Felix Roxas Sr, Architect

Of course, the First Filipino Architect title goes to Tomas Mapua since he has the very first license when the profession was regulated. In the Spanish Period, there was one Filipino Architect who is responsible for 2 major buildings in the Walled City. This is one of the first slaps inflicted upon the Spanish Masters by the Filipinos, by selecting a Filipino-Spanish to build two of the missionary houses in the Philippines, they shattered the notion of Spanish Superiority, in Architecture.

Felix Roxas was educated in Europe and worked in England and India, when he came back in the Philippines, he was tasked to design two major Churches in Intramuros, the Santo Domingo and the San Ignacio Church.

Santo Domingo was designed in the Neo-Gothic Architecture, in vogue then in Victorian England and North America.

Second was the Jesuit Golden Dream, the San Ignacio Church in their second site on their return from the Philippines from exile. Working in the most notable Art Names of the Day: Manuel Flores, Isabelo Tampingco and the Arts School in Manila, the Jesuit Golden Dream was of Neoclassic design and the happiest moment in Philippine Hardwood Art.

Sadly, all of that was destroyed in the Liberation of Manila. This year, the facade of San Ignacio Church, along with the Ateneo de Manila in Intramuros will be rebuilt as part of the celebrations for the sesquicentennial celebrations of the University. This year, San Ignacio will start to house the Ecclesiastical Museum.

PS: I have noticed that the initiation for the restoration for the Jesuit buildings in Intramuros started from the Jesuits themselves. Now, Dominicans how long should we wait for you to act on UST and Santo Domingo? 400 years likewise.

Only Botica Boie could brag that Rizal was once their customer.

Escolta Museum (1/2)

Hidden in the second floor of the Landmark Calvo Building in Escolta, the museum brings back old memories of the greatness of the Philippines’ first Wall Street, Escolta. The Museum showcases the grandeur of Escolta’s Finest Buildings at its arcade and the culture it conveyed during that time. Exhibited in the museum is some scale models of some of Escolta’s famous buildings, old newpaper clippings from Escolta and how Escolta looked like from 1900’s to 1960’s. Also, some wooden planks dug from Escolta that was once planks supporting the Tranvia in Escolta during that time is also there.

Also, Calvo Building is the birthplace of one of the largest broadcasting companies of the Philippines, The GMA Network. It initially broadcasted here in Calvo Building, March 1, 1950 by the name RBC (Republic Broadcasting Corporation).

This is a part of the 2012 Work Plan

Leon Apacible House, Taal Batangas

Leon Apacible was an officer of the Revolutionary Government. This house was built in the 19th century and was renovated in 1940, adding Art Deco elements in the interiors of the house. The Art Deco improvement endeared this house to me. As you know, almost all of the 19th Century Bahay na Bato I’ve already seen got stuck in the medieval tropical Spanish style but this, it has kept pace with the times.

Congratulations to NHI for maintaining this one very well.

Escolta Museum (2/2)

Hidden in the second floor of the Landmark Calvo Building in Escolta, the museum brings back old memories of the greatness of the Philippines’ first Wall Street, Escolta. The Museum showcases the grandeur of Escolta’s Finest Buildings at its arcade and the culture it conveyed during that time. Exhibited in the museum is some scale models of some of Escolta’s famous buildings, old newpaper clippings from Escolta and how Escolta looked like from 1900’s to 1960’s. Also, some wooden planks dug from Escolta that was once planks supporting the Tranvia in Escolta during that time is also there.

Also, Calvo Building is the birthplace of one of the largest broadcasting companies of the Philippines, The GMA Network. It initially broadcasted here in Calvo Building, March 1, 1950 by the name RBC (Republic Broadcasting Corporation).

This is part of the 2012 Work Plan

Casa Manila Museum

See how the rich and prominent families of Manila lived during the turn of the century. The Casa Manila is a copy of a 1850’s San Nicolas House that was once located in Calle Jaboneros. At the first floor it is rented out to small businesses, like what they do during the old times. The second and third floor is a museum that exposes the Architecture and the Interior design that was lost when the old families abandoned their old domains in Old Manila.

It is shown that the prominent families flaunted their new-found wealth during the turn of the century with lots of hardwoods. Hardwoods are termite resistant and have a good natural polishing.

The furnitures, the second floor walls, beams, column, trusses and other wooden decorations are all made of precious Philippine hardwoods that are so scarce right now, blame deforestation and illegal logging. Name it: Narra, Kamagong and Molave.

Also, there are so many lifesize saints that are made of ivory and enclosed in a Neogothic Altar, that is how Santo Domingo influenced Manila Architecture after the 1863 Earthquake.

Up to the grand staircase, photography is prohibited (but I managed to sneak some private shots haha) but the exterior and the patio and are absolutely okay.

The Casa Manila Museum is one part of many colonial style houses in the Plaza San Luis Complex in Intramuros, Manila. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9AM to 6PM and Admission fee is 75 for regular and 50 for students and senior citizens. The Casa Manila is just beside the San Agustin Church.