ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

ANGULO, RINA JOY

BICOMONG, LUORENZ CLAUDE
CAMPOSAGRADO, KURT HOMER
DIMAYACYAC, PRINCESS
LIPA, JEARLENE
MAPACPAC, DAN MATTHEW
MARINDUQUE, ANGIE
RAMOS, RONA RAIZEL
INTRODUCTION
What is HERITAGE?
• It may be a tangible or intangible thing that is worth cherishing and
nurturing.
• It is the manifestation of our nation’s development through history
and it embodies our unique cultural identity.

• “Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what
we pass on to future generations.”
- World Heritage Commission, UNESCO
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
• The NHCP is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the
promotion of Philippine history and cultural heritage through
research, dissemination, conservation, sites management and heraldry
works.“

• The NHCP recognizes that historic sites and structures also oftentimes
possess cultural value. For this reason the NHCP shall collaborate with the
National Museum and other cultural agencies in recognizing sites and
structures with historical and artistic, scientific, or cultural value. Such
collaboration may take the form of joint declarations of important sites and
structures and joint installation of markers in these sites.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) is the authority on historic
preservation program of the NHCP. It undertakes projects and activities
geared towards collaboration, coordination and/or partnership with other
government agencies and offices and the private sector in the field of historic
preservation.

Goal/Objectives
The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) aims to promote Filipino heritage
through the preservation, protection and development of historic sites and
structures and the conservation of material objects. As an authority on
conservation of both movable and immovable objects, the HPD shall promote
awareness and appreciation of historic sites and structures through
conservation, technical assistance and information-education-communication
(IEC) programs along guidelines set by internationally accepted conservation
standards and principles and local and international agreements. It shall also
keep itself abreast and updated with the latest on scientific and information
technologies in relation to the field of historic conservation.
Classification of Historic Sites and Structures

A. To qualify for consideration, a site or structure as described above being proposed for NHCP
recognition must:
1. Possess demonstrable historical significance; and
2. Be at least fifty (50) years old and seventy (70) percent authentic.

B. Historic sites and structures shall be classified according to the recognition conferred by the
NHCP, as follows:
1. Level I: Declaration of a historic site or structure and installation of a marker
2. Level II: Installation of a historical marker
C. Level I recognition shall entail the declaration of any of the following:
1. Heritage Zone/Historic Center – a historic space, unit, district or cluster of structures
and their environs, with distinctive historical importance in its entirety
2. National Cultural Treasure – a unique cultural property possessing outstanding
historical value and significance
3. National Historical Shrine – A hallowed site or structure in honor of a national hero or
highly significant historical event
4. National Historical Monument/Memorial – An object, structure or site that commemorates,
memorializes or gives reverence to a special historic personage or event.
5. National Historical Landmark – (a) A site or structure closely associated with a
significant historical event, achievement, characteristic, turning point or stage in
Philippine history

II. CRITERIA FOR HERITAGE HOUSES

A. Age. These houses are esteemed for their age and for having well withstood the ravages of
time. These houses must be at least fifty (50) years old to qualify.
B. Site. The site or setting may be urban, suburban, upland, lowland, or rural, and may be of
environmental, historical, cultural, and/or artistic importance.
List of Architectural Heritage in the Philippines

AVENUE THEATER along Avenida

 One of the obras of National Artist for Architecture
Juan Nakpil, the Avenue Theater was also built in the Art
Deco style. During its heyday in the ‘30s and ‘40s, it was
a choice venue for foreign movie premieres and
vaudeville acts.
The grandiose theater could seat 1,000 and its grand
lobby had stunning marble flooring. It was partially
destroyed during the Battle of Manila and when it was
renovated, its operators tried to stage several live
performances. The theater closed in 1997 and it was
eventually demolished in 2006.
AVENUE THEATER
CAPITOL THEATER
Built in the 30s, the Capitol Theater in
Escolta was designed by Juan Nakpil, the
first National Artist for Architecture. Its
original interior spaces made use of
Sampaguita, the Philippine national flower,
as its central motif.

