FILIPINO PHILOSOPHY

KNOWN AS EASTERN MAN

INFLUENCES OF CULTURE SHAPED THROUGH HISTORY
DEVELOPED BY THE MAJOR FILIPINO LANGUAGES AND DIALECT
INFLUENCES THE PHILIPPINE BELIEF AND WORLDVIEWS

PHILOSOPHER
A PHILOSOPHER IS SOMEONE WHO PURSUES KNOWLEDGE. FOR FILIPINOS
PILOSOPO IS USED TO REFER TO A SAGE OR WISE MAN BUT IT CAN BE SOMETIMES A
WORD USED TO REFER TO SOMEONE BEING A SMARTY ALECK.

DIMENSIONS OF PHILIPPINE PHILOSOPHY

1. DISCIPLINE
PHILIPPINE HOSPITALITY
FAMILY HIERARCHY
2. BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS
SPIRIT-ORIENTED
RESPECT
3. IDENTITY

FILIPINO PHILOSOPHERS
1. JOSE RIZAL- REFORMIST
HE IS THE NATIONAL HERO OF THE PHILPPINES. HE IS A WRITER FAMOUS
FOR HIS NOVELS THE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO WHICH
SERVED AS AN EYE OPENER.
2. DR. FLORENTINO T. TIMBREZA- AUTHOR
HE IS THE FATHER OF PHILIPPINE PHILOSOPHY.WITH HIS LOVE FOR
KNOWLEDGE HE DREAMS THAT PHILOSOPHY WOULD BE TAUGHTIN EVERY
CLASSROOM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
3. ALFREDO P. CO, PH.D.
HE IS A SINOLOGIST (SPECIALIZING IN CHINESE STUDY) AND THE FOUNDING
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILOSOPHY CIRCLE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
4. MANUEL L. QUEZON- FORMER PRESIDENT
HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE A POLITICALLY INCLINED PHILOSOPHER.
HOW DOES PHILOSOPHY ENGANGE ARCHITECTURE ON ITS OWN TERMS?

Let us start by saying that pulp-theory in architecture isnt a problem caused

by philosophers. The constant misuse and misinterpretation of philosophical positions
adapted as architectural generative devices has to be fully owned by architects. The
problem is, architects dont seem to be able to address the issue. There is a persistent
design culture at the core of architecture which seems consistently opposed to both
predictive and repeatable effects (i.e. research applied in relevant ways) as well as
accepting core responsibilities of the discipline (ethics, fiduciary social responsibility,
occupational appropriateness, beauty). Rather, what is valued is originality,
uniqueness, novelty, inspiration, and social status through representation (this could
be ultimately linked back to Hegel, though). Asking about how philosophy engages
architecture in todays context is like asking what philosophy can do for the fashion
industry. That is to say, the foundation of high culture in the architectural discipline
is founded on unstable territory, linked to the fine arts through what can only be
described as status envy which makes the process of the application of philosophy,
and then theory, naturally irrelevant through this applicational bias.

When architects do look to philosophy, it is not to value the core knowledge

which can be accessed between the two disciplines but to usurp philosophys language
in order to raise its own cultural value and fend of critique by statements of
knowledge-appearance. There are several needs that should be addressed within
architecture. For starters, remove philosophy from its close association with theory.
These two terms are often used interchangeability within architecture, and neither are
understood by practitioners. Theory, freed from this association, can extend into
disciplines which are presently second-rate in design status sociology,
anthropology, environmental psychology, to name a few. Instead, philosophy needs to
be accessed for what it does. Knowing which questions should be addressed to
philosophers is the core of the issue. So rather than finding a new system to generate
a style, epistemological or ethical questions should be explored as well as questions
of value and questions of judgement. Of course, the issue will be when architects
dont get a clear-cut answer (Truth), they will need to learn, instead, to look for one
which is relevant and significant in its context.
FILIPINO ARCHITECTS AND THEIR PHILOSOPHIES

1. PABLO ANTONIO

ANTONIOS ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADOPTION OF ART DECO

TECHNIQUES WAS RADICAL FOR ITS DAY, NEOCLASSICISM BEING
DOMINANT MOTIF OF PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE WHEN HE BEGAN HIS
CAREER.

HE WAS CITED TAKING ARCHITECTURE INTO A NEW DIRECTION, WITH

CLEAN LINES, PLAIN SURFACES, AND BOLD RECTANGULAR
MASSES.

BUILDINGS SHOULD BE PLANNED WITH AUSTERITY IN MIND AND ITS

STABILITY FOREVER AS THE AIM OF TRUE ARCHITECTURE, THAT
BUILDINGS MUST BE PROGRESSIVE, SIMPLE IN DESIGN BUT
DIGNIFIED, TRUE TO A PURPOSE WITHOUT RESORTING TO AN APPLIED
SET OF AESTHETICS AND SHOULD ETERNALLY RECREATE TRUTH.

2. FRANCISCO BOBBY MANOSA

FOR MANOSAS PHILOSOPHY IS THAT THE SHELTER FOR THE FILIPINO

MUST BE REFLECTIVE OF HIS ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE. FILIPINO
ARHCITECTURE ARCHITECTURE MUST BE SUITED TO THE COUNTRYS
SEASON AND CLIMATE, RESPONSIVE TO THE CALLINGS OF ONES
REGION, AND REFLECTIVE OF OUR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
TRADITIONS.

HE STRESSED THAT FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN TIMES

SHOULD REDEFINE OUR IDENTITY TO PROVIDE CONTINUITY WITHOUT
NECESSARILY GOING BACK TO THE PAST.

WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY, BOBBY BELIEVES THAT, WHEN YOU

BUY TECHNOLOGY, YOU BUY CULTURE. ACCORDING TO HIM,
TECHNOLOGY SHOULD COMPLEMENT AND NOT DICTATE OUR
LIFESTYLE. IT SHOULD BE TAMED TO PRODUCE THE MATERIALS THAT
CAN BECOME FILIPINO.

MY PHILOSOPHY IS TO BRING BACK THE BAHAY KUBO AND THIS

PHILOSOPHY WILL BE IN CONTINUITY.

IN THE WEST, THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HOUSE FOLLOW ITS SHAPE.

BUT TO BOBBY, PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURAL FORM FOLLOWS
FASHION, NOT FUNCTION. FILIPINOS ACCORDING TO HIM, ARE COPY
CATS. THE LOSS OF FILIPINOS IDENTITY AS A NATION IS AMONG THE
MANY CONCERNS OF BOBBY. AND BRINGING BACK THE BAHAY KUBO
IS HIS WAY OF HELPING THE COUNTRY REGAIN ITS PRIDE AND
CULTURE.
 HUMANITIES
MW 2:30-4:00PM

RESEARCH

by

MADERAL, Kristine
NAPIERE, Sharmaine
RACHO, Rapha
BSARCH 3C