The state of Philippine Architecture
I have noticed so far that in all my study of Architecture, many, if not almost all of the Architects we have discussed are those that do not come close to reside where I live. Most are in Europe, in the US, or in Japan. Why is that? What is so wrong with us that we do not gain any World Recognition – or any recognition – for what we do in Architecture? We’re known for being Domestic Helpers, we are known for being great Singers, great Japayuki stars, but Architects? Not much.
As for the Greats, of any field, like that of Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, and even those in Architecture, that of Louis Kahn, Rem Koolhas, and many others, all have one thing in common: They are clear about what they want, both in Life and in Architecture.
Despite the diversity, they all have a clear cut view of what they create and how it affects the world around them. It might be perhaps die to many factors: their education, their life experiences, their unique cultural identity that has in some way formed their design preferences.
Us Filipinos, on the other hand, do not know what we want in Architecture both as a collective and as individuals. Charice Pengpengco knew that she wanted to be known for her singing. Arnel Pineda and Apple Diyap and Lea Salonga knew the direction they were heading to. But what of our Philippine Architects? It seems only a handful stand out: the biggest names – Maniosa, Locsin, Calma. I noticed that all of them have what foreign starchitects also have: a clear direction, a clear picture of what they want Architecture to be.
Our architecture inevitably reflects that lost cultural and individual identity. We are at a loss of figuring out Who We Are, and thus at a loss of figuring out the direction of what our Architecture will reflect.
But in many ways, it cannot be helped. By virtue of our history we are so disparate as a nation: geographically, politically, culturally, socially, educationally, our Architecture likewise takes on that form.
Philippine Architecture is so disconnected from Who We Really Are because we ourselves do not know what we want to be. We are a culture that absorbs, rather than being a culture that shares, that expresses. We do not have our on identity because we adapt to the identities of other cultures. Some, many, even swear that there is no such thing as Heritage Philippine Architecture (a Bahay Kubo,maybe.) Some would say that Modern Philippine Architecture is but a deteriorating remnant of what was the Brutalist Marcos Era, those filthy buildings that rig the Metro Manila Skyline.
On saying what is wrong with Philippine Architecture depends first on what we think is right. What do we think is the right kind of Architecture? That answer will vary as much as the people who attempt to answer that question.
On a more general take on things however, from the buildings much celebrated anywhere, it seems that the right Architecture is the clearest expression of the Architect’s message, the Culture’s identity, the Era of which it was built. Aside from sheer genius and discipline, creating an effective translator between the abstract to the concrete through Architecture requires good – no, very good – education. Even from personal experience, I have found that very good education is a powerful, if not sometimes a determinant, of the level of success of a professional, especially in a specialized field such as Architecture. The standards are that which the International community celebrates, these are standards that have shown the man’s highest ability to express and create Art through Method and Science.
And these standards would not have been so if the Starchitects celebrated were not trained the modern way, the most forward, most progressive way. If Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhas or Peter Zumthor were to study here in some of what we call the “best” architectural schools, well then it would be obvious that their lives would have taken a totally different course.
Where is this going? To the direction it wants and should head to. If we want to equal those abroad, to equal their strong sense of direction and purpose, both in Life and in Architecture, we must first start with the foundations of Great Architecture – a strong sense of Cultural Identity, which starts with Good Education, something we lack in our Architecture Schools. Beyond that however, with good education already intact, it is more likely that one talent will rise above the rest. And in knowing what is modern, means constantly staying updated, constantly changing. We can use our Filipino skill of Adaptability in a more positive and productive way, and it’s time we did.
The question is not so much of what is wrong with Filipino Architecture in itself, but what is wrong with the culture from which its Architecture springs.
History of Architecture in a Nutshell 