Legislature Building

US National Archives

Built in 1921, the Philippine Legislature Building was originally intended to serve as a national library for the new Commonwealth as the Philippines moved toward independence from the United States. The structure, like all of the main government buildings in Manila, was a massive structure of reinforced concrete, intended to survive the earthquakes the capitol was known for.

Opened in 1926, the building served as the site for the inauguration of President Manuel Quezon, formally creating the Philippine Commonwealth in late 1935. After the Japanese captured the city in early 1942, the Commonwealth was replaced by a Japanese puppep republic led by Jose Laurel, and the building remained in use by it’s National Assembly until President Laurel declared martial law in late 1944, when the Americans landed on Leyte.

By the time of the American landings on Luzon in early 1945 the building had fallen into disuse as the Laurel government had evacuated the capitol, and the Manila Naval Defense Force intended to use the Legislature Building, just as with the other government buildings in Ermita, as a fortress during their suicidal defense of the city. It’s location, near to the Agriculture and Finance Buildings and surrounded by open parks, made one of the most defensible locations in the city.