HISTORY OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

REYES, SHAIRA E.
AR1154 PRE- COLONIAL
JULY 13, 2015 The Philippine archipelago was settled at least 30,000 years ago,
ARCH. BALAGAT when migrations from the Indonesian archipelago and elsewhere
are believed to have occurred.

The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via
land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The earliest archeological evidence of man in the
archipelago is the 40,000-year-old Tabon Man of Palawan and the Angono Petroglyphs in Rizal.

 “Migration through land bridges” Theory (H. O. Beyer)

 Tabon Cave
 22,000-20,000BC : Tabon Man
 50,000-10,000BC : Cutting Tools and burial jars

3000BC: The Austronesian migrations

began from the Chinese mainland,
reaching Taiwan first in 3500 BC then
the Philippines by 3000 BC. They
reached Sumatra and Java by 2000
BC, Northern New Guinea by 1600
BC, Samoa by 1200
BC, Hawaii, Easter Island,
and Madagascar by 500 AD, etc.
Austronesian Migration Theory
Expansion of a group of people called
the Austronesians from Asia into the
Pacific by means of Taiwan 6,000
years ago. The theory largely explains
the similarities in culture, language and
physical attributes in different countries
in the most Asian countries.
 EARLY SHELTERS

200-500 AD: Ethnic groups established numerous city-states formed by the assimilation of several
small political units known as barangay each headed by a Datu which was answerable to a Rajah.

Before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in

the Philippines in the 16th century, the Barangays were well-
organized independent villages - and in some cases,
cosmopolitan sovereign principalities, which functioned much
like a city-state. The Barangay was the dominant
organizational pattern among indigenous communities in
the Philippine archipelago. The name barangay originated
from balangay, a Malay word meaning "sailboat".

Kinship groups were led by a datu (chief), and within the

barangay there were broad social divisions consisting of
nobles, freemen, and dependent and landless agricultural
workers and slaves. Over the centuries, Indo-Malay migrants
were joined by Chinese traders. A major development in the
early period was the introduction of Islam to the Philippines by
traders and proselytizers from the Indonesian islands. By A.D.
1500, Islam had been established in the Sulu Archipelago and
spread from there to Mindanao; it reached the Manila area by
1565. In the midst of the introduction of Islam came the
introduction of Christianity, with the arrival of the Spanish.

 Each barangay consisted of about 100 families. Some

barangays were big, such as Zubu (Cebu), Butuan,
Maktan (Mactan), Mandani (Mandaue),
 Lalan (Liloan), Irong-Irong(Iloilo), Bigan (Vigan), and Selurong (Manila). Each of these big
barangays had a population of more than 2,000.

 Trading links with Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand, Java, China, India, Arabia, Japan flourished
during this era

Theories, as well as local oral traditions, say that the original "barangays" were coastal
settlements formed as a result of the migration of these Malayo-Polynesian people (who came
to the archipelago) by boat from other places in Southeast Asia (see chiefdom). Most of the
ancient barangays were coastal or riverine in nature. This is because most of the people were
relying on fishing for supply of protein and for their livelihood. They also travelled mostly by water
up and down rivers, and along the coasts. Trails always followed river systems, which were also
a major source of water for bathing, washing, and drinking.
The coastal villages were more
accessible to trade with foreigners.
These were ideal places for
economic activity to develop.
Business with traders from other
Countries also meant contact with
other cultures and civilizations,
such as those of Japan, Han
Chinese,Indian people, and Arab
people.
In time, these coastal communities
acquired more advanced cultures,
with developed social structures
(sovereign principalities), ruled by
established royalties and nobilities.

