THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION

After the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Americans took control the Philippines until
after the World War II.
During this period, the Americans constructed many neo-classical buildings in Manila.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Americans constructed many art nouveaux buildings in Manila.

• In 1902 Judge William Howard Taft was appointed to head the Philippine Commission to
evaluate the needs of the new territory. Taft, who later became the Philippines’ first civilian
Governor-General, decided that Manila, the capital, should be a planned town.
• He hired as his architect and city planner Daniel Hudson Burnham, who had built Union
Station and the post office in Washington.
• In Manila, Mr. Burnham had in mind a long wide, tree-lined boulevard along the bay,
beginning at a park area dominated by a magnificent hotel. To design, what is now known
as, the Manila Hotel Taft hired William E. Parsons, a New York architect, who envisioned
an impressive, but comfortable hotel, along the lines of a California mission, but grander.
• The original design was an H-shaped plan that focused on well-ventilated rooms on two
wings, providing grand vistas of the harbor, the Luneta, and the Intramuros. The top floor
was, in fact, a large viewing deck that was used for various functions, including watching
the American Navy Steam into the harbor.
TREATY OF PARIS- On April 11, 1899 John ay the secretary of State signing the Treaty of Paris.
In this treaty, Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the US about $20 million
dollars after the Spanish American War. This gave the US three more colonies to control. The
Filipinos had not been consulted about American Rule.
BATTLE OF MANILA- Many of these buildings were heavily damaged during the Battle of Manila
in 1945. After the second world war many were rebuilt. Many buildings in Manila were designed
by the Filipino architect Juan M. De Guzman Arellano.
In 1911 the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Manila Army and Navy Club at the
shore of Manila Bay bordering the Luneta Park. The building consists of a grand entrance and
has three stories that housed the various function rooms and the hotel rooms. It has been in use
far into the eighties however it has fallen into dacay and is in need of restoration.

At T.M. Kalaw Street stands on of the remaining structures that survived the liberation of
Manila in 1945, the LUNETA HOTEL.
LUNETA HOTEL- The Hotel was completed in 1918. According to study by Dean Joseph
Fernandez of the University of Santo Tomas, the hotel was designed by the Spanish architect-
engineer Salvador Farre. The structure is the only remaining example of the French Renaissance
architecture with Filipino stylized beaux arts in the Philippines to date. This famous landmark fell
gradually into decay. In 2007 the renovation activities have started.
 THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
The Spanish styles remained, though mostly for ornamental purposes of the affluent.
Filipino architects were largely influenced by Western culture, evident in their use of neo-classic,
art deco, international, and romantic designs.
NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE- is an architectural style produced by the neoclassical
movement that began in the mid-18th century.
ART DECO ARCITECTURE- is an elegant style of decorative art, design and architecture which
began as a Modernist reaction against the Art Nouveau style.
BEAUX ARTS ARCHITECTURE- style is a theatrical and heavily ornamented classical style
taught during the 19th century.
EXAMPLES OF FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE
As the Americans’ central concern was bound by education, public health, and free
enterprise, it reflected on the new structures that emerged such as government centers, parks,
schools, hospitals, hotels, commercial office buildings, department stores, sports facilities, among
others
EL HOGAR FILIPINO- known for its beaux-art architecture
METROPOLITAN THEATER- An art deco building designed by the Filipino architect Juan M. De
Guzman Arellano, and built in 1935. During the liberation of Manila by the Americans in 1945, the
theatre we totally destroyed. After reconstruction by the Americans it gradually fell into disuse in
the 1960’s. In the following decade it was meticulously restored but again fell into decay.
JAI ALAI BUILDING- constructed along Taft avenue, designed by architect Welton Becket. It has
been built in the Philippine Art Deco style. In addition to the Jai Alai game it included the famous
“Sky Lounge”. Unfortunately, demolition began on July 15, 2000 on the orders of Mayor Lito
Atienza. The building is now gone forever.
FAR EASTERN UNIVERISTY (FEU)- awarded the UNESCO Heritage Award in 2005 for being
the only preserved and enduring Art Deco structure in the Philippines. Although the FEU was
totally damaged during World War II, the university was restored to its original Art Deco design in
the American Period.
At the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Quiapo, Manila, five Art Deco structures on the
campus were designed by the National Artist Pablo Antonio.
