28 of the Most Beautiful Buildings

in the Philippines
By
Lamudi
-
March 26, 2016

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Here are some of the noteworthy scene-stealers in the Philippine architectural landscape.
 1. San Agustin Church (Manila
2. 2. Quezon Hall – University of the Philippines Diliman (Quezon City)
3. Philippine International Convention Center (Pasay)
4. The Mind Museum (Taguig)
5. San Miguel Corporation Building (Mandaluyong)
6. Zuellig Building (Makati)
7. Historic Town of Vigan (Ilocos Sur)
8. Philippine Arena (Bulacan)

The Philippines has had its share of cultural diversity, having been exposed to at least four
foreign powers in the past millennia or so. These foreign powers influenced more than just
the lifestyle of the native Filipinos, and in essence, changed the way Filipinos appreciated
beauty, in pretty much all aspects of the word.

Here, we list some of the most beautiful structures in Metro Manila and beyond, from
commercial and government buildings and malls to educational institutions and churches.

Main Building, University of Santo Tomas

España Avenue, Manila
Photo by Tristantamayo via Wikimedia Commons
Perhaps one of the most iconic and most beautiful buildings in the Philippines, the Main
Building in the University of Santo Tomas has been standing since 1924. Having been used
as an internment camp by the Japanese during the Second World War, there have been
numerous claims of ghost sightings and other supernatural occurrences. The Main Building
was designed by Rev. Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P., and was one of the first buildings in the
country capable of withstanding earthquakes. Today, it stands as a landmark in the heart of
the esteemed university, often as the background for wedding photo shoots or mistaken for
the University’s Church.

Henry Sy, Sr. Hall, De La Salle University

Taft Avenue, Manila
Photo by Patrickroque01 via Wikimedia Commons
One of the newer buildings in the De La Salle University’s Manila campus, the Henry Sy, Sr.
Hall was completed in 2012, and boasts an eco-friendly design adhering to the university’s
commitment to environmental responsibility. The building was donated by the business
tycoon and was designed by the architectural firm of Leandro V. Locsin. While the upper
floors hold the university’s library and the other administration offices, the ground floor,
which is pretty much an open field, is used as an event venue.

Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City
Photo by Ramon FVelasquez via Wikimedia Commons
The Quezon Hall, formerly called the Administration Hall, in the University of the Philippines,
Diliman, is home to the famous “Oblation” by the equally famous Fernando Amorsolo.
Designed by National Artist, Juan Nakpil, and built in the 1950s after the university
transferred from Padre Faura Street in downtown Manila, it was one of the four initial
buildings on the site of the university today. It was renamed Quezon Hall in honor of former
President Manuel L. Quezon. Today, it houses the university’s seat of administration.

National Arts Center

Los Baños, Laguna
Photo by Nickrds09 via Wikimedia Commons
Sitting on the northeastern slopes of Mount Makiling, the National Arts Center, built in 1977,
houses the Philippine High School for the Arts, and serves to train the artistically inclined, in
line with the nation’s law on the dynamic evolution of art and culture. The institution is
currently partnered with the Cultural Center of the Philippines for policy and program
implementation pertaining to the arts.

Malcolm Hall, University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City
Photo by Ramon FVelasquez via Wikimedia Commons
More commonly known to its residents as Malcolm Hell, Malcolm Hall houses the
University’s College of Law. It was designed by Juan Arellano, and named after one of the
former Justices of the Supreme Court, Associate Justice George A. Malcolm, who initially
proposed the idea of the university instituting a law school. Although the law school was
instituted in 1911, it was only in 1948 when Malcolm Hall was used by the university as
home to its College of Law. It now houses one of the biggest and most important law
libraries in the country, and with it, some of the most coffee-driven and sleep-deprived
students one would meet.

Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP Complex, Pasay
Photo via Shutterstock
Designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin and built in 1966, the Cultural Center of the
Philippines was one of the cultural projects commission by the late dictator, Ferdinand
Marcos. This particular project, however, was spearheaded by First Lady Imelda Marcos,
for the promotion and development of the Filipino arts and culture. Since its foundation, the
CCP has been host to a great number of local and international events, and has served as
a stage for world-renowned plays and artists.

