The Mansion (Baguio)

The Mansion House[1] (also known as The Mansion) is the official summer palace of the President of the Philippines. The mansion is located in the summer capital of the country, Baguio, situated around 5,000 feet (1,500 m) asl in the Cordillera Central Range of northern Luzon.

Mansion House
Alternative namesThe Mansion
General information
Town or cityLeonard Wood Road, Baguio 2600
CountryPhilippines
Coordinates16.412222°N 120.621389°E / 16.412222; 120.621389
Elevationapprox. 5,000 feet (1,500 m)
Current tenantsRodrigo Duterte
President of the Philippines
Inaugurated1908
OwnerOffice of the President
Design and construction
ArchitectWilliam E. Parsons

History

The Mansion House was built in 1908 to serve as the official summer residence of U.S. Governors-General at the insistence of Governor-General William Cameron Forbes. The name is derived from the summer cottage in New England of Governor Forbes whose administration the original Mansion House was built under. Architect William E. Parsons, based on preliminary plans by architect Daniel H. Burnham,[2] the planner of the city of Baguio, designed the mountain retreat following the tenets of the City Beautiful Movement.[3] In 1910, the meeting of the Second Philippine Legislature was held at the Mansion House for three weeks.

With the inauguration of the Philippine Commonwealth, the Mansion along with Malacañan Palace was turned over to the Philippine president. The High Commissioner to the Philippines, the successor to the Governor-General as the highest American official in the Philippines and representative of the United States Government, then built The American Residence, completed in 1940.

The house was badly damaged during the Second World War and was rebuilt in 1947. Since then, it has served as the holiday home and working office for each President of the Philippines during his or her visits to Baguio.[3]

The Mansion House was also used as the venue of important events, such as the second session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) in 1947, the second session of the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1948, and the first meeting of the Southeast Asian Union (SEAU), more commonly known as the Baguio Conference of 1950, which was conceived and convened by President Elpidio Quirino.[3] More recently, the Mansion House has been the site of a number of international conferences.

Description

The Mansion consists of an elegantly designed Spanish Colonial Revival main building and a guest house. The elaborate main gate, made of ornate ironwork, was earlier reported as a replica of one of the main gates at Buckingham Palace in London, which is false.[4][5][6][7][8] The front gate is still one of the most photographed section of the property. Tourists can visit the Mansion House's museum containing presidential memorabilia.

Across the road from the Mansion House is Wright Park, a quiet promenade with a long reflecting pool lined with pine trees.[9] A long stairway lead visitors to the back where ponies for children are available for hire.[10] Dotted all around the nearby hills are vacation homes and small inns.

  • The Mansion House in 2010
  • The gate
  • The Wright Park just across the Mansion House

See also

References
  1. "Presidential Museum & Library: Mansion House". Presidential Museum and Library (Philippines). Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  2. Cody, Jeffrey W. (2003). "Exporting American Architecture, 1870-2000", pg.23. Alexandrine Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-203-98658-X.
  3. Galang, Willie (2010-01-23). "Mansion House (NHI Marker)". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  4. poebegone (2009-06-07). "mansion-02"(Mansion House Gate). Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  5. Atigra (2008-03-08). "Buckingham Palace gate". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  6. dre464 (2007-07-02). "Gates at Buckingham Palace". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  7. srw1961 (2008-12-07). "Buckingham Palace Gates". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  8. rhoadeecha (2005-07-24). "Buckingham Palace". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  9. Rhenz Carlo (2008-01-01). "Wright Park". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
  10. jeromelocson (2011-04-10). "Wright Park, Baguio City". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
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