Three were built before World War II and two, after. Although FEU buildings were totally
damaged during the war, the university was restored to its original Art Deco design immediately
after.
SILLIMAN HALL- completed in 1901, the structure along the seaside of Dumaguete, epitomizes
the bahay na bato tradition with its open spaces on the ground floor and the enclosed veranda
that surrounds the living quarters on the second floor supported by cast iron.
Silliman Hall built in 1902-1903, is the oldest standing American structure in the
Philippines. Its architecture is reminiscent of the Stick Style or Victorian type of architecture that
characterize American buildings in the 19th century. Some of the materials used to build it were
salvaged from an old theater in New York.
UNIVERSITY CHURCH, CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY, JARO, ILOILO CITY
- Notably, the church architecture is resonant of an Indonesian or Malayan style of house
built on palm leaves and bamboo and is a famous landmark in Iloilo.
THE NATIONAL MONUMENT TO DR. JOSE RIZAL- The bronze and granite Rizal monument
located in Rizal Park, Manila, has long been considered among the most famous sculptural
landmarks in the Philippines. The monument is located near the very spot where Dr. Jose Rizal
was executed December 30, 1896.
On 28 September 1901, the Philippine Assembly approved Act No. 243, “granting the right
to use public land upon the Luneta in the city of Manila” where a monument shall be erected to
Jose Rizal.”
As conceived by the Act, the monument would not merely consist of a statue, but also a
mausoleum to house Rizal’s remains.
A Committee on the Rizal Mausoleum consisting of Poblete, Paciano Rizal (the hero’s
brother), Juan Tuason, Teodoro R. Yangco, Mariano Limjap, Dr. Maximo Paterno, Ramon
Genato, Tomas G. Del Rosario and Dr. Ariston Bautista was created.
The members were tasked, among others, with raising funds through popular
subscriptions. The estimated cost of the monument was ₱100,000.
By January 1905, that goal had been oversubscribed. When the campaign closed in
August 1912, the amount collected had reached ₱135, 195.61
More than twelve years after the Philippine Assembly approved Act No. 243, the shrine
was finally unveiled on December 30, 1913 during Rizal’s 17th death anniversary.
The Rizal Monument in Luneta was the work of a Swiss sculptor named Richard Kissling.
Kissling was only the second placer in the international art competition held between 1905-
1907 for the monument design.
The first-prize winner was Professor Carlos Nicoli of Carrara, Italy. His scaled plaster
model titled “Al Martir de Bagumbayan” (To the Martyr of Bagumbayan) bested 40 other accepted
entries.
Among his plans were the use of marble from Italy (in contrast to the unpolished granite
now at Luneta) and the incorporation of more elaborate figurative elements.
THE BELLEVUE THEATER, PACO, MANILA- During the advent and continuous growth of
Philippine cinema in the early 90’s, came with the establishment of Philippine theaters in the
Metropolitan Manila along with those in the Philippine provinces during the said period.
Regular live performances, film showings, and festivals used to be held on the theaters
that lead to significant improvements on Philippine culture including film, and performing arts.
 A number of Philippine cinemas were built within the City of Manila in the 90’s, and were
designed by prominent architects and currently recognized as Philippine National Artists, but are
closed due to post- World War damages and to give way to these days’ city developments.
PARISH OF THE HOLY SACRIFICE- First thin-shell concrete dome in the Philippines
The landmark Catholic chapel in the University of the Philippines, Diliman
Known for its architectural design, the church is recognized as a National Historical
Landmark and a Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Institute and the National Museum
respectively.
Designed by the National Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin, which was only one of
the five national artists who collaborated on the project.
Alfredo Junio served as the structural engineer for the project. Other Filipino artists
contributed to the design of the interior of the church.
Around the chapel are the fifteen large murals painted by Vicente Manansala depicting
the Stations of the Cross
The marble altar and the large wooden cross above it were sculpted by Napoleon Abueva;
The mosaic floor mural called the “River of Life” was designed by Arturo Luz.
Adjacent to the U.P. Health Service Building and the U.P. Shopping Center Bahay Kubo
mansion National artist for architecture Francisco Manosa, on May, 2008 built his own Ayala
Alabang Village Bahay Kubo Mansion.
