a. Cultural Significance

Intramuros, Manila in 1869 was the original residence of the Government of the

Philippines before the earthquake leveled the Governor's Palace. Malacanang was became

the summer home of a Spanish aristocrat Don Luis Rocha and has been purchased to

become the temporary residence of the Governor-General Rafael de Echague Y

Berminghan, the first Spanish Governor to occupy Malacanang. Another earthquake

occurred that result to reconstruction and renovation of the Palace. The Porticos were

added to the facade to shelter waiting carriages. In 1885, the flagpole was installed in

front of the palace. The decaying woodwork, stucked shell windows, leaking roofs, loose

kitchen tiles, drooped stables were some of the reflected deterioration due to numerous

natural phenomena encountered from the past.

When the American Sovereignty came after the Spanish- American War,

Malacanang Palace became the residence of the American Governor-General. Gen.

Wesley Merritt, who was the first American Military Governor to reside at the Palace in

1898, while William Howard Taft became the first Civil Governor resident in 1901. In the

American Rule, they continue to improve and enlarge the Palace until it became a large

complex.

The large complex was became the residence of Manuel L. Quezon upon the

establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth. Manuel L. Quezon was the first Filipino

President who had resided in Malacanang Palace.

Later on, the Palace was governed by the Republic of the Philippines. The

President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda resided in the Palace from 1965 to 1986.

When the Martial Law declared, the Palace complex and its surrounding neighbourhood

was closed to the public.

The Pasig River was polluted at this time in the year 1970. Between 1978-1979,

Mrs. Marcos oversaw the reconstruction of the Palace to her own extravagant tastes. The

Palace was expanded with the facades on all four sides moved forward. The Presidential

quarters were enlarged on the front along J.P. Laurel, destroying the small garden and

driveway leading to the private entrance, while a new dining room and expanded guest

suites were built on the main entrance front. On the side facing the river, the Ceremonial

Hall was built to replace the azoteas, veranda and pavilion. A larger Presidential Bedroom

was constructed on the remaining side, with a disco at roof level. The layout of the old

rooms was retained, although the rooms themselves were enlarged and new bedroom

suites inserted in what had been part of the garden.

The old Palace was devastated almost entirely, not only to meet the needs of the

Presidential Family, but also because the buildings had been weakened by patch up

renovations over a century that had resulted in unstable floors and leaking roofs. The

building is now reconstructed. It is fully bullet-proofed, cooled by central air-

conditioning with filters, and has an independent power supply. Architect Jorge Ramos

oversaw the renovation, which was closely supervised by Mrs. Marcos. The new Palace

was inaugurated on May 1, 1979.

Several changes were implemented to beautify the Malacañang Palace. Servant

quarters was transformed as Premier Guest House. The veranda overlooking Pasig River

was walled up to become the new Maharlika Hall. Across the river, a guest house was

constructed. It is situated on the grounds of Malacañang Golf Club. It is then called

Bahay Pangarap.

When Marcos was overthrown during the 1986 People Power Revolution, the

Palace complex was occupied by protesters who roamed the grounds. The international

worldwide media subsequently exposed the excesses of the Marcos family, including

Mrs. Marcos' infamous collection of thousands of shoes.The main Palace was later

reopened to the public and was converted into a museum for three years of nobody in

position due Ferdinand's responsible martial decree.

In an effort to distance herself from the decadence of the Fourth Republic,

President Corazon Aquino chose to live in the nearby Arlegui Mansion but held

government affairs in the Executive Building. Her successor, President Fidel Ramos,

followed suit. After the Second Edsa Revolution, security in the Palace was tightened due

to attempts against the government. His First Lady restored Bahay Pangarap, and later it

became the extension of Malacañang Ceremonial Hall. The chapel was also retained

despite different religious points of view.

President Gloria Macapal Arroyo, who had once resided in Malacañang during the

rule of her father, President Diosdado Macapagal, chose to live again in the main Palace

after her accession in 2001.

Aquino's son, the current President Benigno Aquino III resides in Bahay

Pangarap, a guest villa on the south bank of the Pasig River across the main Palace, in

which he works and entertains, and keeps open to the public.

For the past decades until the present, the Malacanang Palace becomes a

powerhouse of political reforms and economic agendas, which are instituted by the

Executive branch of government, upon approvals of the Upper and Lower Houses of

Philippine Congress. Everyone wants to have his or her humble footsteps be marked

inside the most extravagant and mighty portals of the seat of the Philippine presidency.

For the long time of battle, Malacanang has finally became the Filipino symbol of

freedom.

b. Relevant Buildings

The San Miguel, Manila where the Malacanang Palace is located. As it is the

temporary residence of the President of the Philippines. The security in the area is quite

tight; security checkpoints in the perimeter and photography of the Malacañang exteriors

is also not allowed for security reasons. The presence of these added measures, the area

seem a lot safer for the average passerby.

The Malacanang Palace where Pres. Aquino resides can found a complex of

several historical buildings that were restored for several times. The Main Palace that

features many flamboyant halls, which are filled with historical memories and milestones.

The Entrance Hall, where the official visitors of the Palace are entertained. The Hall are

made of beige and genuine Philippine marbles.

The Heroes Hall of Malacanang Palace is located at a mirrored entrance, where

one can glamorously take a peak of the 40 tiny and artistic paintings of a famous Filipino

painting guru, Florentino Macabuhay. Originally, the Heroes Hall of the Palace was

named as the “Social Hall”.

Malacanang’s Reception Hall is where the official and VIP visitors of the Palace

are being assembled and gathered together, prior to a state function at the Ceremonial

Hall. This was the biggest room in Malacanang before it was renovated in 1979. The

interior were old photos of former president Manuel L. Quezon who were receiving his

guests, adjacent to the top portion of the Grand Staircase, on New Year’s Eve.

San Miguel remains primarily residential, and many of Manila’s old families still

maintain homes here. When in the area, it was hard not to feel like you have stepped

inside a time machine and were transported back to the bygone era of Manila’s glory

days.

It is indeed remarkably nice to remember the San Miguel, Manila had evolved

with  overflowing historical significance, flawless architectural perfection and  global

magnanimity which closely envisage the political and sociological supremacy of the past,

present and future presidents who had shaped and would fashion the Philippines, towards

the Malacanang Palace of the New Generation which would foster political  stability and

maturity, socio-economic development and a  worldwide competitive Asian nation in the

years ahead.