Intramuros Learning Sessions episode no. 74 – Colegio de Santa Rosa: History, Heritage, and Legacy



  • Guest Speaker: Rev. Fr. Emilio Quilatan, OAR
  • Moderator: Rancho Arcilla

About the Guest Speaker:

Rev. Fr. Emilio Quilatan, OAR is priest and historian the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno. He studied Philosophy at the Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary in Baguio City, and Theology at Recoletos Formation Center in Quezon City. He has a Licentiate (1998) and a Doctorate (2008) in Church History from the Potifical Gregorian University. He professed his vows as an Augustinian Recollect in1986, and was ordained a priest in 1992. A prolific author, he has authored and co-authored numerous publications, previously served as Dean at the Recoletos School of Theology, and has also taught church history at San Carlos Graduate School of Theology, UST Central Seminary, and at the Immaculate Conception Seminar in Guiguinto, Bulacan. He is presently the Archives Administrator of Archivo Recoletos.


About the moderator: Rancho Arcilla

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 a 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).


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]



See Previous ILS Episode
The Occupation of Women in 19th Century Manila
See Next ILS Episode
Pilgrimage with the Intramuros Pedicab Drivers: Art, Tourism, and Religion

Check out our previous ILS episodes here


For more information contact the Center for Intramuros Studies via [email protected]
Cannot find what you are looking for? Try requesting for more data via our eFOI Portal.