MANILA, Philippines - Gabaldon: Named after Isauro Gabaldon, a Philippine congressman, author of 1908 legislation paving for the construction of American colonial-period schoolhouses of reinforced concrete and wood, architecturally designed for the tropics by Yale graduate Willliam Parsons. The schoolhouses, based in standardized designs, were raised above the ground, had high ceilings under steep roofs, kapis shell (Placuna placenta) windows, and wide porticos evident in the outstanding surviving examples Pampanga High School in San Fernando and Baguio Central School.
Neoclassical: A revival of motifs from Graeco-Roman art in architecture, done or sometimes replicated in a precise, scholarly manner. This was the style favored by the American colonial authorities in the early 19th century to mark their presence in the Philippines. The 19th century church of Malabon (Manila), and the American colonial era structures, Manila Post Office and the National Museum(both in Manila), and various Provincial Capitols constructed by the American colonial government during the early 20th century are good examples.
Neo-Gothic: Revival of decorative motifs from the European Gothic era (ca. 1140-1550) with pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, spores, stained glass windows seen at San Sebastian Church (Manila), the interiors of 19th century Lopez (Balayan, Batangas) and Ilagan (Taal, Batangas) houses.
Neo-Mudejar: Revival of a 14th century medieval Spanish-Muslim style characterized by complicated, exposed wooden trusses, horseshoe arches seen in the former Agustinian Provincial Building in Intramuros (Manila) now the Cojuangco Building and the exposed trusses of Santa Monica Church in Sarrat (Ilocos Norte).
Neo-Renaissance: Revival of 14th century Italian Renaissance that revived the formaility of ancient Roman architectural details, rounded arches, colonnades, open galleries, and cupolas. Examples are the Philippine General Hospital Nurses Home and Calvo Building in Manila, and the Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan in Lingayen.
Streamline Moderne: This style evolved from Art Deco in the early 1930’s when streamlining became the hallmark of industrialized production that appeared not only in architecture but more significantly in ocean liners, aiplanes, home appliances, furniture. The Jai Alai Building in Manila (destroyed on 2000) and the “Boat House” in Iloilo are outstanding examples.
Tampinco: The popular late 19thcenturty sculptor IsabeloTampinco adapted stylized Philippine flora into doors, panels, and frames, known in elite circles as the estilo Tampinco, that gained even more popularity with the incorporation of Art Noveau designs for sinuously carved tropical vines and leaves from the Phliippines. Many examples of his work survive in private residences today.
Vigan style: During the 19th century, Ilocos province developed its own variant of civil architecture. Instead of the conventional stone and brick ground floor with wooden upper floor, in the province both floors of the entire structure were of brick. Instead of an upper floor overhang traditional in the rest of the country, facades were flat and articulated by heavy cornices and pilasters dividing bays. Bricks were never exposed, always covered with a coat of lime plaster for protection. Volada: A “flying gallery” (galeria volada) extends the length of the street front to protect the interior from sun and rain. This gallery, enclosed from the elements by sliding windows of kapis panels, can be closed off from the interior with wide double doors, as seen in two Vigan (Ilocos Sur) examples, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Quema House.
The glossary, an extremely brief and incomplete introduction to a few architectural styles, is by no way comprehensive or conclusive. Two descriptive sentences cannot even begin to express what a style sets out to achieve through architecture.
To be aware of the nuances of architecture through the ages takes deeper study, which is precisely what reading “Balangkas” encourages.
“Balangkas” is available at the NCCA, General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. Call 5272192, fax 5272191 or e-mail info@ncca.gov.ph.
Heritage lecture
Heritage Conservation Society will hold its 4th Architectural Conservation Lecture on the “Economics of Heritage Preservation,” by Victor Venida, on Aug. 16, 2:30-5:00 p.m., at the Army and Navy Club Building (now Museo ng Maynila), South Blvd., Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila.
Venida, of the Department of Economics of the Ateneo de Manila University, will speak on government and private financial initiatives to spur heritage development.
Registration starts at 2 p.m. There is a minimum donation of P200. Students with valid ID are free of charge. Snacks will be provided by the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission. For reservations, call 5212239 and 5222497.
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