PART 4 The History of Civil Engineering in the Philippines (PDF)

D. The History and Development of Civil Engineering and its Profession in the Philippines During Spanish Time The history of the architecture and civil engineering profession in the Philippines were almost synonymous to each other. In more than three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish subjugation, th...

D. The History and Development of Civil Engineering and its Profession in the Philippines During Spanish Time The history of the architecture and civil engineering profession in the Philippines were almost synonymous to each other. In more than three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish subjugation, there were no Filipino civil engineers. Social prejudice constrained the repressed indio builders to content themselves to be called mere Maestro de Obras (Master Builders) even if they could design and build any type of structure that technology could allow at that time. Master Builders as of today were equivalent to Construction Foreman. Civil Engineering, as practiced in the Philippines during the Spanish era, was not by virtue of an academic title. There were no civil engineering schools in the country at that time and the only architects/engineers with academic degrees were Spaniards. The walled city in Intramuros was established by the Spaniards as a model community. The Friar Architects/Engineers during that time were the ones who built the government buildings, bridges, residential and other structures, incorporated European standards in engineering and architectural installations. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Filipino engineers were assigned the task of maintaining, repairing and/or remodelling infrastructure systems in all 'pueblos' or towns including churches, convents and government buildings. Maestro de Obras were called by the Ilustrados or the elite group to build structures in villas and mansions. 1571 Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the City of Manila on June 24, 1571 The Spaniards started building Fort Santiago (Fuerte de Santiago) after the establishment of the city of Manila under Spanish rule on June 24, 1571. 1577 With the arrival of the Franciscan Order to Manila in 1577, they began with construction of wood and cane churches that succumbed to natural catastrophes. In 1739 they constructed a stone church that was financed by the public charity and became one of richest in Intramuros. 1586 Designed and built by Jesuit priest Antonio Sedeno from 1586 to 1587, it is one of the oldest stone fortifications in Intramuros. Began as a circular fort called Nuestra Senora de Guia. Renovated in 1593 to join the walls of the city. Fort fell in disrepair and, in 1644, construction began for a new baluarte which was completed between 1653 and 1663. Resembling an ace of spades, it housed a foundry during the 18th century. The baluarte was breached by British forces with cannon fire in 1762. Restored and strengthened after the British occupation but was damaged during the 1863 earthquake. It was destroyed during the Battler of Manila in 1945. Restoration began in 1979 and completed in 1992. 1599 St. Augustine Church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. It was built in 1599: however, it was also destroyed and rebuilt many times. It is an immense structure of thick walls of Corinthian and Ionic designs. 1621 In 1621, Don Bernardino Castillo, a generous patron and a well-known devotee of St. Sebastian. Patron of Archers, donated his lot, which is now the present site of the San Sebastian Church. The original church, which was made of wood, was burned in 1851 during a Chinese uprising. The succeeding structures were destroyed twice by fire and an earthquake in 1859. 1883. and 1880 respectively. Father Esteban Martinez, the parish priest at that time, approached the Spanish Architect Genero Palacios with a plan to build a fire and earthquake- resistant church made entirely of steel. Ambeth Ocampo states that the present San Sebastian church was ordered knockdown in steel parts from the Societe Anonyme des Enterprises de Travaux Publiques in Brussels. Belgium. Two Belgian engineers supervised the construction of the church. On June 12. 1888, the first shipments of steel parts were brought to the Philippines. For two years, the church was assembled with local artists and craftsmen joining the Belgian firm in applying the final finishing touches on this new church of steel. The stained glass windows were imported from the Henri Oidtmann Company, a German stained glass firm. The engineering technique used in the construction of the church, including metal fixtures and the overall structure, were from Gustave Eiffel, the creator of the Eiffel Tower. This was confirmed when Chinese-American architect. I. M. Pei, visited the Philippines in the late 70's. He came to confirm what he heard about Gustave Eiffel designing a steel church in Asia. 1632 Puente Grande was the first bridge to be erected across the grand Rio del Pasig. Built in 1632, this wooden bridge connects Intramuros and Binondo together, making it easier and relatively faster to travel from one end to the other. It underwent several reconstructions and renovations as it was always heavily damaged by earthquakes. After the 1883 earthquake. Puente Grande was renamed to Puente de Espatia. The bridge was replaced in 1875 widening its spans to masonry of six and two central houses. It can accommodate both pedestrians and vehicles including horse or carabao drawn carts and carriages, and tranvia. This bridge was replaced for the last time with a neo-classical design by Juan Arellano in the 1930s and was called the Jones Bridge. 1645 Manila was hit by an earthquake and was reconstructed 1686 Irrigation and Water System The first artesian wells were built in Bells, Pampanga by Fr. Manuel Camanes. The water system in Manila (now MWSS) had its beginning from the water works constructed by Fr. Juan Peguero in 1686. The first irrigation system was constructed in Tanay, Rizal by Fr. Jose Delgado.