John Paul Escandor Arcilla, known professionally as Rancho Arcilla, is the author of the Intramuros Register of Styles (2021). He served as Chairperson of the Intramuros Technical Committee on Architectural Standards (TCAS) from June 2022 to May 2024. As TCAS Chairperson, Arcilla oversaw the review of all development, including new constructions, in the Walled City.

Arcilla was also the first Archivist of the Intramuros Administration. With mandate from Atty. Guiller Asido, Administrator of Intramuros from 2017 to 2022, Arcilla established the Administration’s Archives and Central Records Section, serving as its first Section Head from July 2019 to June 2024.

He has an MA in Philippine Studies from UP Diliman and a BA in Asian Studies from the University of Santo Tomas. Arcilla specializes on colonial architecture.

In 2021, Arcilla was instrumental in the development of the Revised 2021 Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Presidential Decree No. 1616, the main framework and legal instrument in the management of Intramuros District. The architectural provisions of the IRR and the Intramuros Register of Styles (2021) is based on his MA thesis Walls within Walls: The Architecture of Intramuros (2021).

Updated: 05 June 2024.

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As main speaker

ILS 47 – Urban and Architectural Regulations in Intramuros

ILS 80 – 2021 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of PD No. 1616

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ILS episodes moderated/hosted

	Episode	Title
	76	The Big One: The 1863 Earthquake of Corpus Christi
	75	Pilgrimage with the Intramuros Pedicab Drivers: Art, Tourism, and Religion
	74	Colegio de Sta. Rosa: History, Heritage & Legacy
	73	The Occupation of Women in 19th Century Manila
	72	Santa Isabel College of Manila: A Lasting Legacy
	71	Bakit Dapat Isulong ang Pagbibisikleta sa Pilipinas?
	70	Access & Mobility For All: Enhancing the Mobility of Persons with Disabilities (Batas Pambansa Bilang 344)
	69	Safe Spaces Act (RA 1131) or the Bawal Bastos Law
	67	Civil Society & Local Collaboration: The Crucial Driven Force of Chiang Mai Creative City
	66	Mi Amada Ciudad Murada: The Literary Landscape of Intramuros
	65	Impacts of the Designation of Baguio as a UNESCO Creative City
	64	A Community-Centric Model for Cultural Sustainability
	63	Senses of Space: The Power of Memories and Its Struggle within the Malaysian Built Environment
	62	The UST Heritage Library: A Timeless Treasure
	61	Pamanahon: Digitally Recreating Pre-War Intramuros
	60	Istilong Prayle: The Architectural Styles of the Five Colonial Religious Orders in the Philippines As Observed
	59	Letran: A Philippine National Treasure
	57	Matriz: Architecture and Environ of the Mother Churches in Intramuros
	56	Protecting Intramuros Part 3: Intramuros as a Creative Urban Heritage District
	55	Housing our Heritage: Household Heritage Conservation Initiatives in the City of Silay
	54	UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery 150th Anniversary
	53	Protecting Intramuros Part 2: Current Conservation Projects in the Walled City
	50	Casa Manila: The Elegance and Romance of Spanish Manila
	49	In Truth and Virtues: Timeless Legacies of the University of Santo Tomas, 1611-1941
	48	Healthy Parks, Healthy People
	46	Mga Mahal na Araw, Mga Banal na Araw: Heritage of Faith and Theology in the Holy Week Practices in the Philippines
	44	Battle of Manila: Humanity Amidst the Carnage
	43	Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon: The Japanese-born Manileno Who Was Proposed as Manila’s First Saint 1945
	42	Jose Maria Zaragoza Defined
	41	Tala-Talaan: Documenting the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando, Pampanga Towards a Safeguarding Plan of an Intangible Cultural Heritage
	40	History-Writing With Bombs And Bulldozers
	39	Manila’s Tourism and Cultural Development Plan
	38	Justice is Served, Court Victories for Women & Children
	37	The Nostalgia of Manila Sound
	36	Tambay sa Pancitan: Luzon’s Ysla De Panciteria Project
	35	Walls, Water, and Warfare; A User’s Manual to the Walls of Intramuros
	34	South Cotabato Cacao
	33	Philippine Registry of Cultural Property: An Overview
	32	The Parian and the Spanish Colonial Economy
	31	Cultural Significance for World Heritage Sites: Understanding the Concept of Outstanding Universal Value
	30	Ang Pamana ni Sonny: Remembering the Life and Legacy of Martin I. Tinio Jr.
	29	A Discussion on the Conservation Management Plan of Intramuros
	28	Sifting Through The Myths of General Douglas MacArthur
	27	Letania: Architectural Documentation of San Agustin Church Retablos
	26	Santo Domingo Church and La Naval: The Intramuros Shrine and Its Rituals
	25	A Re-Assessment of Intramuros Architecture
	24	Leoncio Asuncion’s Iconology and the 19th Century Philippine Colonial Religious Sculpture: An Analysis
	23	The 1905 Burnham Plan for Manila
	22	Protecting Agricultural Produce
	21	Heroines of World War II
	20	Intellectual Property in Textiles
	19	History of Muslims in Hispanic Manila
	17	Creadoras: A Tribute to Betsey Westerndorp
	16	Rediscovering Biodiversity in Manila Urban Jungle During the Time of Pandemic
	15	Heroes of World War II Part 1: Escoda, Abad Santos, and Lim
	14	Indio Response: The Museo de Intramuros Collection
	13	19th Century Spanish Manila in Times of Epidemics
	12	A Visit to Luneta’s Colorful Past, Current State and Future Developments
	11	Making History and Heritage Matter: How the Past Defines the Future
	9	1945 Battle of Manila: The Intramuros Experience
	8	A History of Informal Housing in Intramuros
	7	In Praise of the Popular: Re-examining the Folk Santos
	6	Ang Fort Santiago sa Kasaysayang Pilipino
	5	Symbols of a Glorious Past: A Look at the Old Monuments of Intramuros
	4	Intramuros and the Making of the Filipino Nation
	3	Stone of Philippine DNA: Uncovering the Genome of Intramuros

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About the Intramuros Learning Sessions

The Intramuros Learning Sessions (ILS) is the educational lecture series of the Intramuros Administration (IA). The IA is an attached national government agency under the Department of Tourism. 

Topics are interdisciplinary and cover themes related to Intramuros and Manila studies, Philippine studies, as well as cultural heritage studies. Pursuant to IA’s charter, the ILS aims to contribute to the strengthening of the Filipino’s national identity and sense of belonging and pride.

For inquiries contact us at [email protected]

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Check out our other ILS speakers here

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For more information contact the Center for Intramuros Studies via [email protected]
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