Malacanan Palace

Home of the Philippine Presidents

            The home of the Philippine presidents is a building called – Malacanan. However, many believe that the word came from the three Tagalog words, “may lakan diyan” which literally translates “there’s a nobleman there.” It is told in the history of the Philippines before the Spanish arrived that a Filipino local leader is called “lakan or nobleman.” Being defined, the word Malacanan is a shortened word which means “there is a nobleman or aristocrat there.” It is considered an aristocrat a leader of a certain territory during those times.
           Two hundred seven years ago, Malacanan Palace is only known by its nickname  "bahay na bato" or “house of stone.” The “house of stone” is owned by Don Luis Rocha. Soon, the “house of stone” is purchased by Col. Luis Miguel Formento, a Spaniard, in the amount of one thousand one hundred pesos (P 1,100). The purchase took place on November 16, 1802.
          On January 22, 1825, the house of stone was purchased by the Spanish government in the Philippines in the amount of five thousand one hundred pesos (P5,100). Don Clemente Cobarruvias, a government official, managed the purchase negotiation. An ordinance issued on August 27, 1847 establishes the house of stone as a summer residence of the governor general in the Philippines. It will also house the guests of the government.
         When an earthquake destroyed the original residence of the governor general in Intramuros on June 3, 1863, the house of stone became the official residence of Governor General Rafael de Echague. He called it Posicion de Malacanan.
          There are lots of changes at the palace. Additional rooms and offices are made along the corners of the “house of stone.” However the palace was destroyed by a strong earthquake of 1869. Massive renovations are again being done and also undergone changes to deliver the basic necessity at the palace. Reconstruction finished on December, 1870.
          Less than two years passed, when a strong storm destroyed again the Palace last October 13, 1872.The worse damage of the calamity was the office of the governor general. While the palace is being rebuilt, the kitchen was destroyed by a fire when its reconstruction is almost finished. They are enforced to make stringent measures and changes to avoid fire in the future.
         The palace was destroyed again by a typhoon again on May 29, 1873. The main building of the palace was severely devastated. It was reconstructed again and therefore, balcony was added and made improvements to the original hall. Extensive reconstruction to broaden and widen the main office was undertaken. The total cost of reconstruction amounted to twenty-four thousand three hundred sixty-three ($24,363).
         A strong earthquake occurred on July 1880 brought down again the vulnerable palace. After a done to all damages, the total cost reached to a hefty thirty six thousand dollars ($36,000). Renovations and beautification were done in 1885 during the state visit to the Philippines of Prince Oscar of Sweden. The flag pole was transferred at the main door of the palace. It was implanted in a concrete stone that has a steel wire.
        Through the years, additional facilities supplemented to meet the needs in the Palace. It includes official car terminal, animal food storage, guard’s quarter, and fence railings on the shoreline of the social hall. Total costs spent amounted to one hundred eighty-three thousand, five hundred sixty seven dollars ($183, 567). Since 1869, this amount is the total amount of money spent for the Palace excluding other expenses.
        In 1898, the interiors of the Palace are needed to be filled so as not to be stranded by floodwater. Floodwater is the breeding ground of mosquitoes and other insects. There is another major change in the Palace after the interiors was filled.
       Soon, the government bought a tract of land that’s worth one hundred seventy six thousand pesos (P176,000). As the palace made expansions, a tennis court, swimming pool, new fences and additional rooms were built as needed by the Palace.
      After a few years, to ensure convenient and comfortable living conditions at the palace and to respond to the growing needs, changes were made to the exteriors of the Palace. The buildings were adorned with marble decorations from Romblon. Expensive wood carvings were placed in the interior walls of the apalace. Renovations were completed in 1821. Total expenses reached one million, three hundred fifty thousand pesos (P1, 350, 000).
     Many years had passed and every time a new President is sworn into office, there are lots of transformations being done at the palace. The changes made according to the preferences of the transition president and first lady.
     Every time there is a new president at Malacanan, the palace is even more beautiful in the eyes of the international community and even in the eyes of the Filipinos.
     There is a big difference in the present palace from the “house of stone” since it was officially called Malacanan, the home of the Philippine presidents.

Malacanan Images

The Malacanan Palace, home of the President of the Philippines, is situated across the Pasig River.

