Malacanang Palace, on the north bank of the Pasig River, has stood
as a symbol of power for three centuries. It was originally a villa in an
exclusive part of Manila. Malacanang became the summer residence of the Spanish
Governor General in the nineteenth century and then the official Governor
General's residence after the Governor's palace in Intramuros was destroyed
by an earthquake. When the Americans took over Manila at the turn of the century,
Malacanang became the residence of the American Civil Governors. The Palace
was turned over to the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. It has since been
the official residence of the Philippine Presidents.
All told, 14 Spanish Governor Generals, 13 American Civil Governors and 9
Philippine Presidents have stayed in the Palace. Some of them have made their
mark on its architectural structure by adding azoteas (porches), annexes,
buildings, and galleries.
Controversy surrounds the origin of the name Malacanang. Some say the name
comes from may lakan diyan, meaning "there are nobles there." or
from ma-lakan-iyan, meaning "place of the chief." Others say the
name derives from mala cana, or "bad cane," since bamboo groves
that used to abound in the district were believed to have been inhabited by
evil spirits.
Between 1972 and February 1986, Malacanang stood for the autocracy of Ferdinand
E. Marcos, who occupied the Palace for 20 years, from his first term in 1965. 1802 Colonel Jose Miguel Formento of the Spanish Army buys the original
villa from the Spaniard Don Luis Rocha, for 1,000 Mexican pesos.
1825 The government buys the estate from Colonel Formento, using funds
from the Chinese head tax.
1847 A royal decree designates the estate as the summer residence of
the Spanish governor general.
1863 After an earthquake destroys the Intramuros Palace, Governor General
Rafael de Zulueta takes up permanent residence in the summer house.
1869-1898 More than 300,000 pesos is spent on numerous repairs and extensions.
The summer residence of the Governor General becomes a sprawling government
complex.
1902 William Howard Taft becomes the first American Civil Governor
to occupy Malacanang. The Palace undergoes radical changes.
1921 General Leonard Wood becomes Civil Governor. The Executive Building
is built on the left side of the Palace. This building, which in the Marcos
regime housed the Presidential Library and the Office of Media Affairs, is
ransacked and looted in the 1986 revolution.
1935 Manuel Luis Quezon becomes the first President of the Philippine
Commonwealth and the first Filipino occupant of Malacanang. During his term,
the property across Pasig is developed and becomes part of the Palace complex.
1953 Ramon Magsaysay, the third President of the Philippine Republic,
opens the Palace to the people for the first time.
1965 Ferdinand E. Marcos becomes President. His wife, Imelda, begins
first of several renovations.
1970 Militant students ram a commandeered firetruck through a Palace
gate. Molotov cocktails and pillboxes are lobbed into the grounds. The Palace
grounds are close to the people.
1977 A full structural renovation of the Palace is ordered by Imelda
Marcos. The changes are so thorough that former occupants do not recognize
it.
1983-85 Malacanang is completely isolated from the people. The barbed
wire across Mendiola bridge becomes a symbol of oppression and the isolation
of the Marcoses from reality. The bridge is a kilometer away from the Palace
gates. Crossing it becomes a symbolic victory for their people.
1986 At 9:05 in the evening of February 25, Ferdinand Marcos and his
party leave besieged Malacanang aboard four helicopters. Minutes later, the
people, massed at the gates, clamber up and storm the Palace, which for almost
a decade was off limits to them.
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