Francisco Mañosa

            Francisco ‘Bobby’ Mañosa was born on February 12, 1931. He is a Filipino architect noted for his Filipino inspired architectural designs. Mañosa devoted his life’s work to creating a Filipino identity in architecture. Inspired by traditional vernacular forms such as the bahay kubo and the bahay na bato is his specialty when it comes in creating design. In fact, his most notable work is The Coconut Palace. Mañosa is one of the most influential Filipino Architects of the twentieth century. He was even inaugurated his exhibition during his 86th birthday, and tells the story of his work within the framework of six central themes namely, Buhay ng Gawa, Likas at Likha, Diwa ng Anyo, Lugar ng Laro, Danas ng Aliwalas, and Tagpuan ng Ugnayan.

            "MAÑOSA: BEYOND ARCHITECTURE” is a three-and-a-half month retrospective exhibit on the architect’s life and work, which opened February 12 at the national museum in manila. As the title suggest, the exhibit showcase the other side of the architect’s prolific career as a toy craftsman, jazz musician, philanthropist, and a visionary among others.

            Mañosa combined traditional forms and indigenous materials with modern building technology to create structures he felt were best suited to the Philippines’ tropical climate. He developed a modern architectural style and used indigenous materials and experimented with new technologies so that it would be usable in a modern context.