Philippine International Convention Center

CCP Complex, Pasay
Photo by Michael Francis McCarthy via Flickr
Also designed by Leandro Locsin, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
was built in 1976 and situated just west of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The PICC
was built to host conferences in line with former president Marcos’s attempt to make Manila
one of Southeast Asia’s financial centers. Over the years, it has hosted, among others,
beauty pageants and awarding ceremonies, but has still been used for international
meetings and conventions.

The Mind Museum

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Photo by Philipjoel via Wikimedia Commons
One of the many interesting places to go to in The Fort is the Mind Museum. Since its
official opening in 2012, the Mind Museum has enticed people from all ages and all walks of
life. On the outside, it features eco-friendly facilities, while, on the inside, a diverse selection
of what some people might refer to as art, and to the rest, science.

National Museum of the Philippines

Taft Avenue, Manila
Photo via Shutterstock
One of the most beautiful buildings in downtown Manila, the National Museum of the
Philippines is actually composed of four museums, but let’s focus on the building housing
the Museum of Fine Arts, which is, admittedly, what comes into the common person’s mind
when one mentions the National Museum. The National Museum of Fine Arts was built in
1921, and houses a number of important works of art. The most prominent, perhaps, would
be Juan Luna’s “Spoliarium.” It houses, as well, other forms of anthropological and scientific
exhibits. Recently, the museum has been empowered by the government to declare,
restore, and protect certain cultural sites.

Manila Metropolitan Theater

Padre Burgos Avenue corner Arroceros Street,
Manila
Photo by Ree Dexter via Flickr
The Manila Metropolitan Theater was built in 1931, and has housed different performances
from zarzuelas and dramas to translation of foreign classics. It was designed by Juan
Arellano, and continued to remain open until 2012 when it was closed down for
rehabilitation (due to decades of decay). Today, this Philippine building for performing arts
stands as a shadow of its once-glorious history, and hopefully will soon open to entertain
Filipinos once again.

San Miguel Corporation Building

Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Photo by Nix222 via Flickr
Inspired by the rice terraces of the Cordilleras, the Mañosa brothers designed the San
Miguel Building and incorporated environment-friendly concepts into its design. Built in
1984, it has served as the head office of the San Miguel Corporation, one of Southeast
Asia’s largest food and beverage conglomerates.

Zuellig Building
Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati
Photo via Shutterstock
One of the few office buildings in the Makati central business district that opened after 2010,
the Zuellig Group had the building designed by renowned architectural firms Skidmore,
Owings, and Merrill and W.V. Coscolluela and Associates to blend in with the sky. Aside
from the aesthetic feature of the building, it is also one of the few LEED-certified buildings in
the Philippines.

GT International Tower
Ayala Avenue corner H.V. Dela Costa Street,
Makati
Photo via Shutterstock
One of the most recognizable buildings in Makati, the GT International Tower was named
after George Ty, Metrobank owner and one of the Philippines’ wealthiest businessmen. This
office block on the corner of Ayala Avenue and H.V. de la Costa Street was built in 2001
and is crowned with a 10-story vertical fin that serves as its visual signature.

Ayala Tower One and Exchange Plaza

Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati
Photo via Shutterstock
Originally built in 1996 to entice the Philippine Stock Exchange to relocate to Makati after
they decided to transfer to Ortigas, it is currently being used as offices with one floor being
used as trading floors by the Philippine Stock Exchange. It was built adjacent to the Ayala
Triangle and on the Exchange Plaza.

The Enterprise Center

Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati
Photo via Shutterstock
Yet another beautiful building in Makati, the two-tower Enterprise Center is located across
the Ayala Triangle, right on the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue. It was built in
1999, and remains to be one of the landmark buildings along the famed CBD.

Manila City Hall

Ermita, Manila
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
The City Hall of Manila serves as the seat of power in the nation’s capital city. It was
originally intended by American urban planner Daniel Burnham to be a part of a national
government center in 1939, but right now is used exclusively by the city of Manila. The
building, which coincidentally is shaped like a coffin when viewed from the sky, has been a
known site for the supernatural.

