#manilacityhall

[lakan-olivares]

Time’s Up selfie

Looking out at the historical walled city of Intramuros from atop the 1930s Manila City Hall Clock Tower by Laguneño architect Antonio Tolēdo (1890-1972), after taking a tour of the 2021 Manila Clock Tower Museum.

The 30 meter (100 feet) clock tower was designed by Arch.  Antonio Tolēdo to stand as a landmark of the old 1900 wooden Manila City, which was completed around the mid-1930s, while Tolēdo planned Art Deco 1939-1941 Manila City Hall.

Arch. Antonio Mañalac Tolēdo (1889-1972) studied at the Brooklyn Institute of Technology, 1905-1906, then took a course in architecture at the Ohio State University, 1906-1910, but spent a year, 1908-1909, at Cornell University. Toledo returned to the Philippines in 1911, and he was employed at the Bureau of Public Works under William Parsons. Toledo became the consulting architect in 1928, and stayed in that position until his retirement from government service, in 1954. Toledo was one of the first professors at the Mapua Institute of Technology when it opened in 1925, and he continued teaching there until 1967. Toledo was named fellow of the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA) in 1952, and he received the PIA’s Gold Medal of Merit in 1961.Toledo’s major works include the Leyte Capitol (1920s), the buildings of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce (now Tourism) and the Department of Finance (now a building of the National Museum) in 1940, and the City Hall of Manila, (1941).

This picture was taken circa 2024, during my regular explorations to document local historical landmarks around the Philippines.

[ianfulgar]

The Manila City Hall clock tower is an example of neoclassical architecture, a popular style during the American colonial period. I was reminded how architecture is a window into our past, shaping our urban landscape and influencing contemporary design. Does historical context still influence our architectural approach today?

[starpilipinas26]

Watch "Manila City Hall" on YouTube

[juanderer247]

Just around the capital city of The Republic of the Philippines #juanderer247 #photography #mobilephotography #passionphotography #wandering #cityskylines #manilacityhall #manila #igers #igersph #igdaily #philippines (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRNjrT4pDEF/?utm_medium=tumblr

[archkdaquino]

Panorama view of City of Manila #manila #manilaskyline #intramuros #manilacity #manilacityhall #nationalmuseumphilippines🇵🇭 #nationalmuseumifnaturalhistory #philippines #skyscraper (at Intramuros, Manila) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byzlj-ind-a/?igshid=knem6hff9fx4

[chinkaykim-blog]

old school

[dajcreative]

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” – Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace. #manila #manilacityhall #manilaclocktower #sonya7iii #tamron2875 #sonyph #streetphotography #time #latepost #dajphotographyph (at Manila City Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZcAZWXprAw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[viscountpaul]

Time is free, but it’s priceless… Wishing this pandemic to end so that we can all go back to enjoying life with our love ones… . . #viscountpaul2021 #covidgeneration #notsohappyviscount #igdaily #igersmanila #manilacityhall (at Torre de Manila) https://www.instagram.com/p/CScgTKThA83/?utm_medium=tumblr

[your-typical-architect-jorj]

Manila City Hall

📸 02.20.21

[senperez]

Luces brillantes por la noche en todas partes de la ciudad capital. . . . . . Bright lights at night everywhere in the capital city.✨🌃🥰 . . . . . #SanSiSen #BagongMaynila #WhenInManila #Manila2020 #CityByTheBay #WalledCity #PerlaDelOriente #ManilaCityHall #CityLife #CityLights #Kapetolyo #BuyLocal #LoveOurLocal #PhilippineCoffee #CupToFarm #PinasMunaTayo #ItsMoreFuninthePhilippines🇵🇭 #GCQSeason9 #CapturedonHuawei #HuaweiP30PH #HuaweiP30Pro #RewriteTheNight #RewriteTheRules #EMUIMoments #HelloHuawei (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CINSuB2BKLTsWVmRKxrWdrgOchZR2Hxxt6GDrM0/?igshid=1x1rxlev5jybu

[lakan-olivares]

Marxist motto selfie

Standing at the Mayor’s Balcony overlooking the interior plaza of the 1941 Manila City Hall by Laguneño architect Antonio Mañalac Tolēdo (1889-1972), and the Art Deco reliefs of “Labor, Wealth, and Capital” by the Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti (1888-1958) in Barangay Ermita Manila.

The first Manila Municipal Hall was built during the 1901-1905term of the 1st Municipal President Arsenio Cruz Herrera (1863-1917), but the old wooden and stone Spanish styled building soon proved to insufficient to serve the demands of the rapidly growing population of Manila. So during the 1934-1940 term of the 8th Municipal President Juan Pablo Posadas Jr. (1884-1940), the plans for a new and modern complex was set to motion.

The Laguneño architect Antonio Tolēdo was selected to design the new building and he started with the 30 meter (100 feet) was first completed in 1935. Then by 1939 Arch. Tolēdo continued with the rest of the City Hall complex, and he coordinated with the Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Clementi Monti (1888-1958) to create the reliefs on the interior façade of the building.

Tolēdo was chosen for his capability to design in the Art Deco style, which was gain traction among many Filipino businessmen and government officials, as this style represented modernism and progress as compared to the old fashioned control represented by the Neoclassic style enforce by the Americans in the earlier years of their occupation of the Philippines (1899-1946). Hence Tolēdo opted to work with Monti, who was a master of the sleek Art Deco style, whereas all the Filipino sculptors were working on the Classical style.

