Travel

The first mall in Manila was the Crystal Arcade, which was opened in 1932. The Art Deco commercial complex was designed by renowned architect Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of national hero Juan Luna. The mall featured detailed metal work, spacious and well lit galleries, air conditioning, and several floors with available space for … Read more

The First Office Towers of Manila The first office buildings that rose above the rooftops of Manila (aside from its many churches) were the El Hogar Building and Uy Chaco Building. The El Hogar Filipino Building was built in 1914, facing the Pasig River. The Neoclassical and Renaissance-inspired building was a wedding gift of Antonio … Read more

First Reinforced Concrete Building in Manila The first building in Manilato use steel mesh reinforced concrete was the Olsen Building at the corner of Calle Escolta and Calle Nueva (Yuchengco street today). It was built in 1906 by the Manila Construction Company. The building housed several companies in its long history, such as the Kiosko … Read more

Gregorio Aglipay Shrine One of the signatories of the Malolos Constitution, Aglipay was the first head of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) To fight against the Americans who invaded the province, Aglipay went to the thick forest of Pinili with some Filipino Soldiers whom he commanded to climb up tamarind trees in order … Read more

Casa Sunico Today, we celebrate the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day. Yet ironically, there seems to be a mentality to ignore or, worse, demolish our built heritage instead of celebrating and protecting it. Such is the case of Casa Sunico in San Nicolas, Manila. Built in the 1880s, … Read more