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 In our Filipiniana library is a treasure trove of images of Philippine life, history and culture from the 15th century to the early seventies. The 4" x 5" black and white photos include reproductions of engravings, lithographs, drawings, and other modes of visual representation, as well as original photos gathered and annotated by the Ayala Museum research department over several years.
We have over 35,000 photos at the moment and are expanding the collection.
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![[ Monthly Feature ]](images/monthly/retrato012012.jpg)
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Malacañan, ca. 1897
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"In a nation where institutions are said to be weak and institutional memories virtually nonexistent, this residence of governors-generals and presidents represents one of the few places that has remained largely constant through time's many vicissitudes. It has been preserved almost unbroken as the seat of power and symbol of the highest authority, witness to the long and eventful historical process from colonization to freedom and independence." (Quezon, 2005)
Malacañang Palace traces its history back to the late 1700s, when it served as the summer residence of Spanish businessman Luis Rocha. The Calzada de Malañang was built during the last decade of the 18th century. It lay over the swampy and uninhabited marshland of Malacañan by the Pasig River. In 1802, Rocha sold the property to Col. Jose Miguel Formento, who kept it until his death in 1825. That same year, the property was sold to the Spanish government.
In 1847, through a Royal Decree, the property was designated as the governor-general's summer residence. It was only in 1863, when an earthquake destroyed the Royal Palace in Intramuros, that the Calzada de Malacañang became the governor-general's principal seat.
But where did the name Malacañan come from? Spanish historian Felipe de Govantes, in his book Compendio de la Historia de Filipinas (1877), said that Malacañan translates to “sitio del pescador” in Spanish—place of the fisherman. In 1891, writer and biographer Ileana Maramag supported this, saying that Malacañan was likely derived from the Tagalog word for fisherman, mamamalakaya.
Meanwhile, in the mid-1930s, a letter to William Teahan, advisor to the American governor-general, from Eulogio Rodriguez, former assistant director of the National Library, stated that Malacañan had two possible derivations: the Tagalog ma lakan iyan, meaning “a place of great ones,” or the Spanish mala caña, meaning “evil bamboo” or “evil cane.” The second definition may pertain to the areas once-abundant bamboo groves, which were believed to be inhabited by evil spirits.
Reference:
Quezon, Manuel L. III; Alcazaren, Paulo; Barns, Jeremy. Malacañan Palace: The Official Illustrated History. Manila: Studio 5 Publishing, 2005.
Joaquin, Nick. Palacio de Malacañang. Manila: Society for the Preservation of Philippine Culture, c2002.
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