With only 3 posts or “haligi”, it has 5 one-inch coconut shell doors, 2nd floor, a
“silong”, Muslim room, sala, and master’s bedroom with a fishpond therein.
ANTIPOLO CHURCH- The image of “Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage” has been venerated
in the church of Antipolo for centuries.
The old church that housed the virgin was destroyed in February 1945 when the
Americans bombed Antipolo as part of the liberation campaign of Manila.
In 1954 a new church was build designed by the renowned Filipino architect Jose De
Ocampo.
This church is of a coupular design centered around the image of the Virgin. It functions
as the center point of the pilgrimages to Antipolo.
THE FILIPINO ARCHITECTS
FABIAN DELA ROSA
- the first notable painter of the 20th century
- known for his realistic portraits, genre and landscapes in subdued colors
- first dean of the UP Fine Arts School
- Work: Rice Planters
FERNANDO AMORSOLO Y CUETO (1892-1972)
- The first and among the few Filipino painters who have captured the different striking
colors and character of the country’s magnificent sunlight (best known for his
illuminated landscapes)
- Student of Fabian Dela Rosa
- Works: Dalagang Bukid and Planting Rice
GUILLERMO TOLENTINO (1890- 1976)
- Trained in the classical style in Rome
- He is considered as the “Father of Philippine Arts”
- Works: The Oblation (UP), Bonifacio Monument (Caloocan), Filipinas in Bondage
JUAN ARELLANO
- A first generation architect that was sent to the US as one of the first pensionados in
architecture
- Designed the National Museum, the Jones Bridge, Arellano Post Office and the MET
theater
ANTONIO TOLEDO
- Consulting architect in 1938 until his retirement in 1954
- The youngest pensionado when he was sent to the United States to study architecture
at the age of sixteen
- One of the pioneer professors of Mapua Institute of Technology
- Designed the Manila City Hall, Bureau of Customs and the Department of Tourism and
Finance Buildings
TOMAS MAPUA
- Holds the distinction of being the first registered architect in the Philippines nicknamed
“UNO”
- He founded what is to become the Philippines’ top Architecture and Engineering
School, the Mapua Institute of Technology
- He also founded the first Architectural Association in the Philippines, the Philippine
Institute of Architects
PABLO ANTONIO
- Studied architecture at Mapua but dropped out of school in order to assist in the design
and construction of the Legislative Building (National Museum)
- 2nd awardee of the National Artist for Architecture
- Took Philippine architecture into a new direction, with “clean lines, plain surfaces, and
bold rectangular masses.” (Art Deco instead of the more popular Neoclassicism)
- Works: Ideal Theater, Nicanor Reyes Hall (FEU), Galaxy Theater
CESAR CONCIO
- The University architect of the University of the Philippines
- Works: Palma Hall (UP), Insular Life Building, Church of the Risen Lord (UP)
FERNANDO OCAMPO
- Received his Bachelor of Arts in Ateneo de Manila in 1914, his civil engineering degree
in UST 1919 and studied architecture in the University of Pennsylvania
ANDRES LUNA DE SAN PEDRO
- Son of the famous 19th century expatriate Filipino painter, Juan Luna
- Introduced the new architectural forms in the Philippines by using the Art Nouveau
Style
- The Manila government appointed him the chief architect, a position held from 1920-
1924
JUAN NAKPIL
- The eldest child of Philippine revolution veterans Julio Nakpil and Gregoria De Jesus
(the widow of Andres Bonifacio and maker of Phil. flag)
- Became an assistant architect for the Bureau of Public Works
- The first National Artist for Architecture (1973)
DANIEL HUDSON BURNHAM
- Planned by Daniel H. Burnham and executed by William Parsons (they wanted Manila
to be the Paris of Asia)
- Developed plans for Manila, Baguio and Pagsanjan, Laguna
- Development of the waterfront, parks, parkways, waterways and transportation
- Street system from one district city to another
- Location of building sites for various activities
STYLES THAT DEVELOPED IN ARCHITECTURE DURING THE AMERICAN COLONIAL
PERIOD
- Classic Revival Style
- Art Deco Style
- Beaux Arts
CHALET- a single-storey house that is slightly raised from the ground; constructed in reinforced
concrete and wood with an extended veranda in front; already has room divisions
BRISE SOLEIL- from French meaning “sun breaker”; in architecture, refers to a variety of
permanent sun-shading structures