Filipino Architecture During the Spanish Era

Study Notes

During the Spanish era, Filipinos were not allowed to be civil engineers.
Filipino construction workers were called Maestro de Obras, equivalent to Construction Foreman today.
Spanish architects and engineers were the only ones with academic degrees.
The walled city of Intramuros served as a model community built by Spaniards.
Friar Architects/Engineers built government buildings, bridges, and residences, incorporating European standards.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Filipino engineers maintained, repaired, and remodeled infrastructure systems in towns.
Maestro de Obras built structures in villas and mansions for the elite.

Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the City of Manila in 1571.
Fort Santiago construction began in 1571.
The Franciscan Order in 1577 began building churches out of wood and cane that were destroyed by natural disasters.
A stone church funded by public charity was built in 1739.
Nuestra Senora de Guia was built as a circular fort from 1586 to 1587 by Jesuit priest Antonio Sedeno, one of the oldest stone fortifications in Intramuros.
It was renovated in 1593 to join the city walls.
Fort fell in disrepair in 1644 and a new baluarte was added and completed in 1663.
The fort was damaged by British forces in 1762 and during an earthquake in 1863. It was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945.
Construction on the Santiago castle/fortress began in 1591 and was completed in 1634, the second most important stone fortress in Manila.
The Santiago fortress was built from 1596 - 1602, the most important fortification in Manila and the starting point for the city walls.
St. Augustine Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines, began construction in 1599 and was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times.
In 1621, San Sebastian Church was built on land donated by Don Bernardino Castillo.
The original wood church was burned down in 1651 and the succeeding structures were destroyed by fire and earthquakes in 1859, 1863, and 1880.