The Philippine Normal University - Architectural Gem of Manila [Aesthetic and Historical Significance]

Cover photo featuring map, façade, and significant details | Ar. Arciaga

The Philippine Normal School, located in Ermita, Manila City, directly across Taft Avenue from the National Museum of Fine Arts, was the first institution for higher education established during the American colonial period of Philippine history. The Philippine Normal School was founded by virtue of Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission in 1901, pursuant to the need of an institution for the development of educators, became the Philippine Normal College through Republic Act No. 416 in 1949, and a university in 1991, under Republic Act No. 7168

The Philippine Normal School building was designed and built in the year 1912 by William E. Parsons, architect behind several iconic architectural projects in the country. Though the campus at present covers an estimated four hectares of land, the original structures that comprised the first Philippine Normal School campus were the two Parsons designed, distinctly v-shaped buildings of the main building (now referred to as the Geronima T. Pecson Hall) and the Philippine Normal Hall across from it, once an all-female dormitory of the institution.

Exterior photo of Geronima T. Pecson Hall – Main Building PNU | Ar. Arciaga

The Philippine Normal School building is credited to have been one of the first large-scale reinforced concrete buildings erected in Manila City. With reinforced concrete being one of the architectural and structural innovations pioneered by the American colonial period in the Philippines. 

The Philippine Normal University

The construction is of plain concrete finish and utilizes tile roofing as originally specified in the Daniel Burnham abstract for the plan of the city of Manila. At the time of its construction, the Philippine Normal School accommodated forty-two rooms including recitation rooms, physical and biological laboratories, a kitchen, and sewing, embroidery, and basketry rooms. In addition to these, it contained offices, a large auditorium with a seating capacity of eight hundred (800), and a library which contains more than six thousand (6000) volumes.

Philippine Normal University, Manila, Philippines, late 1940s. Photo was taken from the Manila City Hall

The Philippine Normal School building is designed with a distinct V-shaped configuration, with the vertex of the building laid on the corner of the peninsula of land it occupies along Ayala Boulevard and Taft Avenue. This configuration was designed to match the building lines to be parallel with the adjacent streets, creating a sense of visual continuity and harmony, supported by a continuous gallery of windows along the exterior of the building. 

The main building has six flat gable ends that tower upward, lending an appearance of a false front of a crudely-built frame building predominant in America of the nineties, it has three floors for classroom and office use and an auditorium on the central vertex portion of the building. Across the street from the Philippine Normal School building, the Normal Hall is a variation from the main building, with a similar V-shape configuration albeit in a smaller scale. 

Typical classroom setup showcasing capis extant in the PNU | Ar. Arciaga

The Philippine Normal School building is also noted to have generally adopted indigenous capis shell windows extensively in its fenestrations, in combination with Philippine hardwood. Although at present, several elements of these windows have been replaced by steel framing with glass panes, secured with iron grilles, or otherwise have been supplemented with sliding glass panels. Regardless, a significant portion of these capis remain extant in the university halls. 

Exhibit photograph of the Placuna placenta: Capis Shells and Windows to Indigenous Artistry – panels on loan from PNU in the foreground

A most well-preserved example of capis shell implementation is present in the Geronima T. Pecson’s Public & Alumni Relations Hall, once an auditorium for student and faculty use, the area is now an events space for use of the university in official functions. Located on the ground floor of the main building adjacent to the entrance and the grand staircase, the hall continues to operate the original capis shell and hardwood windows and doors, although those within the hall are noted to have been furnished with an additional layer of glass sliding panels in the interior and metal grillwork in the exterior. The hall is an octagonal shape, with a set of capis windows on five of its sides, each set comprising of four (4) panels, with each panel containing up to one-hundred and fifty (150) capis panes, beautifully lending a soft and natural glow of light to the interior space. 

Detail shot of extant capis windows at the Geronima T Pecson’s Public & Alumni Relations Hall, from which two relics are now in exhibit at the National Museum of the Philippines | Ar. Arciaga

Currently, two panels from the Philippine Normal School main building of these excellent examples of capis in local architecture are on loan from the university to the National Museum as relics displayed in the recently launched interdisciplinary exhibition, "Placuna placenta: Capis Shells and Windows to Indigenous Artistry". It celebrates the ubiquity and virtuosity connecting the capis shell to Filipino history, culture, and identity. With William Parsons’ conscious adoption of the capis in the Philippine Normal to integrate local ingenuity to foreign architectural styles, the university is well-deserved to be showcased as a paragon of the emergence of our modern Filipino architecture.

The significance of the Philippine Normal School represents a landmark in the architectural and artistic history of the country. And as we continue to build our appreciation of our built heritage and eagerly await authorization to open the museum halls for visitors once again, we hope that you enjoyed this brief introduction to one often overlooked bastion of our shared heritage.

The Normal Hall of the Philippine Normal University

Cover photo featuring main entrance and dormitory courtyard | A. Arciaga III (2019)

The Normal Hall, located opposite Ayala Boulevard to the main building of the Philippine Normal University, was a long-standing all-female dormitory of the institution for higher learning. The Normal Hall housed generations of future educators and professionals, serving as a bastion of safety, society, and character building. The dormitory provided ample accommodation for two hundred and fifty girls. 

Typical hallway of the Normal Hall residential wings, renovated windows with glass panels emulating capis articulation shown along the window galleries | A. Arciaga III (2019)

Every effort was made to render the Hall a home-away-from-home for its tenants, in its day having had health, exercise, amusement, and study facilities. Special instruction in calisthenics and games were given on the athletic field bordered by the “wings” of the V-shape of the building (now the enclosed courtyard of the Hall). The dormitory also contained a carefully chosen library of over two thousand and five hundred volumes.

The Normal Hall was designed and built in the year 1914, two years after the completion of the adjoining main building of the Philippine Normal School (now the Genorima T. Pecson Hall) in 1912. The Normal Hall and the Normal School share the same illustrious architect: William E. Parsons; pioneer of the American colonial period’s architectural influence in the country.

Designed in complement to the Normal School, the Normal Hall reflects the same distinct V-shaped configuration and integration of parallel building lines to street views, and inclusion of harmonizing window galleries. The building is built up with three stories and a roof deck utilizing reinforced concrete and Philippine indigenous materials such as locally sourced hardwood and capis shells in window articulation. 

Winding staircase of the Normal Hall | A. Arciaga III (2019)

This conscious inclusion of Filipino materials in the design shows the marked character of the building to adapt foreign styles to the distinct context of its site. Significant architectural details of the design include the columns of the classical orders implemented throughout the structure, the grand and winding staircases flanking either side of the foyer, and the use of glazed ceramics in the balustrades on each upper level. 

Typical detail of the balustrade overlooking the sala on upper levels, showcasing glazed ceramic detailing and classical columns | A. Arciaga III (2019)

These ceramics provide a unique, distinctly blue hue to the ambience of the main sala (front room) areas.

Renovations to the building have altered the façade from hardwood to concrete, and some of the capis elements have been modernized into glass panes mimicking the articulation of capis panels; these efforts of modernization are noted to be keenly attuned in keeping the character of Parsons’ original design.

Presently, after over a century of sheltering trailblazing women of the nation, the Normal Hall has discontinued its use as a dormitory. But as its foundations and historical and cultural significance remains firmly intact, efforts between the National Museum and the Philippine Normal University administration is at work to preserve this landmark for future generations. Certainly, something to look forward to in the continued appreciation of our built heritage! 

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Text and photos by Ar. Armando J. Arciaga III | NMP AABHD

©National Museum of the Philippines (2021)