With the rise of mall culture and

consumerism in the Philippines, the theater
eventually closed its doors as modern
theatergoers prefer cinemas inside air-
conditioned malls.
FIRST UNITED BUILDING
 Previously known as the Pérez-
Samanillo Building (Edificio Luis Pérez
Samanillo) after its former owner Luis
Perez Samanillo, First United Building
was designed by renowned Filipino
architects Andrés Luna de San Pedro
and Juan Nakpil.
 With its rectangular form, geometric
decoration and straight lines, the
building is a perfect example of the
Art deco architectural style that was
prevalent during the 20s and 30s.
JAL ALAI BUILDING along Taft Avenue
 Acclaimed as one of the best examples of Art Deco design in Asia, people
have praised this structure as one of the most beautiful Jai Alai buildings in
the world. Built in the 1930s by American architect Welton Becket, the
building boasted top-notch facilities, gaming rooms, a roof garden, and an
air-conditioned dining area called Sky Room. Jai alai, a variation of Basque
pelota, was considered a game for the elite, and the building reflected its
status.
 The building went through several owners and renovations. During World
War II, it was a hospital for the U.S. Navy and it eventually served as
headquarters of the Japanese military secret police. After the Battle of
Manila, the building was reconstructed and transformed into a Red Cross
service center called The Roosevelt Club, the largest of its kind in the world
that time.
 In the ‘80s, the building succumbed to deterioration and it was ordered to
be demolished in 2000 by former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.
JAL ALAI BUILDING
PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL
 The Philippine General Hospital is a fine
example of Filipino-American
architecture in the early 20th Century
which symbolized improved social and
welfare services. It was designed by
architect William E. Parsons, and was
completed in 1910. The PGH building
maintained the picturesque quality of
local Spanish architecture, with a
steeply pitched clay roof. It also
incorporated the local architectural
tradition of using capiz shells on its
large double-hung sash windows. Its
numerous arcades and open porches
help in the lighting and cooling of the
wards.
Nakpil-Bautista House
 is one of the old houses found in the district of Quiapo, Manila. It was built in 1914 by Arcadio
Arellano. The two-house originally sits on two lots, having a total area of 500 square meters.The
National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the house as a cultural property on August
25, 2011. Today, the house is a museum showcasing items of the Katipunan, paintings, among others.
 Arcadio Arellano built the house for Dr. Ariston Bautista and his wife, Perona Nakpil
 Bahay Nakpil opened to the public as a museum and heritage site in 2014, exactly a century after it
was built. Before that, according to Bahay Nakpil Foundation’s Bobby Nakpil Santos-Viola, it had gone
through several incarnations: a dorm, a halfway house, even a panciteria
NATIONAL MUSEUM
 The National Museum as we know it used to be the old Legislative Building,
and arguably the best example of Neoclassical architecture in the
Philippines. It was intended to become the National Library and was
originally designed by American Ralph Harrington Doane, assisted by Antonio
Toledo in 1918. When the Philippine Legislature decided to move into the
building in 1926, its interiors were redesigned by Juan Arellano (designer of
Manila Post Central Post Office and Manila Metropolitan Theater). Some of
the building's impressive features are the series of Corinthian columns; the
two-storey porch; and the triangular pediment above it with sculptures
representing Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Law, Education, Commerce, and
Agriculture. The legislative branch left the building in 1997, making the
National Museum its only occupant. In 2010, the National Museum was
declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
CALVO BUILDING
 Escolta Street used to be the Wall Street of
Manila. For a time, here stood most of the
grandest buildings in Manila, and there are
still those that have survived the wrath of
World War II, like the El Hogar and the
Regina Building. Because of its neighbors’
sizes, one building is often overlooked, just
waiting to be discovered—the Calvo
Building. It was built in 1938 in the Beaux-
Arts style by Fernando H. Ocampo, and his
partner Tomás Argüelles. It only had three
levels then; now it has four. It’s also the
former home of radio station dzBB. Today,
Calvo Building houses the Escolta Museum
and the offices of the Escolta Commercial
Association.
EL HOGAR FILIPINO
This classic example of the Beaux-Arts school of design was built in 1914 by
Antonio Melian, a self-proclaimed Peruvian count who formed the El Hogar
Mutual Association, a financing cooperative. It was his wedding present of
sorts to wife Isabel Zobel (of the Zobel de Ayala clan) and their initials
adorn the staircase of the building.

Designed by architect Ramond de Yrureta-Goyena with engineer Roque

Ruaño, the Spanish Dominican priest credited for building the first
earthquake-resistant building in Asia (the UST Main Building in Sampaloc), El
Hogar Filipino was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and
heavily damaged during the American bombings. After the war, it was
restored and a new floor was added.

WHAT IT IS NOW:
It is still in use today as an office building. Though it looks run-down, you can still
get a glimpse of interesting architectural details on its facade and interiors. Since
the late 1990s, the building has been a favorite location for film and TV productions
such as the movie "Mano Po" and the music video for Bamboo's hit song "Hallelujah."
EL HOGAR FILIPINO
• METROPOLITAN THEATER
 A Philippine Art Deco building found near the Mehan Garden located on Padre
Burgos Avenue corner Arroceros Street, near the Manila Central Post Office. It was
designed by architect Juan M. Arellano and inaugurated on December 10, 1931.
In 1978, a restoration of the theater was initiated by the then Governor of Metro
Manila Imelda Marcos which was headed by Otilio, the nephew of Juan Arellano.
It closed down its doors again in 1996 because of conflicts of ownership between
the Manila City Administration and the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS). In 2010, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Manila mayor Alfredo Lim
tried to revive the theater but to no avail.
The theater was used again once for a Wolfgang concert in 2011. But since 2012,
the theater was closed again due to decays inside the building.

