Filipino Architecture

Is there really a Filipino architecture? Well, it depends on how you perceive what architecture is. But for me, there is.

Architecture is an art. It is an expression of one’s feelings and ideas about things and later on translated to real life. But architecture is not just simply about how things look. Or how it differs from other styles of architecture, because basically, this architecture styles we all look up to, defines what they are because of how they look outside. But the true definition of architecture is about having a structure that work as a whole, that the users of these structures are comfortable, happy and well suited for the structures.

So for my definition of architecture, I therefore conclude that people has different approach on things, on places, and on spaces. People have their own choice, their own taste, and their own language on how they understand things. Hence, there is architecture for different person. This means architecture is subjective; it varies from person to person, nation to nation, and culture to culture.

But who are we Filipinos, as a person, as a nation and as a culture?

Long before the Spaniards colonized us, we have our own architecture that is yet to evolve. We had our own “bahay kubo” that we can truly say the origin of Filipino architecture. We have different types of bahay kubo, depending on region, climate and location. But when the Spaniards colonized us, they built more sturdy structures that are perfectly suited for our climate. We can’t really say that the Spaniards have only brought hardship to us, because without them, our country wouldn’t progress as fast and as much by that time. We wouldn’t have been richer than China by 1960’s. Even when the Spaniards left us, the Philippines remained glorious under the United States. In fact, Philippines was a successful country by the time we were under the colony of Spain and the United States, but when they left us, we became chaotic. It could have been the time we could stand on our own, and let them know we are better without them. But our freedom led to disaster. Have we mishandled the freedom we just obtained or are we so eager to use this power we just achieved, or do we start again from where they left us, or do we wait for the next 400 years to be successful again?

Today, our country is a wreck of the past glorious Philippines. Disorder reigns within us. It seems that people do not care anymore for our heritage, our freedom and our history. But are we this kind of person? No we are not. We are hospitable, caring, loving and kind. We value our parents, our elders and our friends. We respect one another and we live in harmony within our community. These values and traditions we all so proud of seems to be forgotten. But all of these, we would not obtain, without our neighboring countries who all made who we are today. We are the combination of Asia, Europe and America. We are the international country. But we seemed to be lost. Is this because of being overwhelmed with countries that builds us up, or are we not capable of handling this huge responsibility given to us?

Probably, as a result of being an international country, we’ve been lost on our own. Perhaps, we were blinded with all of their riches and culture, or probably we were just blinded with more money they could give in exchange for our labor. Or we are still living being workers and slaves under our colonizers. It now appears, that being coined as an international country, doesn’t mean our culture is a mixture of different cultures but a country of workers that sells any labor it can offer in exchange of money or good life. It seems that we’re not yet free from countries that told us once that we’re just idiots and slaves. And we’re just acting under our unconsciousness that Filipino people are free. But we don’t deserve this. If only we had a government that cared for people and not for himself, we could have been better. We have so many riches in our country that we can enrich and develop to sustain our glory.