The Press Office

Bamboo House in Malacanan

Malacanan Social Hall

The seat of the president in Malacañan

Philippine Presidents Trivia

                The current Philippine president Benigno Simeon Cojuangco III was sworn into office last June 30, 2010 at Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila at exactly 12 noon. He is the first and only bachelor president of the country. Here are some more pieces of trivia IN NUMBERS you ought to know about the current president, Pnoy as he is fondly called, and the rest of the Philippine presidents.
           The Constitution is clear and specific; the title of the chief executive is “President of the Philippines,” and takes his oath of office as such, although in certain cases involving formal diplomatic usage, “President of the Republic of the Philippines” is used for diplomatic documents. The honorific title for the President of the Philippines is “His/Your Excellency,” but the proper form of address is “Mr. President.”
         At 42.08% Aquino’s percentage of the votes is the highest plurality since the restoration of democracy , and under the 1987 Constitution. The biggest first-term landslide was Magsaysay in 1953 (68.9%), followed by Quezon in 1935. The biggest second term landslide was Quezon in 1941 (81.78%) followed by Marcos in 1969 (61.5%).


Some relevant numbers:
1 He is the first unmarried president in the history of the country

He is the first president with no children.
The first deputy speaker of the House to later become president.

He is the first marksman to become president since Ferdinand Marcos (who belonged to the U.P. rifle team).

He will be the first president since 1992 inaugurated into office without having been vice-president first.

He is the first president since Diosdado Macapagal to be elected as the candidate of the Liberal Party; also the first president since Macapagal not to have changed political parties (three presidents had no political party membership/positions: Aguinaldo, Laurel, Cory Aquino).

Aquino is the first post-Edsa president to exceed Garcia’s 1957 plurality. Majority Presidents: Quezon (68% in 1935 and 81.78% in 1941), Roxas (54% in 1946), Quirino (51% in 1949), Magsaysay (68.9% in 1953), Macapagal (55% in 1961), Marcos (54.76% in 1965, 61.5% in 1969), Aquino (approx. 51%). Plurality Presidents: Garcia (41.3%) was the only president elected by plurality prior to 1972. The lowest plurality ever was Fidel V. Ramos in 1992 (23.6%), Estrada at 39.6% in 1998 was the first post-Edsa president to nearly match Garcia’s 1957 plurality.

He is the first to use the suffix III (there have been no Juniors or the Thirds elected president previously).

He is the first president to have a February birthday. Two presidents were born in January: Roxas (Jan. 1), Cory Aquino (Jan. 25); three in March: Laurel (Mar. 9), Ramos (Mar. 18), Aguinaldo (Mar. 22); two in April: Arroyo (April 5), Estrada (April 19); two in August: Quezon (Aug. 19), Magsaysay (Aug. 31); three in September: Osmena (Sept. 9), Marcos (Sept. 11), Macapagal (Sept. 29); two in November: Garcia (Nov. 4), Quirino (Nov. 16)

The President of the Philippines uses license plate No. 1.


2 The second child of a former president to become president in his own right (he succeeds the first presidential child to become president).

The second president from Tarlac.

He is only the second president (Aguinaldo was the only non-drinker previously) who does not drink.

He is the second president to be sworn in by a Filipino associate justice of the Supreme Court ( his mother was the first), but the fourth president sworn in by an associate justice of a Supreme Court (Quezon in 1943 for the indefinite extension of his term, and Osmena who succeeded into office in 1944, were sworn in by U.S. Associate Justices Felix Frankfurter and Robert H. Jackson, respectively, in Washington D.C.).

He is the second president to have studied at the Ateneo de Manila, but the first to have graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Two presidents only partially resided in Malacanan Palace: Laurel, and Estrada (who stayed in the Guest House).

Two presidents were elected by the legislature and not in a national election: Aguinaldo and Laurel.

Two presidents were re-elected to second terms: Quezon and Marcos.

Two presidents were brought to power by People Power bloodless revolts: Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (our two female presidents).


3 Benigno S. Aquino III is the third president with no spouse: Quirino was a widower, Corazon Aquino, a widow. Unlike Quirino and Corazon Aquino, who had children, Aquino III has none.
Aquino at 50 is the third youngest elected president (Magsaysay remains the youngest every nationally-elected to the presidency), and the fourth-youngest president after Aguinaldo, Magsaysay and Marcos.

He is the youngest of the presidents who became chief executive in their 50s (age at inauguration/succession: Aguinaldo, 29: Quezon, 57; Laurel, 51; Osmena, 67; Roxas, 54; Quirino, 57; Magsaysay, 46; Garcia, 60; Macapagal, 51; Marcos, 48 ; Aquino, 53; Ramos, 64; Estrada, 61; Arroyo, 54).

