Celebrating Mañosa’s legacy beyond architecture
Some artists celebrate life. Others celebrate beauty.
Architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa celebrates being Filipino and that, for him, is life and beauty combined.
For more than six decades, Mañosa has inspired artists and creatives to champion Philippine architecture and design. “I design Filipino, nothing else,” is his mantra as a celebrated architect. This set him apart from the rest.
From conceptualizing the Coconut Palace, to creating the EDSA Shrine, to designing Amanpulo, Pearl Farm, the LRT and other iconic Filipino landmarks, Mañosa has always taken his country and his craft seriously – to the point of turning down potentially lucrative projects simply because they were not in line with his philosophy that “Architecture must be true to itself, its land and its people.”
To celebrate his life, philosophy and legacy, an exhibit dubbed “Mañosa: Beyond Architecture” runs from February to May at the National Museum of the Phi l ippine s . The exhibit showcases over 50 landmark projects from Mañosa’s prolific career, including original drawings and models never before seen by the public. Archived photographs, samples of vernacular materials, furniture, and interior elements, are also featured. The exhibition also explores Mañosa’s other creative pursuits as a jazz musician, toy designer, and designer of craft.
To further inspire new and upcoming generations of Filipino architects and designers, a lecture series runs concurrently with the exhibit, on selected Saturdays from Feb. 18 to May 6, 1:30 to 5: 30 p. m. at the National Museum Auditorium.
“Our father always enjoyed interacting with architecture and design students, whom he called his barangay,” said Bobby’s son Dino, CEO of the Mañosa Group’s real estate development arm, Mañosa Properties. “It was important to him to mentor and inspire the youth to think Filipino and be proud of their culture. Unfortunately, his health no longer permits him to give lectures himself, so our Tukod Foundation – which produced both the exhibit and lecture series – invited like-minded individuals – renowned experts in their respective fields – to do the lectures instead.”
The “Mañosa: Beyond Architecture” lecture series includes topics on art, architecture and design, Philippine textiles and building materials, Filipino culture and identity, nationalism and nation-building. It features such distinguished speakers as former NCCA chair Felipe de Leon; architects Gerard Lico, Paulo Alcarazen, Christian Salandanan, Ning Encarnacion-Tan, Markel Luna, Rino Fernandez, Rosette Santos and Dan Lichauco; art historian Patrick Flores; author and artist Elmer Nocheseda; design creatives Leo Almeria, Medilen Singh, and Len Cabili; performance artist Joey Ayala; and the custodians of Bobby Mañosa’s legacy – his three children, Dino, Bambi and Gelo.
Each lecture can only accommodate 150 students. Admission is free.