Intramuros Learning Sessions episode no. 57
Overview
Presently, there is an increasing interest in reconstructing the Seven Churches of Intramuros based social media specially in various pages related to heritage advocacy. Prior to the Second World War, Intramuros epitomized the grandeur of the Spanish colonial era with the numerous Church edifices of the first religious orders that reached the Philippines Islands – the Augustinians, the pioneer, followed by the ssecular priests, then by the Franciscans and its tertiary order, then by the Jesuits, the Dominicans, the Recollects and in the late turn of the century by the Capuchins. Also the religious congregations for women: Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus, Hijas de Caridad, Dominican Beatas and Monjas-Clarisas. Unfortunately, the aftermath of World War II left everything in ruin with the exception of the Iglesia de San Pablo (San Agustin), the only one left standing; and the Manila Cathedral, rebuilt shortly a decade after its destruction. With the existing archival photos available from the Intramuros Administration, San Agustin Museum and private collectors, this study evaluates the architectural elements of the Churches. The question remains, are they worth reconstructing.
- Guest speaker: Roy de Guzman
- Moderator: Rancho Arcilla
About the guest speaker: Roy de Guzman
Roy de Guzman is a Filipino liturgical architect and cultural worker. He is at present the In-House Architect at the San Agustin Church Museum in Intramuros, Manila, and Consulting architect of Order of Friars Minor-Province of San Pedro Bautista as well as the proprietor of RDG Ecclesiastical Architecture. As a practicing architect he is licensed in the Philippines and was honored as an Outstanding Young Architect of the Year in Professional Practice during the 43rd United Architects of the Philippines National Convention 2017. As an educator, he was honored as a National University Teaching Excellency Awardee in 2017. Ar. De Guzman has a BS in Architecture from the Far Eastern University. and a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, New York-Central Chapter.
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 Protecting Intramuros Part 3: Intramuros as a Creative Urban Heritage District | See Next ILS Episode Boljoon: Records to Retablo |
Check out our previous ILS episodes here
For more information contact the Center for Intramuros Studies via [email protected]
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