The third to use his second given name as his middle initial (as Quezon and Laurel did)/

The third to engage in shooting as a sport (Quezon and Marcos engaged in hunting).

He will be the third president who will only hold office in, but not be a resident of, Malacanan Palace, following Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos.

He was the third generation of Aquino’s to serve in the Senate: his grandfather and father were also senators.


4 He will be the fourth president not sworn in by a chief justice: Aguinaldo was first. Quezon, when his term extended in exile in 1943, renewed his oath of office before Justice Felix Frankfurter. Osmena, who succeeded to the presidency in exile, was sworn in by Justice Hugo Jackson (thus, two presidents have been sworn in by foreign justices, both because they headed governments-in-exile). Corazon Aquino was sworn in by Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee. Eleven presidents were sworn in by a chief justice: Quezon (1935, 1941), Laurel, ROxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo.

Four presidents were not inaugurated either on December 30 or June 30: Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899), Quezon (November 15, 1935 and November 15, 1941), Laurel (October 13, 1943), Roxas (May 28, 1946)

Four vice-presidents who succeeded to the presidency also took their oaths on dates different from the traditional inaugural date: Osmena (August 1, 1944); Quirino (April 17, 1948), Garcia (March 18, 1957), Arroyo (January, 2001).

Most number of times a president has taken the oath of office: four, for Marcos (1965, 1969, the 1981 and 1986 “inaugurals”; followed by three, for Quezon 91935 in Manila, 1941 in Corregidor, 1943 in Washington D.C., also before three different individuals); Quirino (1948 in Malacanan, 1949); Garcia (1957, twice: upon succession in March Malacanan and election in December); Arroyo (2001 in Quezon City, 2004 in Cebu).


5 Aquino comes from a family of five siblings.
At age 50, is going to be the 15th President of the Philippines. He becomes president at the same age at which father, Benigno S. Aquino Jr., died.

Officially, his fourteen predecessors will be: Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Corazon C. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph E. Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He will be the 5th President of the 5th Republic. The present republic was established with the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. The previous republic are the First (Malolos, 1899-1901); Second (The Japanese Occupation, 1943 – 1945); the Third (from independence in 1946 to 1972); the Fourth (the “New Republic” proclaimed in 1981).

Aguinaldo was the lone President of the First Republic; Quezon was the first President of the Commonwealth and Roxas the last; Laurel was lone President of the Second Republic; Roxas was the first President of Third Republic and Marcos, the last; Marcos was the first President of the Fourth Republic but proclaimed a revolutionary government. The Fifth Republic came into being with the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, and Corazon Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Arroyo have been the presidents of the Fifth Republic.

He was elected on 05/10/10.

He received over 15 million votes; his winning margin was over 5 million.

He will be the fifth president to take his oath of office on June 30: Marcos, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo being the others. Starting with Quezon’s second inaugural in 1941 until Marcos’ second inaugural in 1969 (with the exception of the special election called in 1946) presidents were inaugurated on Rizal Day, December 30 and June 30. Six presidents Quezon (1941), Quirino (1949), Magsaysay, Garcia (1957), Macapagal, Marcos (1965, 1969) had inaugurals on December 30.

Aquino is also the fifth public smoker to be presidents: Quezon, Roxas, Garcia, Estrada were/are all smokers.


6 He is the sixth president to have been elected to a single six-year term (Quezon in 1935 [term subsequently extended by constitutional amendment], Aquino in 1986, Ramos in 1992, Estrada in 1998, Arroyo in 2004). He will be only the second President to serve an exact 6 year term (only President Ramos has so far, served an exact 6 year term; President Quezon’s original term was modified to permit re-election for an additional two years; President Corazon Aquino’s term was extended by a few months to synchronize her term with that of new officials elected under the 1987 Constitution; President Estrada’s term was shortened by Edsa Dos; President Arroyo served the remainder of her predecessor’s term and an additional six years. Under the 1935 Constitution, only Diosdado Macapagal served an exact four year term).


7 Aquino will be the seventh president to be inaugurated at the Quirino Grandstand. Six presidents were inaugurated at the Quirino Grandstand: Quirino (1949), Magsaysay (1953), Garcia (1957), Macapagal (1961), Marcos (1965, etc.), Ramos (1992).

