| Malacanang Palace |
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Information AboutMalacanang Palace |
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Today the complex consists of Malacañan Palace itself, Bonifacio Hall (formerly the Premier Guest House used by Marcos successor Corazon Aquino as her office and by Joseph Ejercito Estrada as his residence), Kalayaan Hall (the former executive building built under the American administration), Mabini Hall (the Administration Building), and the New Executive Building (built by President Aquino) among other, smaller buildings. Across the river, is Malacañang Park, which contains a golf course, park, billets for the presidential guard, as well as a Commonwealth-era presidential resthouse (Bahay Pangarap) and recreation hall. The state and historical rooms of the Palace aren't often seen by the public. While access is much more open than during the martial law years, the Palace is closed and heavily guarded during times of political unrest. Rallyists often congregate along Mendiola Street , nearby to air their protests against the government. HISTORY The Spanish Captains-General (prior to the independence of New Spain , from which the Philippines was directly governed) and then the Governors-General Of The Philippines originally resided in the walled city of Intramuros, Manila, until an earthquake leved the Governor's Palace in 1869 . At this point, Malacañang, a summer home originally built in 1802 by Spanish aristocrat Don Luis Rocha, then subsequently purchased by an official and then purchased by the state, became the temporary residence of the Governors-General. Governor General Rafael de Echague y Berminghan, previously governor of Puerto Rico, was therefore the first Spanish governor to occupy Malacañang. When the Philippines came under American rule following the administration. During the administration of President Corazon Aquino , for historical reasons, government policy has been to make the distinction between "Malacañan Palace", ''official residence of the president'', and "Malacañang", ''office of the president''. The palace was made famous as the home of President Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos , who were its longest residents, from 1965 to 1986 . As first lady, Mrs. Marcos oversaw the reconstruction of the palace to her own extravagant tastes. Following a student uprising that nearly breached the palace gates in the early 1970's, Martial Law was declared, and the complex was closed to the public. When President Marcos was deposed in 1986, the palace complex was stormed by the local populace, and the international media subsequently exposed the excesses of the Marcos family, including Mrs. Marcos' famous collection of thousands of shoes. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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