Arcadio Arellano (13 November 1872 20 April 1920) was a notable architect who was

considered a pioneer during his time. He built famous edifices and the residential buildings of the
elite. In all his works, he departed from American and European designs and instead
incorporated Filipino native plants and motifs.
Arellano was born on 13 November 1872 in Tondo, Manila. He was the third child in a brood of
fifteen children. His father, Luis Arellano, was a native of Bulacan, Bulacan and was a builder
himself. The older Arellano built the Franciscan Church at Pinaglabanan, San Juan, and was also
a consultant to Don Juan Hervas, the Spanish consulting architect, from 1887 to 1883. Arellano's
mother was Bartola de Guzman.One of his uncles was Deodato Arellano, the propagandist and
first president of the Katipunan.
He acquired his elementary education from schools in Tondo. In 1892, he received his Bachelor
of Arts degree from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He took further courses in business
and maestro de obras (construction foreman) from the Escuela de Artes y Oficios where he
graduated in 1895.
Arellano served in the engineering corps and attained the rank of captain during the second
stage of the Revolution. He was responsible for supervising the repairs made to the Malolos
Convent in 1898. The Malolos Convent was used by the Revolutionary government during the
Revolution.

Arellano also supervised the assessments in Intramuros, Manila as ordered by the Schurman
Commission. By 1901, he became technical director of general assessment for the whole city. He
was also able to work closely with Governor W. H. Taft as his private consulting architect.
On 15 February 1907, he represented the district of Santa Cruz in the advisory board of Manila,
holding the position until 1 July 1908. He was then appointed member of the municipal board on
8 May 1909 and stayed in the same position until the end of the year. He was appointed board
member anew on 18 October 1913 until he resigned on 6 May 1915.
On 8 October 1915, he was tasked by the government to prepare the plans and specifications for
the construction of a monument for the heroes of 1896 under Act 2494. He finished the project a
year later.
Among the important ordinances he helped draft while being both adviser and councilman were
the following:

The punishment of gambling;

Awarding of a prize to the inventor of an inexpensive fire-proof roofing material;

Revision of the light and power rates; and,

Recovery of lands along Tondo beach.

He took part in preparing the building code for Manila and worked with Sergio Osmea in
planning the construction of a monument for Filipino heroes.