VERNACULAR – CLASSICAL PERIOD

Later on the invention of various tools allowed for the fabrication of tent-like shelters and tree
houses. Early Classical houses were characterized by rectangular structures elevated on stilt
foundations and covered by voluminous thatched roofs ornamented with gable-finials and its
structure could be lifted as a whole and carried to a new site.
IVATAN HOUSE, Batanes Island

ISNEG HOUSE, Cordillera Region

KALINGA, Octagonal House

KALINGA, Rectangular House

BONTOC HOUSE, Cordillera Region IFUGAO HOUSE
TOROGAN, Maranao House

This Classical Filipino House have three

types of house: is lawig the small
houses, The mala-a-walai the large
houses and the torogan. The existing
torogans were built by the community and
the slaves for the King in 1800s. This
house of the King has no partitions and it is
a multifamily dwelling where all the wives
and the children of the Hari (king) lived. The members. These were all used to prevent the
windows of torogan are slits and richly
framed in wood panels with okir designs
located in front of the house. The
communal kitchen is half a meter lower
than the main house is both used for
cooking and eating. The distinct
high gable roof of the torogan, thin at the
apex and gracefully flaring out to the
eaves, sits on a huge structures enclosed
by slabs of timber and lifted more than two
meters above the ground by a huge trunk
house from collapsing.
of a tree that was set on a rock. The end
floor beams lengthen as panolongs the
seemed to lift up the whole house. The
torogan is suffused with decorations. There
were diongal at the apex of the roof, also
an intricately carved tinai a walai, okir
designs in the floor, on windows and on
panolongs. There were also brightly
colored weaves or malongs hanging from
the rafters, it was hung up using ropes
around a particular territory for privacy. The
house was built to sway during
earthquakes. Twenty-five post of huge tree
trunks were not buried but are
freestanding. Sometimes, if needed, wooden
pegs were used to secure the wood
 KANKANAY HOUSE

BADJAO HOUSE, Boat House

TAUSUG HOUSE

TAUSUG PAJUK
 YAKAN HOUSE

THE BAHAY KUBO

The Bahay Kubo (literally "cube house") is the Filipino word for Nipa huts, they were the native
houses of the indigenous people of the Philippines before the Spaniards arrived. They are still
used today, especially in rural areas. Different architectural designs are present among the
different ethnolinguistic groups in the country, although all of them conform to being stilt houses,
similar to those found in neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries
of Southeast Asia.

Community members practicing "bayanihan", working together to move

a house to new location. Note that the nipa hut in this case has a thatch
roof, but also has an underlying layer of galvanized ironroofing material,
making the roof more waterproof than a simple thatch roof.
SPANISH COLONIAL ERA
Spanish colonization introduced European architecture into the country.. The most lasting legacy
of Spain in terms of architecture was its colonial parish churches designed by innumerable
Spanish friars. Many structures were made from local materials such as coral and volcanic rock.
BAHAY NA BATO
In this era, the nipa hut or bahay kubo gave way to the Bahay na bato (stone house) and became
the typical house of noble Filipinos. The Bahay na bato, the colonial Filipino house, followed the
nipa hut's arrangements such as open ventilation and elevated apartments. The most obvious
difference between the two houses would be the materials that was used to build them. The bahay
na bato was constructed out of brick and stone rather than the traditional bamboo materials. It is
a mixture of native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences. During the 19th century, wealthy
Filipinos built some fine houses, usually with solid stone foundations or brick lower walls, and
overhanging, wooden upper story with balustrades and kapis shell sliding windows, and a tiled
roof. Excellent preserved examples of these houses of the illustrious Filipinos can be admired
in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. In Taal, Batangas, the main street is also lined with examples of the
traditional Filipino homes.

BAHAY NA BATO (Floral Style)

 FLOOR PLAN

TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE
 PARTS OF BAHAY NA BATO

ENCOMIENDA

During the Spanish colonial period, the economy was based on exploitation, both of land and of
Indian labor. The first Spanish settlers organized the encomienda system by which Spaniards
were given title to American land and ownership of the villages on that land. In return for promises
to convert the Indians to Christianity, the Spanish were allowed to use the land and labor any way
they saw fit. This system quickly turned into something very close to outright slavery: Indians were
paid exceedingly low wages—if anything at all—to perform backbreaking labor on plantations and
in mines. The Spanish believed that their God-given duty was to convert the Indians, and that the
European notion of eternal salvation was a reward great enough to justify any possible
mistreatment in this life. The result was a race for control of people more than of land, and not too
surprisingly, abuses were so widespread as to become the norm.

AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD

 American settlement in the Philippines (or American
Filipino) began during the Spanish period, when
Americans came to the islands primarily to conduct
business. They owned many businesses in trade and in
the sugar industry. Although not harassed by Spanish
laws, the American inflow to the Philippines was minimal
until the Philippine-American War. Following the
colonization of the islands by the United States of
America, thousands of Americans have settled, either
temporarily or permanently. Most were either members of the U.S. military, or missionaries sent
by North American mission groups. After independence in 1946, many Americans chose to
remain in the Philippines while maintaining relations with relatives in the United States. During
the post-independence period, most Americans who settled in the Philippines were largely
professionals, although missionaries still continue to settle in the country. In 2012, the U.S. State
Department estimated that there were over 300,000 U.S. citizens living in the Philippines.

WORLD WAR II & JAPANESE OCCUPATION

As many as 10,000 people died in the Bataan
Death March.
War came unexpectedly to the Philippines. Japan openned a surprise attack on the Philippines on
December 8, 1941, when Japan attacked without warning, just ten hours after the attack on Pearl
Harbor. Japanese troops attacked the islands in many places and launched a pincer drive on
Manila. Aerial bombardment was followed by
landings of ground troops in Luzon. The
defending Philippine and United States troops
were under the command of General Douglas
MacArthur. Under the pressure of superior
numbers, the defending forces (about 80,000
troops, four fifths of them Filipinos) withdrew to the
Bataan Peninsula and to the island of Corregidor
at the entrance to Manila Bay where they
entrenched and tried to hold until the arrival of
reinforcements, meanwhile guarding the entrance
to Manila Bay and denying that important harbor to
the Japanese. But no reinforcements were
forthcoming. Manila, declared an open city to stop
its destruction, was occupied by the Japanese on
January 2, 1942. The Philippine defense
continued until the final surrender of United States-
Philippine forces on the Bataan Peninsula in April
1942 and on Corregidor in May. Most of the 80,000
prisoners of war captured by the Japanese at
Bataan were forced to undertake the notorious
Bataan Death March to a prison camp 105
kilometers to the north. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 men died before reaching their
destination.

Quezon and Osmeña had accompanied the troops to Corregidor and later left for the United
States, where they set up a government in exile. MacArthur was ordered out
by President Roosevelt and left for Australia on Mar. 11, where he started to plan for
a return to the Philippines; Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright assumed command.

The besieged U.S.-Filipino army on Bataan finally fell down on Apr. 9, 1942. Wainwright fought
on from Corregidor with a barracks of about 11,000 men; he was overwhelmed on May 6, 1942.
After his surrender, the Japanese forced the surrender of all remaining defending units in the
islands by threatening to use the captured Bataan and Corregidor troops as hostages. Many
individual soldiers refused to surrender, however, and guerrilla resistance, organized and
coordinated by U.S. and Philippine army officers, continued throughout the Japanese occupation.

The Japanese military authorities immediately began organizing a new government structure
in the Philippines. They initially organized a Council of State through which they directed civil
affairs until October 1943, when they declared the Philippines an independent republic. The
Japanese-sponsored republic headed by President José P. Laurel proved to be unpopular.

Japanese occupation of the Philippines was opposed by large-scale underground and

guerrilla activity. The Philippine Army continued to fight the Japanese in a guerrilla war and was
considered a back up unit of the United States Army. Their effectiveness was such that by the
end of the war, Japan controlled only twelve of the forty-eight provinces. The major element of
resistance in the Central Luzon area was furnished by the Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban
sa mga Hapon - "People's Army Against the Japanese"), which armed some 30,000 people and
extended their control over much of Luzon.

Japan’s efforts to win Filipino loyalty found expression in the establishment (Oct. 14, 1943) of a
“Philippine Republic,” with José P. Laurel, former Supreme Court justice, as president. But the
people suffered greatly from Japanese brutality, and the puppet government added little support.
Meanwhile, President Quezon, who had escaped with other high officials before the country fell,
set up a government-in-exile in Washington. When he died (Aug., 1944), Vice President Sergio
Osmeña became president. Osmeña returned to the Philippines with the first liberation forces,
which surprised the Japanese by landing (Oct. 20, 1944) at Leyte, in the heart of the islands, after
months of U.S. air strikes against Mindanao. The Philippine government was established at
Tacloban, Leyte, on Oct. 23.

