the Philipines. Bahay kubo are made from

wood, bamboo and palm leaves since it was the most abundant materials in that time. The

Philippines is indeed rich in natural resources during the Pre-Spanish Era. About 44% of the

land are covered with forests.

There at least three (3) different versions of nipa huts in the lowland areas: Ilocos,

Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon. It can be determined by its classic Malay Nipa house with

the pitched roof with wide overhang wide windows, light walls above stilts and front and back
porches. The nipa hut from farms and poorer village is different from other nipa huts. It is made

of grass hut, bamboo poles, a roof with woven split canes for walls and split bamboo slats for

flooring. There were no nails in that time, instead, lashing of rattan or strip of bamboo were

used.

In the Southern part of the Philippines, there were the unconquered Muslims of

Mindanao. They were not fully colonized by the foreign rulers. The Mindanaoan house were

expressed by its Islam culture. It has a proud, aggressive air with its prow like roof, the

polychrome, extravagant wooden carvings derived from the Malay Mythical bird, the sari-manok,

the silken Muslim canopies in the interiors. The Maranao crowned its house with majestic roof

and decorated the protruding ends of floor beams with intricate carvings.

The Spaniards colonized the Philippine Island in the sixteenth century. Spaniards

brought Christian faith that came from the European cultures and new forms of building. On the

tropical landscape rose City Walls, fortresses, government buildings, churches and covents, and

grand houses. Spanish friars, Chinese and native artisans, architects from the peninsula, and

the maestros de obras were the builders during that period. The natives learned to work with

brick and stone, and had to contend with the intricacies of the baroque and rococo.

The Ilocano houses were one of the representation of Filipino architecture. They believe

in frugality, solidity, durability and no non-sense practicality. The main floor were enclosed with

walls of limestone, coral, even hollow blocks and cement thus creating an extra floor of living

space. The Ilocano residential house are known for its highly functional and relatively free from

useless decorative items.

Ilocano architecture are also known for its Spanish flavor. The Ilocos province were

among the first to be settled by the Spaniards. One of its best example is Vigan in Ilocos Sur

with its ancient cobblestone streets, brick houses, tilted roofs, elaborate grillwork stone arches

and colonnades. Most of the architecture in here displays a 17th century European technology in
arches and domes, in the skillfully executed long spans between columns and other typically

European construction features.

Another representation of Filipino architecture is the Antilan house. It is a Filipino version

of Spanish colonial architecture developed in Manila and other Philippine cities and towns. It is

very recognizable because of its elegant two storey, rectangular town house, massive stone first

floor contrasting with a light and airy second floor, mother of pearl windows running around its

side and a picturesque, wide tile roof. It’s main entrance is guarded by a heavy plank door with

wrought-iron or brass nails. This 19th century structure can still be found in the main streets and

plazas.

In the northernmost part of the Philippines, is the Batanes Islands inhabited by an ethnic

group called the IVATANS. Ivatans have the so called Ivatan house. This residential house are

made of thick (about 2 ½ ft.) stone and lime wall with thick that ched the roof made of several

layers of cogon and held together by seasoned sticks or reeds and rattan. Its durability and

effective resistance to strong typhoons is the main consideration of design.

Bahay na bato (house of stone) emerge during the 19 th century. A structure meets the

challenges of the Philippine landscape. Its ceiling is made of sawali (woven bamboo slats)

which makes it cooler, readily available and surer protection against earthquakes. There will be

no falling debris during the earthquake since the roof is only made in sawali.

The Bahay na bato represents the Filipino lifestyle, customs and values. Filipinos have

the so-called extended family so there are at least two or three generations living under one

roof. Though, bedrooms were small and few. They use other rooms like Sala as sleeping

quarters and Filipinos will not mind the arrangement at all. They just want 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 makes it Filipino architecture is the banguera

and ventanilla. It was a carryover from the bangahan of the nipa house, where pots are kept to
drain, slat floors in the kitchen, which is similar to the floor of the bahay kubo, and the fact that

these houses are built on stilts. Ventanilla is an extra window for more ventilation.

In the beginning of 20th century, the Americans marked a new era of architecture in the

Philippines. As they took over the colonization, Filipinos become more affluent and a more

distinct division of the population into different levels became apparent.

Despite the Americans took over the colonization, public structures is still built in

European style of architecture. Americans themselves look upon Europe as their original source

of architectural approaches. Government buildings designed in the Neo-classic style and made

of reinforced concrete. Neo-classic style is connected to Eurocentrism, the idea that European

heritage conferred special standing in the history of civilization.

The late Filipino architect Leandro Locsin once said, “Philippine architecture is simply

the residue of the different overlays of foreign influences left in the Philippines over the

centuries: the early Malay culture, 300 hundred years of Spanish colonization and almost 50

years of American domination.”

Before the foreigners came and colonize the Philippines, Filipinos had already their own

style of architecture. However, as the time goes by, it altered by the foreign influences. It

became mixture of different styles, which also became a mere representation of foreign

architectural style.

The history and culture of the Philippines are reflected in its architectural heritage, in the

dwellings of its various peoples, in churches and mosques, and in the buildings that have risen

in response to the demands of progress and the aspirations of the people. Philippine

architecture is the result of a natural growth enriched with the absorption of varied influences.
REFERRENCES:

Salvan, G. S. (2005). Architectural character & the history of architecture. Manila: Goodwill

Trading.

Filipino Architecture. (n.d.). Accessed March 11, 2019. Retrieved from https://www.united-
architects.org/members/filipino-architecture/

PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE - nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph:81. (n.d.). Accessed March 12, 2019.

Retrieved from http://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph:81/CC01/NLP00VM052mcd/v2/v1.pdf

Ching, Francis D.K., Mark Jarzombek, and Vikramaditya Prakash. A Global History of
Architecture. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2017.