What it is now:
Abandoned. The theater's future looks in doubt as it is the subject of a legal battle
between GSIS and Manila City Hall over its ownership
MANILA METROPOLITAN THEATER
MANILA ARMY AND NAVY CLUB
 William E. Parsons’ Army and Navy Club
was the center of Manila’s social life
when it opened in 1911. During the
Second World War, it was occupied by
Japanese forces who used the building as
a bomb shelter. Though it survived the
war, the heritage building’s state began
to decline shortly after. By the ‘90s and
late 2000s, the building was declared a
National Historic Landmark with hopes of
a renovation. Nearly a decade later, the
hotel reopened as the Rizal Park Hotel.
The 110-room, five-star hotel and casino
is operated by Oceanville Hotel and Spa
Corporation.
 Manila City Hall
 The Manila City Hall was one of the key government buildings constructed during the American
regime. It was designed by architect Antonio Toledo and was built in 1939. A hexagonal tower with
three clocks on three of its facets is its stand-out feature. It was heavily damaged during World
War II and was rebuilt in 1946. Back then, it was criticized because of its floor plan, which is
shaped like a coffin. Some legends say that the shape pays tribute to those who died during the
Battle of Manila.
Malacañang Palace
 Malacañang Palace is arguably one of the most recognized houses in the country; it is the
official residence of the Philippine president. It was originally the summer statehouse of
Spanish noble Don Luis Rocha. The Spanish government acquired the property in 1825, and
every Spanish governor general and American civil general has called it home since then. It is
built in Spanish colonial style—with its many arches, balconies, and sliding windows.
Malacañang in the vernacular means “May lakan diyan” or “There lives a noble man.”
Manila Central Post Office
 Manila Central Post Office Building was a popular subject of Manila postcards back in the
1930’s. Completed in 1926, the building was designed by Juan Arellano in the
Neoclassical style. It has a commanding facade and a roof supported by columns. This
particular style was commonly used for public buildings, banks, and institutions of
learning because it exudes an image of stability and strength. Snail mail is barely in
vogue these days, so there have been talks about selling the establishment, or turning it
into a luxury hotel. No such plans have been made concrete.
Ramon Magsaysay Center
 The Ramon Magsaysay Center (RMC) is
an 18-storey building named after and
built in honor of the late Philippine
President. The edifice was constructed
in 1967 following the design of Arturo
J. Luz & Associates, Italian-American
Pietro Belluschi, and Alfred Yee
Associates. It adopted a novel
structural system, with pre-cast and
pre-stressed concrete beams, floor
slabs, and wall panels. It’s modeled
like a big tree—deep-rooted, and
designed to sway with the movement of
the ground. The salty atmosphere
caused by nearby Manila Bay was also
considered for its exterior, which is
clad in travertine marble slabs.
Luneta Hotel
 Decreed a National Landmark by the National Historical Commission, the
Luneta Hotel is a six-storey building designed by Spanish architect and
engineer Salvador Farre in the early 1900s. The hotel exterior displays its
standout mansard roof, along with intricately designed grilles and French
windows, and detailed stone fixtures. It was restored in 2008, and
opened its doors once again in 2014 to give visitors a glimpse of Old
Manila in its grandeur.
Casa Tesoro
 Ermita used to be the university belt before it witnessed some of the most horrific massacres
during World War II. Along A. Mabini Street in Ermita stands Casa Tesoro. Built in 1901, it used
to be a vacation home. Tribal art and antiques dealer Maria Closa moved here in 2005 and
leased its first floor to antique dealers. After some time, the tenants left. Closa, together
with Rudolph Kratochwill, an art collector and gallery owner from Austria, reorganized the
mansion and freshened up the interiors. Casa Tesoro is now a showroom for antiques, as well
as the home of contemporary art gallery 1335 Mabini.
UST Main Building
 Founded in 1611, the University of Santo Tomas is the oldest university in Asia—even older than
Harvard University. From its original home in Intramuros, the university transferred to its
present-day España campus in 1927, four years after its construction started. The Main
Building, located at the heart of UST, was advanced for its time. It was designed in the
Renaissance Revival style by Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P. Its main engineering accomplishment is that
it is the first earthquake-resistant building in the Philippines, built with 40 separate structures
so it would not easily crumble. The National Museum of the Philippines declared the Main
Building as a National Cultural Treasure in 2010.
 ADVANTAGES OF RESTORATION
• Restoration and adaptive re-use can cost more than demolishing a structure and
starting from the ground up, but the environmental benefits, social advantages,
and economic benefits of recycling a valued heritage is more rewarding in the
long-run.
• Looking back and moving forward
• As for the economic benefits, tourism is one of the major economic growth drivers
in the Philippines. Heritage tours in the Philippines has seen a dramatic increase in
the past decades and will continue to do so as old cities get revamped and
restored as an alternative solution to gentrification. Moreover, historical building
restoration starts a domino effect by increasing property values, additional
income to the city, generating more jobs and revitalizing the surrounding area.
• Restoration also has social benefits as communities increasingly recognize the
need to protect, retain, and adapt heritage buildings into accessible, usable
spaces.
THANK YOU!