Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Antonio
Pablo S. Antonio, who was posthumously awarded National Artist for Architecture in 1976, will be given
a state funeral on Friday, October 20, 2006 and his remains transferred to the Libingan ng Mga Bayani
on that day. His widow, 96-year old Marina R. Antonio, will be the recipient of the flag in the formal
military ceremony.
Upon returning to Manila he immediately embarked on a career spanning four decades, with
many of his greatest works built from the very beginning—the old Ideal Theater, the Far Eastern
University buildings, the beautiful Ramon Roces Publications building (still standing on Soler
corner Calero, Quiapo) and theWhite Cross Orphanage on Santolan Road where it has been
recently confirmed that the relief in front of the building is by Italian sculptor Francesco Monti.
Post-war, his works include the Manila Polo Club, original Manila Golf building, the first houses
of Forbes Park and many more.
A book on his life and works has been completed and is beginning to go into production. Being
published by Vibal Publishing, it is slated to be launched on January 25, 2007, Antonio’s birth
anniversary. The book will share with the public the inspiring story of his life and works. In
order to cover manuscript costs, advance orders for the book are being taken. Those who prepay
for their copies now get their names printed in the book as supporters of the project. For
inquiries contact project editor Vicky Veloso-Barrera at 4102279, (0916) 5165035 or at
tiny_planet@hotmail.com.
It is the hope of the Antonio family and other avid conservationists that with the release of the
book more awareness would be created of our country’s cherished landmarks, and that those
under threat, including Antonio’s Manila Polo Club, be preserved and protected.
Juan F. Nakpil (May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986) was a Filipinoarchitect, teacher and a
community leader. In 1973, he was named one of the National Artistsfor architecture, and
tapped as the Dean of Filipino Architects.
Biography
He was one of eight children of the Philippine Revolution veterans Julio Nakpil and Gregoria de
Jesús (who married the former after the death of her first husband Andrés Bonifacio). He died in
Manila in 1986 due to health reasons.
Education
He took up Engineering at the University of the Philippines and later, at theUniversity of
Kansas—where he received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He then studied
Architecture at the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts, in France upon the recommendation of
Jean Jacques Haffner, one of his professors at the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture. [2]
Other Establishments
Education
Santos graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1954 with a degree in the field of
architecture. He then pursued a second degree in Architecture, as well as a Master of
Architecture degree at the University of Southern California School of Architecture.[3]
Work
Santos pioneered the profession of landscape architecture in the Philippines.[4] He was
bestowed with the title of "national artist" for his outstanding achievement in architecture and
allied arts on June 9, 2006.[5]
Among the locations that comprise IP Santos' body of work are the landscaping of:
Death
Santos died at 10 in the morning on January 29, 2014.[6]
References
"Jose Rizal Relief Sculptures - Manila, Philippines - Relief Art Sculptures on
Waymarking.com". waymarking.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
"Architect IP Santos Jr. Library Collection Turnover to the College of Architecture Library |
UP Library Bulletin Online". uplibrarybulletin.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
Architecture from 1938 until he died in 1994. In his lifetime, Zaragoza set himself on
architecture.
José Maria Zaragoza (1912-1994) played a key role in the reconstruction of postwar
Philippines, helping reshape the landscape of Manila ravaged by the Second World
War through his striking structures that melded modernism and Philippine motifs and
styles.
He designed some of the most famous religious structures in the Philippines such as
the Santo Domingo Church and Convent and the Pink Sisters Convent, both in
Quezon City; the Union Church of Manila (a Protestant church) and St. John Bosco
Parish Church on Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road) in Makati; and the Shrine of Our
Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Posadas Village, Muntinlupa City.
He also designed the Pius XII Catholic Center in Ermita, Manila; and the Tala
Leprosarium in Caloocan City.
ADVERTISEMENT
Perhaps his most controversial liturgical work was his redesign of Quiapo Church.
Vatican recognition
Zaragoza had a diploma in liturgical art and architecture from the International
Institute of Liturgical Art in Rome. He also obtained a diploma in comprehensive
planning from the Hilversun Technical Research Center in The Netherlands.
He also became ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the
Philippines, a Catholic order with charities around the world. The order has a
permanent non-state-observer status in the United Nations.
Recognizing his contributions to the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II conferred on
Zaragoza the title Gentiluomo di Sua Santita (Lay Member of the Papal Household) in
1992. Men who receive such title serve as lay attendants of the Pope in Vatican City.
Futuristic lines
In 1975, Zaragoza designed the sci-fi-inspired Vira Mall in Greenhills, San Juan,
which depicted intergalactic travel through the ingenious use of glass tubes. The
Union Church in Makati was also designed along futuristic lines.
He designed some of the most famous religious structures in the Philippines such
as the Santo Domingo Church and Convent and the Pink Sisters Convent, both in
Quezon City; the Union Church of Manila (a Protestant church) and St. John
Bosco Parish Church on Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road) in Makati; and the Shrine of
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Posadas Village, Muntinlupa City.
He also designed the Pius XII Catholic Center in Ermita, Manila; and the Tala
Leprosarium in Caloocan City.
ADVERTISEMENT
Perhaps his most controversial liturgical work was his redesign of Quiapo Church.
Vatican recognition
Zaragoza had a diploma in liturgical art and architecture from the International
Institute of Liturgical Art in Rome. He also obtained a diploma in comprehensive
planning from the Hilversun Technical Research Center in The Netherlands.
Recognizing his contributions to the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II conferred
on Zaragoza the title Gentiluomo di Sua Santita (Lay Member of the Papal
Household) in 1992. Men who receive such title serve as lay attendants of the Pope
in Vatican City.
Futuristic lines
In 1975, Zaragoza designed the sci-fi-inspired Vira Mall in Greenhills, San Juan,
which depicted intergalactic travel through the ingenious use of glass tubes. The
Union Church in Makati was also designed along futuristic lines.
BAS-RELIEF depicting the Battle of La Naval by the Italian sculptor Francesco Monti. For
its architecture and its liturgical artworks—by Monti, Galo Ocampo, Antonio Llamas and
National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco—the Santo Domingo Church/ Shrine of Our
Lady of the Rosary of La Naval de Manila has been declared a National Cultural Treasure
by the National Museum of the Philippines.
(Another Locsin structure, Manila Mandarin, may meet the same fate soon.)
Among Zaragoza’s designs that have reshaped the Manila landscape are the
Meralco Building; the National Library; Commercial Bank and Trust Company in
Escolta, Manila, with its ingenious half-dome greeting motorists and commuters
from Jones Bridge.
His most famous office building is the Meralco Building, still the most beautiful
building in Ortigas Center.
The late architect and architecture historian, Benedictine Father Rodrigo Perez III,
said the 15-story Meralco “is slightly curved to give it more stability and to avoid
the boxlike appearance of rectangular buildings and the ‘train effect’ of straight
corridors. Tapering vertical sunbreakers enhance the gentle curve of the concave
façade.”
But without a doubt, Zaragoza’s most famous building is Santo Domingo Church
and Convent, which he designed for the Dominicans, his mentors at University of
Santo Tomas. The design married old and new and “follows the plan of the church-
tower-convento complex of the colonial period,” said Father Perez. “While the
building embodies the simplicity of modern design, such features as arches give it
a traditional touch.”
Zaragoza took up BS Architecture at UST and graduated in 1936. Two years later,
he placed seventh in the licensure examination and became the country’s 82nd
licensed architect.