After all, not every country has beautiful buildings to showcase their rich culture. Some may even have ugly or nonexistent architecture that puts a negative influence on people’s perception of their nation’s beauty.

This is definitely not the case for the Philippines! We are surrounded by impressive structures built across our vast countryside!

Many famous landmarks were designed and constructed with great care and attention to detail. These include buildings and monuments such as the Manila Oceanview Hotel, Robinsons Tower Malate, SM Aura Makati, Ayala Center Bacoor, The Fort Canlubang, and so many more!

Not only do these architectures add glory to our country’s tourism industry, but they also strengthen our national identity. They help us connect to ourselves as Filipinos — we would never forget where we come from if we weren’t born here!

Furthermore, most of these sites are known worldwide; tourists flock in en masse to see them, proving the quality of the Filipino talent. This gives us an opportunity to show off our architectural prowess and gain global recognition.

History of architecture

Modern day architectural styles are influenced by many things, including natural features such as mountains or water, cultural traditions like mosques or temples, and political ideologies.

Architecture has always been a way to show off wealth and power, but it is more than that-it expresses our culture and beliefs.

The Islamic palace structures in Morocco are designed in direct contrast with European cathedrals – place of worship for Christianity. The Taj Mahal, one of the greatest monuments built during the Mughal Empire, was inspired by Persian geometrical shapes and patterns.

These examples prove that architects not only use nature as inspiration for designs, they also draw from other cultures. This shows how much influence larger groups have on newer generations.

Philippine culture has some beautiful architectures that showcase its rich history and heritage. For example, most cities feature tall roofs made out of tiles or clay. These would be easy to transport and therefore cost efficient to build.

This theory explains why so many buildings look similar throughout Asia.

Important historical landmarks

The Philippines has some incredible architectural wonders that have influenced other countries around the world. These include the famous walled city of Manila, Intramuros in Manila, Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Taj Mahal in India, and so on.

The Philippines’ history is dotted with significant events such as its invasion by Spain in 1565, their rule under the Spanish Empire from 1603 to 1898, and later American colonial occupation up until World War II when Japan took over.

These powerful empires left behind beautiful structures and monuments that still stand tall today. One of these is the Walled City of Manila which was built to protect the wealthy elite living inside from attacks.

It now serves as an attraction for tourists coming to see what life was like during this important period in our country’s history. There are also examples of beautifully designed buildings from the era of the Spanish empire such as the Cathedral of Santo Domingo in Madrid, Peru, and Cathedrals across Europe.

Another major influence comes from the Japanese after they occupied the Philippines in 1941. Many Filipino architects were trained in the ancient art of samurai architecture, and many buildings here display inspiration taken directly from this style.

There you have it! Some of the most influential architectures in modern day Philippine culture come from different periods in our nation’s past.

Influence of the Spanish Empire

After centuries under various empires, such as Spain’s, Italy's, France's, Portugal's, and Germany's, the Philippines was finally liberated in 1898. This gave rise to an era of self-governance for the country.

Prior to this, the Netherlands had occupied Manila from 1646 until their eventual defeat in 1815. They left behind many architectural wonders that are still seen today. These include the Malate Church, which is now part of the University of the Philippines campus, and Intramuros, or “dry walled city” as it’s also known.

Intramurals were common during this time period due to the protected status of the area. Only people living within the dry walls could enter, making it almost like a modern day gated community. Businesses would operate out of these quarters and some even survived up until the Japanese occupation in 1941.

After World War II ended, developers began buying up property in Intramurals and converting them into business establishments or apartment complexes. Some famous condominium buildings got their start here. Others remain well-known hotels such as The Peninsula Manila and the Westin Hotel.

These types of developments not only helped foster economic growth, but they also influenced Filipino culture. Filipinos have become very familiar with the concept of urbanization through the use of condos and apartments.

The Philippine Revolution

After more than 500 years of colonization, the Spaniards gave up in Philippines. No longer able to govern the country due to lack of resources and manpower, they left behind an architecture legacy that still stands strong today.

The most recognizable spaniard architectural style is the Spanish colonial classic which consists of large churches, convents, and palaces. These buildings are characterized by their use of heavy stone or brick as material and their elaborate façades made of ornate tiles or frescoes.

Not only do these buildings exude strength and beauty, but also importance for society at the time. They were built to be landmarks, designed to inspire awe and reverence.

