Tomás Mapúa

Tomas Bautista Mapúa was the first registered Filipino architect. Born December 21, 1888 in Manila son of Juan and Justina (Bautista) Mapua. Married Rita Moya November 3, 1916. [Nellist, G. Men of the Philippines : a biographical record of men of substantial achievement in the Philippine islands, Manila 1931] He was one of the first Filipino scholars sent by the government to the United States during the American regime. He finished high school at Boone's Preparatory School in Berkeley, California, and graduated from Cornell University in 1911 with a degree in Architecture. Among his works include the Manila City Hall, Post Office Building, and the St. La Salle Hall. He founded the Mapúa Institute of Technology, one of the biggest engineering schools in the Philippines today, using a run-down building in Carriedo Street on Quiapo, Manila in January 25, 1925. He died on December 22, 1965. Misrecordia Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila was renamed to Tomas Mapua Street in his honor.

He was supervising architect for the Bureau of Public Works from 1918-1927, during which period he was in charge of an enormous amount of important insular work, including the Nurses Home of the Philippine General Hospital, Training School Building of Normal School, and various provincial and municipal buildings. Retiring from public service, Mapúa devoted himself to private practice since 1928, and in addition to heading his own construction company (MYT Construction Works,Inc.) was president of Mapúa Institute of Technology, an educational institution of high rank. [Nellist, G. Men of the Philippines : a biographical record of men of substantial achievement in the Philippine islands, Manila 1931]

Reference

^1,2 Nellist, G. Men of the Philippines : a biographical record of men of substantial achievement in the Philippines, Manila. 1931.
*School founded in 1925 by 1st registered Filipino architect, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 10, 2005.

ee also

* [http://www.mapua.edu.ph Mapua Institute of Technology]