He will be the seventh to use a middle initial after Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Carlos P. Garcia, Marcos, Corazon C. Aquino (who used her maiden name as her middle initial), and Fidel V. Ramos. (Aguinaldo, Osmena, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Macapagal did not use middle initials at all; Estrada uses a special name combining his real family name, Ejercito, with his screen name; Arroyo prefers to use the hyphenated Macapagal-Arroyo). Presidents Aguinaldo, Osmena, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay and Macapagal did not use middle initials. The initials of President-elect Aquino are BSA III, following the practice of his father and grandfather, he uses his second given name as his middle initial, the same practice followed by Presidents Quezon and Laurel.


8 If you include the pipe/cigar smoking of Laurel, Ramos and Macapagal and his daughter Arroyo who were/are occasional (social) smokers, Aquino III is the eight president who smokes.


9 Juancho Dulay Barreto on Twitter also pointed out BSA III was proclaimed president-elect on June 9, 2010. That’s exactly 9 months after his declaration of candidacy on 09/09/09.

He is the ninth to have been proclaimed president-elect by the legislature: the first was Manuel L. Quezon, followed by Manuel Roxas, Ramon Magsaysay, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (eight if you don’t count Arroyo’s proclamation on the basis of the Quirino and Garcia precedents). While Congress certified the election of Elpidio Quirino and Carlos P. Garcia, they had succeeded into office previously, and were already serving as president when elected to a full term: thus, were not referred to as presidents-elect. Aguinaldo and Laurel were not elected president in a national election; they were made president by a vote of the national assembly and thus never president-elect. Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency by means of the People Power Revolution and was not proclaimed by the Batasan Pambansa.

The ninth president to have served as a congressman.

Nine presidents lived in Malacanan Palace: Quezon, Osmena, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Arroyo. Three presidents (Quirino and Garcia upon succession, Marcos in 1986) have taken oaths of office there. Four presidents have had to flee because of war or revolution: Quezon, Laurel, Marcos and Estrada.


10 The tenth senator to become a president.

He will be the tenth president to be inaugurated in Manila: the nine previously who were inaugurated in Manila: Quezon in 1935, Laurel in 1943, Roxas in 1946, Quirino in 1949, Magsaysay in 1953, Garcia in 1957, Macapagal in 1961, Marcos in 1965 etc., Ramos in 1992.

Aquino III, who used the Aquino family bible his mother used, will be the ninth president to swear on a bible and the second to use the same bible: Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo followed suit. Aguinaldo, Quezon, Laurel, Osmena, Roxas and Quirino (belonging to generations closer to the revolutionary era, did not take their oaths on a bible). Magsaysay and Marcos took their oath on two bibles each in 1953 and 1965.

Philippine Presidents

          The Republic of the Philippines is a free and independent sovereign country. Its government is being led by a President. The President of the Philippines must be a Filipino first and foremost. Aside from that, there are lots of other qualifications needed to be obtained by a Filipino to be a president of the Philippines.
        Not all Filipino can be a president. It’s nice to know what are the qualifications and qualities of Filipinos who had served as president of the Republic. In this article, Filipino Presidents, you will read the biographies of past presidents, from Emilio Aguinaldo to Ferdinand Marcos. Included in this article, is about the official residence of Philippine presidents – Malacanan Palace. The palace, which has its own history, has been the witness in the making of a Filipino president. Any Filipino can be a president in this country.

Getaway to Gigantes Islands, Carles, Iloilo

       Gigantes Islands or giant islands are huge rock formations on the white powdery sand beach resort in Gigantes, a part of the town of Carles, Iloilo, the northeastern part of Panay Island in west central Philippines.
   Its pristine island and azure waters with its sparkling white sands is comparable to El Nido, Palawan, Philippines because it is unspoiled, isolated and non commercialized area open only for a few tourists. It is also the place of some artifacts discovered few years back, one of our great ancestors, pioneer settlers of the Philippines. Gigantes Islands is also home to some endemic flora and fauna which are critically endangered species. I will never regret visiting this island and if possible, maybe build a vacation retreat house or permanent residence because of the loveliness of the island. You can watch more of the Gigantes Islands or Isla de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo on Youtube.