Many of these buildings remain active religious sites even now. For example, Manila’s La Salle Cathedral was completed in 1616 and can currently be visited and attended regularly. It remains a significant site for local Catholics.

Other examples include the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Chichén-Itzá in the Yucatan Peninsula, and Machu Picchu in Peru. All three of those places have become popular tourist destinations over the past few decades.

Another important aspect of this style is its influence within Filipino culture. Many Filipinos refer to the church as “kapampangan” (Tagalog for foreign) because it looks like something from outside of the country.

The Marcos regime

After World War II, the Philippines was left with lots of rubble and an even bigger population. Manila became one large construction site as rebuilding started everywhere to make way for new developments.

A few powerful people made huge fortunes off of this boom time. One such person was Hilario G. Dupre, who built his fortune by investing in real estate. He would go onto create one of the most recognizable brands in the country – Architectural Digest (AD).

Under President Ferdinand Marcos’ rule from 1972-1985, AD was very popular. It featured beautiful homes and picturesque landscapes that were designed or decorated by famous architects and designers.

These include houses and buildings done by Pablo Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and other well known artists. Many of these designs are still seen in modern day architecture.

Modern architecture

Filipino culture has always been shaped by its geography, history, and people. These three factors have played an important role in defining what kind of cultures we have today. For instance, our geographical location as a nation has influenced how we relate to each other and live our lives.

Our history is filled with powerful empires that left their mark on us – from the Mayans to the Spanish to the Americans. And our ethnic diversity makes it difficult to create one style or stereotype of cultural influence.

It is this combination of factors which creates many different types of cultures within The Philippines. Some are more open-minded and accepting of others, while others are very close-knit and protective.

Architecture also plays a big part in shaping these cultures. Buildings not only tell you about who built them and why, but they also send a message to the surrounding community.

Modern day architects use architectural styles to convey a message or express an idea. A classic example of this is the Empire State Building in New York City.

That building embodies the bold strength and power of the skyscraper — something the United States boasts as its signature structure. It’s also well known for being sleek and elegant, drawing attention to itself.

A famous movie set in America features the Empire State Building as the main antagonist. In the film, the villain destroys parts of the state house in order to weaken it and make it collapse.

Trends in architecture

Over the past few decades, there have been many trends in architectural styles that have influenced how people live their lives. Some of these are very popular at this moment such as using glass or metal as material for roofs, keeping homes close to nature by having green spaces and so on.

Other trends come and go, but none seem to stick around for too long. A classic example of this is the use of skyscrapers.

When we talk about skylines, we usually consider tall buildings to be a good thing because it gives us an overall feeling that we are living in a powerful place. On the other hand, not everyone feels comfortable with large towers next to them and their houses.

This way of looking at things changes when a new trend comes along. In the early 2000s, it was fashionable to build low and wide buildings which were considered spacious. This style has now disappeared leaving only memories.

Why? Because it does not fit into our current lifestyle. We want our houses to be small and tight so we can easily park our cars outside! And even if you do not have a car, a space big enough to get out takes up lots of room.

Architecture shapes our culture and what we believe to be important. It is part of the social fabric of our cities. Therefore, let’s look at some examples of ways that architecture impacts Filipino culture.

Famous architects

After all, great architecture does not happen by accident. It is planned with precision and executed beautifully. Some of our country’s most famous structures were designed and built by professional artists – people who devote their lives to creating inspiring works of art.

Many know Filipino architect Francis Biteng as the creator of Manila’s tallest building, The Fort Canning Tower. He was also responsible for designing some of the city’s other iconic skyscrapers such as the One Pacific Plaza (formerly known as First Pacific Center) and the AsiaWorld Trade Centers (now called World Trade Centre).

But he did not limit himself to buildings alone. His artistic talent extended into painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, furniture design, and even graphic arts!

His architectural designs have left an indelible mark in the Philippines — they are recognizable, bold, and aesthetically pleasing. And his work has inspired many like him who wanted to make a career out of shaping spaces and environments through the use of beautiful materials and decorations.

Interior designer Bernadette Gregorio studied under Biteng before establishing her own firm where she continues to experiment with new styles and concepts. She says that working under his tutelage influenced her approach to space organization and decoration.

I always look up to his creativity and how he approaches projects. I admire his sense of color and material selection.