An American executive makeover

In 1900 William Howard Taft became the first American Civil Governor resident of Malacañang. The well-proportioned Taft used to walk from his office in Intramuros back to Malacañang as his daily exercise (There were still no cars in those days and traffic was unheard of.).

As Cameron Forbes took over as governor the palace was getting a bit run down and prone to flooding. William E. Parsons, the government's chief consulting architect, resolved the problem by raising the floor and strengthening the structure. By that time too, the support staff needed to help run a country grew and more space was needed at the palace. In 1918, a decision was made to build an Executive Building as an extension of the original palace.

The Executive building was a masterpiece done in a hybrid -Spanish-Italian architectural style. The architect was Ralph Harrington Doane, Parsons' successor. Doane completed the buildings design as one of his last major works before heading back stateside in 1918. In a article written by Tomas Mapua, who took over Doane's position, the building is described as " …notable for its dignity, simplicity and refinement. It further contains an interest that few structures of so severely Renaissance a type of design possess. It expresses an unusual degree of individuality and represents and activity of marked public importance."

Mapua expounds on this importance, " The conditions that determined the style of architecture were the circumstances imposed by the generally classic renaissance character of monumental building proposed to be (built) in Manila. It (is) important that this edifice should therefore stand out as the basis or the standard of construction in the future."

The executive building was completed in 1921. It did become the standard for architectural design for institutional as well as large residential design (many houses in the new suburbs of Malate and later New Manila emulated the Italianate design of the Executive building).

Further improvements were carried out by the Americans and designed by Mapua and his associate at the Bureau of Public Works, Juan Arellano. A master plans for the site inlcuded a swimming pool, tennis court and gardens. A change in masters brought about more changes in the face and stature of Malacañang.

A hell of a Palace !

In 1935, the US turned over the country to a "government run like hell." Manuel Luis Quezon became the first resident of the place. True to his imposing imperial persona he sought to also transform the palace and its grounds into a mirror of his edifice complex (which later would expand to even bigger plans for a new city…see …size matters).

The old main house was improved and the executive building grew additional rooms on the previously one-storey wings. Quezon wanted to build even higher but was persuaded by Juan Arellano to expand horizontally. This Quezon did by sequestering land opposite the river for a park. The park contained bridle paths and kiosks and both banks were embellished with balustrades and neo-classic ornamentation. Quezon would often take the river to get to his yacht to entertain. Malacañang was now a great demesne with a river running through it.

Plans for a totally new city, named after himself, were ordered by Quezon. But Quezon refused to consider moving the Palace. After centuries of use by foreign masters, its occupation by a Filipino president represented a "racial vindication," as Carlos P. Romulo put it.

On December 24, 1941, Quezon left the Palace for Corregidor, never to return. In 1943, Jose P. Laurel moved in, never really settling in, and in turn was evacuated in December, 1944.

Golf and barefoot visitors

Sergio Osmena moved in on February, 1945, making do with a dilapidated Palace during his brief presidency. Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino enjoyed the comfort of the palace under an independent Republic. A golf course was built on the park grounds (a short par 72, would you believe …and it's still there in great shape, although the last occupant's sport was 'gulp' not 'golf'). These presidents entertained state guests at the Palace with all the hospitality we over-extend to most of our guests. But it was not until 1953 when Ramon Magsaysay opened the gates to ordinary folk, some of whom came barefooted.

At this time there was talk of moving the palace. The old Quezon City plan was being revised into another scheme further Northeast to Novaliches. In1956 the plan was approved for the Capital Complex of Quezon City (which was the official capital until Marcos brought it back to Manila in 1976). A new presidential palace was proposed. It was to sit also in relation to the legislature and the courts complex on a prominent site overlooking the lush Marikina Valley. It took twenty years for the Batasan Pambansa to be built while the rest of the plan did not see the light of day.

A doctor's healing touch

The sixties brought another boy from the barrios, Diosdado Macapagal. Macapagal had worked in the Executive building as an aide to Quezon before the war. He had set his sights to the highest office in the land and achieved it from the bottom up. His stay in the palace was highlighted by a major physical makeover orchestrated by his active wife, Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal.

Eva Macapagal's program of civic works and improvement of the palace was likened to Jackie Kennedy's. The Philippines Free Press wrote:

"…all of us who have hitherto frowned at the untidiness of the Palace should rejoice that the tradition of Filipino cleanliness had at last reached Malacañang in the person of Mrs. Macapagal. The broom she wields has had a more instant effect than the broom in her husband's hands. The nation has need of both brooms. The old view was that Filipinos are neat at home, untidy outside; but the evidence today is that we are becoming more and more slovenly everywhere, both at home and abroad, both physically and morally…"

Unlike the next occupant's wife, Mrs. Macapagal did her improvements with a small budget using materials rescued from storage and mostly the brawn of clean-up crews. Mrs. Macapagal rescued the palace's gardens, it's house-zoo and the park across the river.

Martial fever

The next president and his conjugal governance of the twenty years till People Power I brought many changes to the Palace and its grounds. The complex became just that …more complex and later it mutated into a shoewear-endowed fortified bunker and hospital. For their 25th wedding anniversary, the Marcos demolished nearly the entire Palace and rebuilt it in their image. The whole San Miguel district became off limits to ordinary folk. Anti-aircraft guns were rumoured to guard the skies and crossing the Pasig needed documentation and checks by the Marines. This all ended at 9:05 in the evening of February 25, when the whole Marcos brood escaped 'ala Miss Saigon' from the Palace grounds.

The next resident was herself besieged and in danger a few times but God and the people were always on her side. Tita Cory turned the old Palace into a museum giving citizens a peek into where their money had been spent in the last twenty years. Another clean-up job made Malacañang friendly again. The next president, Ramos, turned it into a high-tech palace, though the hubris of the 90's was shortlived.

People Power Palace

Which brings us to the continuing drama of this telenovela of the last resident and the current president. A cast of millions in two venues - the Malacañang and the new Plaza Miranda - the EDSA Shrine, made for a texting and taxing 2001.

GMA, a balik-Malacañang occupant, has restored the tradition of actually living and working in the Palace. But if her return is a reminder of a more democratic tradition, she also lives with the legacy of the past twenty years: of the last four presidents, in fact, three have had to deal with these physical threats of siege. Malacañang, as a symbolic as well as physical center of power, is a site of continuing contestation, the object of desire of ambitious politicos as well as a shrine of democratic aspirations of millions.

Physical makeovers and fancy emblems project images of stability. Those images must be supported with reality. The reality is that Malacañang Palace is an important site of history and architectural heritage that must be conserved and be kept open, like the White House, to the general public. We hope the time can come when all those who visit, do so armed with nothing but the intent to bask in civic pride walking through the halls where our chosen leaders took action to heal and build a nation.

President Macapagal-Arroyo quoted the Bible when she spoke to the staff of Malacañang on her first day, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand."

Our national makeover extends from the Palace to our cities and the countryside. The kingdom is ours to enjoy if we seek to rebuild it together.