MacArthur's Allied forces landed on Leyte on October 20, 1944. Landings in other parts of the
country followed, and the Associates pushed toward Manila. The landing was followed (Oct. 23–
26) by the greatest naval engagement in history, called variously the battle of Leyte Gulf and the
second battle of the PhilippineSea. A great U.S. victory, it effectively destroyed the Japanese
navy and opened the way for the recovery of all the islands. Luzon was invaded (Jan., 1945), and
Manila was taken in February. On July 5, 1945, MacArthur announced “All the Philippines are
now liberated.” The Japanese had suffered over 425,000 dead inthe Philippines. Fighting
continued until Japan's formal surrender on September 2, 1945. The Philippines suffered great
loss of life and monstrous physical destruction by the time the war was over. An estimated 1
million Filipinos had been killed, and Manila was extensively damaged.
The Philippine congress met on June 9, 1945, for the first time since its election in 1941. It faced
huge problems. The land was destroyed by war, the economy destroyed, the country torn by
political warfare and guerrilla violence. Osmeña’s leadership was challenged (Jan., 1946) when
one wing (now the Liberal party) of the Nationalist party nominated for president Manuel Roxas,
who defeated Osmeña in April.

POST WAR/ CONTEMPORARY

During Post war, Philippine Architecture was dominated by the American style. In this period the
plan for the modern city of Manila was designed with a large number of art deco buildings, by
famous American and Filipino architects. During the liberation of Manila by the Americans in 1945
large portions of Intramuros and Manila were destroyed. In the period after the Second World
War many of the destroyed buildings were rebuilt. At the end of the 20th century modern
architecture with straight lines and functional aspects was introduced. During this period many of
the older structures fell into decay. Early in the 21st Century a revival of the respect for the
traditional Filipino elements in the architecture returned.

When it comes to architects, there are lists of emerging architects during the Post war period.
Names like Manosa, Mendoza, Gabriel, Espina and Locsin. But Manosa and Locsin were the
most popular of all the emerging architects before and until now.

Fransico Manosa also known as “Bobby” is a national architect noted for its Filipino inspired
architectural designs and materials like bamboo and nipa. He was conferred National Artist award
by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2009. One of his famous designs is the Coconut Palace.

The Coconut Palace also known as “Tahanang Pilipino” is the official workplace of the Vice
president of the Philippines. It is located at CCP Complex, Pasay. The palace is made from
hardwood, coconut shells and a specially engineered coconut lumber also known as Imelda
Madera. Based from Wikipedia, it was commissioned by former First Lady Imelda
Marcos for Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1981. However, the pope declined the offer, saying that it
was too ostentatious a place to stay while in the poverty-stricken Philippines.

Leandro Locsin is not just an architect but he is also an artist and an interior designer. He is know
for his use of concrete, floating volumes and being simplistic in his design. He was proclaimed
a National Artist of the Philippines for Architecture in 1990 by President Corazon C. Aquino.

He has many famous works. Two of these are the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the
Church of the Holy Sacrifice.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is located at Pasay City. It was opened on 1969 to promote
and preserve Filipino arts and culutre. It was created by President Ferdinand Marcos with the
purpose of promoting and preserving Filipino arts and culture.

The Church of the Holy Sacrifice is located at University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.
It serves as a landmark chapel in UP Diliman. The church is known for its architectural design
and it is recognized as a National Historical Landmark, a Cultural Treasure by the National
Historical Institute and the National Museum respectively. Based from Wikipedia, the dome of the
church is supported by pillars located at the sides of the church, so that there are no supports to
block the space inside. The unique design of the dome allows natural lighting and ventilation. At
the middle of the dome is a circular skylight, which supports the triangular bell tower. The bell
tower, then extends to the interior, supporting the crucifix. The arrangement of the interior of the
church is concentric, with the altar in the middle.

REFERENCES

 Notes from History 4: Philippine Vernacular Architecture

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_the_Philippines#Caves
 http://www.philippine-islands.ph/en/philippine_history.html
 http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/history2.htm
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay_(pre-colonial)
 http://www.slideshare.net/janinademetria/pre-colonialperiod
 http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/early_history.html
 https://stephinciong.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/post-war-architecture/
 http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/japanese_colonization.html