Sulu Provincial Capitol

Jolo, Sulu
Photo by Agtillah via Wikimedia Commons
There are many beautiful buildings in the Philippines found outside the capital. One such
building is the Sulu Provincial Capitol, which was designed in consonance with Islamic
architecture. Its prominent domes resemble those of the Taj Mahal in India.

Cebu Provincial Capitol

Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City
Photo by By Mike Gonzalez via Wikimedia Commons
When it comes to designing government buildings in the Philippines, Juan Arellano was one
of the country’s most prominent. One of his most lauded works is the Provincial Capitol of
Cebu, which was inaugurated in 1938. Having been built to replace the old Casa Provincial
in the city’s Spanish quarter, the capitol building is a grand illustration of power, it being a
fortress of sorts.

Leyte Provincial Capitol

Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City, Leyte
Photo by Ustadz via Wikimedia Commons
Once upon a time, it was the seat of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines
when former President Sergio Osmeña returned in 1944 along with the Liberation Forces.
Built in 1907, it is now being used as the seat of the provincial government of Leyte.

Supreme Court of the Philippines

Taft Avenue corner Padre Faura Street, Manila
Photo by Mike Gonzalez via Wikimedia Commons
The Supreme Court of the Philippines was instituted in 1901 during the American period,
and was composed of a majority of American justices, but in time, started to include Filipino
justices among its ranks. It is currently located on the corner of Padre Faura and Taft in
Manila, serving as the highest tribunal in the land.

Manila Central Post Office

Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most iconic buildings in downtown Manila, the Manila Central Post Office was
designed by Juan Arellano and Tomas Mapúa, and built in 1926. It was severely damaged
during the Second World War, and was rebuilt after liberation. The building today is fronted
by a plaza, Liwasang Bonifacio, where rallies are often held.

The Coconut Palace

CCP Complex, Pasay City
Photo by Michael via Flickr
The Coconut Palace was built in 1978, and serves as the official residence and workplace
of the Vice President of the Philippines. It was designed by Francisco Mañosa, and was
commissioned by former first Lady Imelda Marcos, supposedly as a tribute to the local
coconut industry. Marcos also offered it as a guest house for Pope John Paul II for the
pontiff’s 1981 visit to the Philippines, who declined, saying that the place is too opulent
given the level of poverty in the country.

The Manila Cathedral

Intramuros, Manila
Photo via Shutterstock
It was originally referred to the Church of Manila when it was first established in 1571, but
the structure as it is today was built only in 1958 after it was demolished in 1945 during the
Battle of Manila. It has been a venue for important religious ceremonies such as weddings
and papal masses, the latest one was the mass celebrated by Pope Francis.

Palacio Del Gobernador

Intramuros, Manila
Photo via Shutterstock
The former official residence of the Spanish governor general, Palacio Real or Palacio Del
Gobernador is now the office of the Commission of Elections. The structure was turned into
a bomb shelter by the Japanese during World War II and story has it that after the 1945
Battle of Manila, American soldiers found several dead bodies inside the shelters.

Iglesia Ni Cristo Commonwealth

Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City
Photo by Richard Köhl via Wikimedia Commons
Built in 1984, and one of the grandest structures along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon
City, the Iglesia Ni Cristo Church is a bigger and more beautiful version of the other smaller
churches in the country. It was designed by Carlos Antonio Santos-Viola and is uniquely
identified, along with its other churches to be of Gothic architecture.

Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, University of the

Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
Photo by Ramon FVelasquez via Wikimedia Commons
More commonly known as the UP Chapel, the church was designed by Leandro Locsin and
was built in 1955, commissioned by Fr. John Delaney. It is the only structure in the country
where works of four National Artists can be found.

Luneta Hotel
Kalaw Avenue, Manila
Photo by Lawrence Ruiz via Wikimedia Commons
One of the beautiful old buildings in Manila along Kalaw Avenue, the Luneta Hotel was
completed in 1919, but was closed down in 1987. It was designed by Salvador Farre, and
remains as one of the most beautiful French-inspired buildings, if not the only one, in the
area. It reopened in 2014 with the installation of a historical marker by the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines.

The Manila Hotel

Rizal Park, Manila
Photo via Shutterstock