Island Hopping: Pan de Azucar Island, Iloilo

           Pan de Azucar Islands is a group of islands located in Concepcion, Iloilo, Panay Island west central Philippines. It is about 111.4 kms. from the city and be reached through a series of rides of jeepney, van, bus, motorcycle & ferry boat. It is made up of exotic islets with cave-like gateway which tourists can enjoy swimming and feeling the ambience of solitude. The tropical backdrop includes coconut which can serve as foundation for your hammock and can quench your thirst with its juice which is a good cleansing agent for our kidney.
           Pan de Azucar is the biggest and most popular among Concepcion’s 16 islands because of the enchantingly tall and steep mountain, called Mt. Pan de Azucar or Mt. Manaphag, standing like a towering sentinel in the center of the island.
           Pan de Azucar Island, also referred as “Tampisaw Island” or “Tambaliza,” is located 7 nautical miles north of the poblacion or town proper (in mainland Concepcion) with an expanse of 18.4 square kilometers, occupying 19% of the town’s total land area. It is 30 minutes away from the poblacion via motorized bancas (pump boats), which have regular trips to the southern side of the island. Special tours will have to be arranged with the municipal tourism office or with boatmen docked at the fish port in the mainland.
          Mt. Manaphag is a 573-foot land mass considered as one of the steepest in the country. It is frequented by mountain climbing enthusiasts such as the Sigarong Backpackers. The mountain, which can be seen from afar (as far as Negros Island), easily distinguishes itself from its surroundings and provides Conception a magnificent and interesting landmark because of its shape and size. The island was named after “Pan de Azucar” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil because of its similar appearance.
           At the foot of the mountain are flat lands suitable for farming, one can see a perfect overview of them on top of Mt. Manaphag. If you happen to know a local, try to have him to take you to a coconut plantation and ask for all the coconuts that you can eat. It’ll certainly give you a fulfilling experience.
           Pan de Azucar has thin coasts of golden-yellow sand to white sand. Most of them are inhabited and may not be suitable for swimming, though there are still a lot of sites around the island which are perfect for a dip like Malumpatan, which is a short beach with a pebbled shore and spectacular rock formations in its surroundings.
Along a white sand beach at the foot of Mt. Manaphag, is Pan de Azucar Beach Resort, which offer rooms for those wishing to spend the night in the island. They offer simple accommodations and have water and electricity available.
           Pan de Azucar Island is a unique experience where you cannot see elsewhere in the country.

Cebu City, "Queen City of the South", A Misnomer

by Cornelio P. Panes

     The title of Iloilo as Queen City of the South before Cebu grabbed it is a misnomer. It was not intended to mean the premiere or leading city outside Metro Manila. This was how it all began.
     At the outbreak of the Philippine revolution, the Ayuntamiento (municipal council) of Jaro was the first to condemn, by way of a resolution, the revolution as "an unpatriotic act." The Ilonggo alta sociedad also responded to the news of revolution with protestation and outrage and evoked pro-Spanish loyalty. The Ayuntamiento of Iloilo followed suit and organized the Iloilo Volunteer Battalion.
      The voluntarios, as members were called, were recruited from among the private population of Jaro and Iloilo and the adjoining prosperous towns of Molo, Arevalo, Oton and Sta. Barbara, and the more distant northern and eastern pueblos. They fought against the army of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite and Pampanga. Illustrious personalities like Martin Delgado, Quintin Salas, Pedro Monteclaro and Adriano Hernandez were among the officers of the battalion. The biggest financial contributors to the Ilongo contingent were industrialist Don Eugenio Lopez and shipping magnate Don Felix dela Rama.
      In the battlefield of Cavite, the voluntarios helped the Spanish forces in the initial defeat of Aguinaldo's forces in 1897. It was the most well-equipped and well-trained contingent on the side of Spain. They helped in the fall of Silang and Imus which led to the collapse of the revolutionaries' defenses in Cavite after a fierce battle for Zapote bridge. The Spanish Crown was elated with that Spanish and the voluntarios' victory. Queen Regent Maria Cristina issued a royal decree awarding the city of Iloilo the perpetual title LA MUY LEAL Y NOBLE CIUDAD DE ILOILO or the Most Loyal and Noble City of Iloilo "for its exemplary conduct and all its laudable action during the present insurrection, in organizing and equipping an Ilongo Volunteer Battalion..."
      Since then, Iloilo was known as "THE QUEEN'S CITY," a moniker for the longer title, which, to our present-day term, is the Queen's pet city. This is because Manila was first granted an almost similar title by the Queen. The title was decreed to be incorporated in the official seal of the city.
      Legally speaking, Iloilo has the perpetual right to the title Queen City by virtue of the said decree. But no Ilongo now is bothered if Cebu snatched that title away. It is a title that would perpetually shame us.
      In the 1990's the City Government of Iloilo unofficially removed the title from the city seal as can be shown in its printed letterheads. To make the removal official, the city council of Iloilo should pass a resolution removing the title from the city's seal.