Independence selfie
Walking across the parade grounds of the 1946-1949 Quirino Grandstand by Manileño architect Federico S. Ilustre (1912–1989) at the Luneta Park of Manila.
First called the Independence Grandstand, the parade area was built for the Philippine Independence from the United States of America ceremonies held on the 4th of July, 1946. This original grandstand was designed by the Manileño architect Juan Marcos Arellano (1888-1960), with a boat shaped main stage and a rectangular archway at the back with two sculptures. The turn over ceremony was conducted by the American High Commissioner Paul Vories McNutt (1891-1955) and newly elected Philippine Pres. Manuel Acuña Roxas (1892-1948).
However, the grandstand was torn down in 1948 to give way to a sleeker modern design by Arch. Federico S. Ilustre, for the inauguration ceremonies of Ilocano Philippine Pres. Elpidio Rivera Quirino (1890-1956). A few years after Pres. Quirino’s passing, the grandstand was named after him.
Architects’ Biography:
Arch. Juan Marcos de Guzmán Arellano (1888-1960) is known as one of the Philippines' founding fathers of architecture. He finished his studies at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1908; while taking art lessons under noted masters Lorenzo Leogardo Guerrero (1835 -1904), Toribio Asona Antillon (1856-1913), and Fabian de la Rosa. When most people thought that he would pursue a full time career in the arts, Arellano decided to take architectural studies at the Drexel Institute in 1908, and further architectural studies at the Académie des Beaux-Arts. However the draw to painting could not be resisted and he to additional art studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1911. As an architect, Arellano is most noted for Manila's Metropolitan Theater (1935), Executive House (1926, now houses the National Museum of the Philippines), the Manila Post Office Building (1926), and Jones Bridge; where he had employed both the Neoclassic styles recommended by the American government and the Art Deco style pushed by Filipno modernist thinkers.
Arch. Federico S. Ilustre (1912–1989) is a graduate of the Mapua Institute of Technology, and later worked as a draftsman under Juan Nakpil. Ilustre later took extra work as a furniture designer under Puyat and sons, before working for the Bureau of Public Works in 1936. Ilustre later obtained his license in 1937, and would become instrumental in the redevelopment of Manila after the destruction of World War II (1938-1945). He would become the supervising architect of the U.S. Army Forces, Western Pacific (AFWESPAC), in its rehabilitation efforts after the war. In 1947, Ilustre was appointed as the supervising architect of the National Housing Commission, but he would later return to the Bureau of Public Works in 1949, until his retirement in the 1970s.
This picture was taken circa 2015, during my regular explorations to document local historical landmarks and artworks around the Philippines.
