Chapter Review
Arch 117
Abegail Imee R. Enriquez
2012-68836
Spanish Colonial Period
How does Spanish Colonial architecture reflect Filipino identity? Discuss the various building types and their relationship to pre-colonial architecture in your arguments.
Spanish colonial architecture reflects Filipino identity mostly through the Religious Architecture. As what the world knows, Philippines is the only Catholic country in Southeast Asia; thus, most of our structures all over the archipelago were Catholic Churches due to the influence of Catholicism. Filipino Identity was basically patterned from the Spanish; the way the Filipinos think of standards, the way Filipinos design, and the way Filipinos appreciate things. It can always be reflected on the buildings and houses that Spanish Colonization really made a mark in the Philippines. Typical Filipino houses evolved for the better because of their colonization. Our towns, streets, and governance were merely patterned on theirs. The formation of our streets, houses, and groupings of each citizen were simply adopted from the Spaniards. Religion is the center of Spanish influence, which was adopted by the Filipinos. In most of Filipinos’ houses, there must exist an altar, a specific place where the Sto. Niños and Saints were positioned. Through this influence, the space inside the typical house of a Filipino was added and later on became divided. In the building types, the main four classifications of each were the Military architecture which made the Philippines to have watchtowers, fortresses, and other structures that served as defenses; Religious Architecture which focuses on the building of the churches for the Christianity purposes; Domestic Architecture which caused the evolution from bahay kubo to bahay na bato into the idea of Arquitecture Mestiza; and lastly, Civil Architecture which involves structures needed in running the city.
Spanish Colonial Intent in Relation to Historical