Ayuntamiento de Manila

The Ayuntamiento de Manila (Manila City Hall) is a building located at the corner of Andrés Soriano Avenue (formerly Calle Aduana) and Cabildo Street, fronting Plaza de Roma in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. Also known as the Casas Consistoriales and also nicknamed as the Marble Palace, the Ayuntamiento was the seat of the Manila City Council, which consisted of two alcaldes (city leaders), eight oidores (judges), a clerk, and a chief constable.[2] Destroyed in World War II and reconstructed thereafter, the building now houses the offices of the Bureau of the Treasury.

Ayuntamiento de Manila
The façade of the reconstructed Ayuntamiento facing Plaza de Roma
Location within Metro Manila
Alternative names	Casas Consistoriales, Marble Palace
General information
Status	Complete
Architectural style	Neoclassical
Address	Cabildo Street, Intramuros
Town or city	Manila
Country	Philippines
Coordinates	14°35′31.89″N 120°58′26.97″E
Completed	1738, reconstructed 1884
Opened	2013 (latest reconstruction)
Destroyed	1863, 1945
Technical details
Floor count	4
Grounds	5.6 hectares (14 acres)[1]
Design and construction
Architect	Felipe Roxas

History

Construction of the Ayuntamiento began in 1599.[3] The original building opened in 1607. After an earthquake damaged it severely, it was ordered demolished. The Ayuntamiento was rebuilt in 1738, in the Baroque style, with ornate wrought-iron balconies, covered arcades, and a central clock tower. This form survived well into the 19th century until it was destroyed again during the earthquake of 1863.

From 1879 to 1884, a new building was constructed by Eduardo López Navarro, a military engineer,[2] and according to the designs of architect Felipe Roxas.[4]

During the transition from the Spanish to the American rule after the Spanish–American War, General Wesley Merritt and Governor-General Fermín Jáudenes signed the terms of capitulation of Manila in the Ayuntamiento.[2]

Until 1903, the Ayuntamiento was used as the office of the American military governor. Later on, the building was used by the First Philippine Assembly, then by the Philippine Legislature until 1924, when it moved to the Legislative Building along Padre Burgos Street in Ermita. It was also used subsequently by the Bureau of Justice and the Supreme Court.[2]

The Ayuntamiento was destroyed in 1945 during the Battle of Manila, with only the outer walls of the first floor remaining and the lot repurposed as a parking lot.[2]

Restoration and current use

Facade of the Ayuntamiento de Manila.

Reconstruction of the Ayuntamiento began in 2009,[5] with the building becoming the future home of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr),[6] which was formerly headquartered across Plaza de Roma at the Palacio del Gobernador.[7]

Work on the ₱1.2 billion reconstruction of the Ayuntamiento was led by local contractor DDT Konstract, Inc.,[8] which sought to be as authentic as possible in reconstructing the building's interiors.[9] Although reconstruction work was originally supposed to be completed by November 8, 2011, completion was delayed owing to several modifications being made by the Bureau to the building's design.[5] The building was ultimately completed in 2013.

In 2015, the BTr agreed to open the Ayuntamiento to the public as a tourist attraction.[10]

References

1. Domingo, Ronnel (March 13, 2009). "Treasury to bid contract to restore office". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
2. Torres, Jose Victor Z. (2005). Ciudad Murada. Manila: Jointly Published by the Intramuros Administration and Vibal Publishing House, Inc. pp. 55–57. ISBN 971072276X.
3. "Ayuntamiento". Intramuros: Historic Walled City of Manila. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
4. Harper, Bambi L. (January 2, 2001). "An architect named Roxas". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
5. "COA hits Ayuntamiento project delays". The Philippine Star. January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
6. Alcazaren, Pablo (May 3, 2014). "Visita Iglesia from the air". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
7. Leyco, Chino S. (August 23, 2016). "DOF implements austerity program". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
8. Magno, Alexander T. (July 16, 2015). "Ayuntamiento de Manila: On its 4th incarnation since 1571". CNN Philippines. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
9. Yu, Anson (November 17, 2014). "Staycation guide: Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Intramuros". Coconuts Manila. Coconuts Media. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
10. Ambanta, Jennifer (February 22, 2015). "New tourist attraction to open in Intramuros". Manila Standard Today. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.