Gabaldon School Buildings

The Gabaldon School Buildings or simply known as the Gabaldons is a term used to refer to heritage school buildings in the Philippines built during the American colonial era. They are noted for the architecture inspired from the bahay kubo and bahay na bato.

Gabaldon School Buildings
The Gabaldon Building at Pampanga High School.[1]
Alternative names	Gabaldons
Etymology	Isauro Gabaldon, author of Act No. 1801 also known as the Gabaldon Law
General information
Type	School buildings
Country	Philippines
Design and construction
Architect	William E. Parsons

Background

The Gabaldon School Buildings, also referred to as the Gabaldons, originated from Act No. 1801 or the Gabaldon Law, a legislation written by Isauro Gabaldon of the Philippine Assembly in 1907. The law provided for the funding of ₱1 million for the construction of modern public schools across the Philippine Islands from 1907 to 1915.[2]

General architecture

The Gabaldons were built by the American colonial government with American architect, William E. Parsons as the designer of the blueprints of said buildings. A standard size of 7 by 9 meters (23 ft × 30 ft) was conceptualized by Parsons for the school buildings regardless of the number of classrooms for swift construction of public schools.[2]

According to historians, the buildings are modern in design while drawing elements from the bahay kubo and bahay na bato common in most towns at that time. The Gabaldons are raised 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) on a platform made of wood or concrete. The buildings also exhibits large windows and high ceilings for ventilation and lighting purposes.[2]

Heritage status

The Gabaldons are protected under Philippine law under Republic Act No. 11194 or the Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act. Under the law the "modification, alteration, destruction, demolition or relocation" of Gabaldon buildings are illegal.[2] The particular legislation also designates the Gabaldons as cultural properties citing another legislation known as the Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.[3]

The law mandates local government units to adopt measures for the protection and conversation of Gabaldon buildings under their jurisdiction.[3]

References

1. Corrales, Nestor (7 February 2019). "Duterte signs law mandating conservation of Gabaldon school buildings". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
2. Lopez, Elyssa Christine (9 February 2019). "Those School Buildings We Grew Up With Are Called Gabaldons". Esquire. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
3. Gita, Ruth Abbey (8 February 2019). "Duterte wants conservation of Gabaldon school buildings". Sun Star Manila. Retrieved 9 February 2019.