In 1941, the new Manila City Hall was completed during the 1940-1941 term of the 9th Municipal President Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodríguez Sr. (1883-1964).

I tried search for a quote or motto “Labor, Wealth, and Capital”, but only found that this was part of the Communist treatise of the German writer Karl Marx (1818-1883), which makes me wonder if this was deliberate choice of Tolēdo or Monti, as the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP, Communist Party of the Philippines) was active at that time.

Artist and Architect’s Biographies:

Francesco Riccardo Clementi Monti (1888-1958) was an Italian sculptor who resided in the Philippines from 1930 to 1958. He was the son of Alexander Monti, who hailed from a long line of masons and sculptors in Cremona, Italy. Francesco would be distinguished as the only one of his clan to train formally in the arts, as he would enroll at the Institute of Ponzone for Decorative Arts and Technology and the Royal Academy of Breza in Milan. Upon completing his studies, Monti would return Cremona, and launch a very successful career creating many public sculptures for the city, where he developed his Art Deco style. His work slowed down with World War I (1914-1918), as Monti jointed the Italian military. After the war, he returned to sculpting, and he was honored, in 1924, with the title of Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy, for his artistic endeavors.  In 1928, Monti design was selected as the grand prize winner for the Caduti Austrio-Ungheresi Monument design competition in Cremona, for a memorial for 33 Austro-Hungarian soldiers killed in Cremona in World War I. Sadly, the judges would later reverse the decision, and award the prize to another sculpture, due to political wrangling of the fascist politicians in power. This greatly dismayed Monti, and he decided to leave Cremona. He moved across Europe, and later went to New York City, where he met the Filipino Architect Juan Arrellano, who invited him to visit the Philippines. Monti would later shuffle between Italy, Hong Kong, and the Philippines; until he finally settled in Manila in 1932. Monti would collaborate with Arch. Arellano and sculptor Guillermo Tolentino in many projects, before being incarcerated by the Japanese in World War II (1938-1945). After the war, Monti received many commissions for the sculptural work in the rehabilitation of the structures damaged by the war, as well as new infrastructure developments throughout the country. Monti’s works can be seen on the Manila Metropolitan Theater in Manila,  Philippine Military Academy in Baguio, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City, and the Don Bosco Technical School in Mandaluyong City. In 1948, Monti started teaching at the UST School of Fine Arts, and help develop their sculpture program. Among his distinguished students were Ang Kiukok, Leonardo Hidalgo, Ting Ping Lay, and Virginia Ty-Navarro. Monti worked with many Filipino architects and artists, and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), in 1948. He died in 1958, and was buried in his adoptive land, the Philippines.

Arch. Antonio Mañalac Toledo (1889-1972) studied at the Brooklyn Institute of Technology, 1905-1906, then took a course in architecture at the Ohio State University, 1906-1910, but spent a year, 1908-1909, at Cornell University. Toledo returned to the Philippines in 1911, and he was employed at the Bureau of Public Works under William Parsons. Toledo became the consulting architect in 1928, and stayed in that position until his retirement from government service, in 1954. Toledo was one of the first professors at the Mapua Institute of Technology when it opened in 1925, and he continued teaching there until 1967. Toledo was named fellow of the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA) in 1952, and he received the PIA’s Gold Medal of Merit in 1961.Toledo’s major works include the Leyte Capitol (1920s), the buildings of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce (now Tourism) and the Department of Finance (now a building of the National Museum) in 1940, and the City Hall of Manila, (1941).

This picture was taken circa 2024, during my regular explorations to document local historical landmarks around the Philippines.

[junkieofalltrades]

Mock inflight magazine covers inspired by @bry_lacdan's night shot of the Manila City Hall. The grain and lighting evokes memories of film photography. #inflightmagazine #mabuhaymagazine #clippermagazine #sawasdeemagazine #silverkris #manilacityhall #manila #manilanostalgia #nightphotography #ignight #skyline #nightskyline https://www.instagram.com/p/CH6eKucBE8e/?igshid=lvqrsutyvn3v

[starpilipinas26]

Watch "Manila City Hall RTC" on YouTube

[birdbrainerthoughts]

Old Staircase, New Memories. #ManilaCityHall (at Manila City Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGHtfZJhSBSagHzBVh4q92GplRNVkilurfl8aU0/?igshid=1ng2c6httbu0a

[locked1207]

Learn appreciate Good things in every moments #ManilaCityHall (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCD-yHClc7k3d-ECQP15hziTeAlXHXVF7NUsrk0/?igshid=hcdrmjdz5092

[thewritingcommuter]

This is a close-up of the Christmas tree currently situated in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. From afar, the tree looks majestic and really . . . attractive because of the shiny red balls. Up close, however, you’ll also see capiz lights, just like this one, generously scattered amidst the red and green balls. I can only imagine what the overall effect looks like when the tree is lit at night! || #holidays #holidayseason #holidayseason2019 #christmas #christmastree #christmasdecorations #christmasballs #christmaslights #holidayglitter #holidayballs #manila #manilacity #manilacityhall #liwasangbonifacio #manilacitymayor #iskomoreno #mayoriskomoreno (at Liwasang Bonifacio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5POE0MAx37/?igshid=1fi3sj12jkyz3