A wedding present, imagine that. El Hogar Filipino was a grand gesture. It was gifted in 1914. Antonio Melian y Pavia, the third Count of Peracamps, gave it to his bride. Her name was Margarita Zóbel de Ayala. She was Enrique Zóbel de Ayala’s sister.
El Hogar Filipino rises before you. It is an early skyscraper in Manila. You can find it on the corner of Juan Luna Street and Muelle dela Industria. This places it in the Binondo district.
Ramon Irureta-Goyena and Francisco Perez-Muñoz designed El Hogar Filipino. They chose the Beaux-Arts style. Look closely. You will see Neoclassical and Renaissance elements too.
El Hogar Filipino has quite a history. It once housed the Sociedad El Hogar Filipino. This was a financing cooperative founded by Melian. Smith Bell and Company also had offices here. It was a hub of activity.
This building has seen a lot. El Hogar Filipino survived World War II. It also withstood several earthquakes. It is one of only two American-era structures still standing near the Pasig River.
Across Juan Luna Street, you will spot another landmark. It is the Pacific Commercial Company Building. People also call it the First National City Bank Building. It was built in 1922.
El Hogar Filipino’s architecture is significant. It represents American-period design. The materials and construction methods are typical of that time. It shows what business establishments looked like back then.
El Hogar Filipino also has collective value. It is a vital structure in the historic Binondo district. It enriches Escolta Street. It adds to the cultural landscape of the Pasig River.
Sadly, El Hogar Filipino is at risk. There are new owners. Tenants have been asked to leave. Parts of the building are being removed. Preservationists are concerned about its future. Let’s hope this treasure of Manila can be saved. It is a reminder of a bygone era. Its beauty and history deserve to be preserved for generations to come. Take a moment to appreciate El Hogar Filipino. It embodies Manila’s rich past.