HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 4 – COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE – UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

Between the Lines: Church of the Risen Lord

Pavon, Averie Rhone A. 3AR-4

Submitted to: Ar. Caryn Santillan

ABSTRACT

In the course of Manila’s liberation from the American Regime, a great deal of Philippines’
cultural heritage was destroyed. Nevertheless, our country rose fiercely from the ashes
and dawned a new Architectural era for our newly independent nation. Architectural
designs were continuously evolving throughout the years as there were abundant new
design approaches, styles and predominant use of cubic forms and geometric shapes
being implied post war. A great deal of post war structures was highly treasured and
became a testimony to the Philippine architectural history. However, this paper gives
spotlight to the Church of the Risen Lord designed by Architect Cesar Concio.
______________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION geometrical shapes and functional

aspects, whereas the principle form
During our time under the follows function emerged. This principle
American regime, Filipinos were greatly allows the shape
influenced by their lifestyle, culture and
architecture. The American empire
envisioned and transformed Manila into a
beautiful tropical city encompassed with
majestic neoclassical structures and a
few monumental art deco buildings
designed by famous Filipino and
American architects. These are just
some of the significant contributions of
the American colony that helped shaped
our city. However, in the course of
Manila’s liberation from the Americans, a
great number of our heritage structures
were destroyed and lost. Manila’s cultural Fig. 1 Reconstruction of the Philippines after
heritage absolutely hit rock bottom. World War 2
Although in contempt of all the disastrous
occurrences, our country was able to get of the building to be based primarily on
back up on our feet and begin a new the function or purpose intended by the
Architecture era for our newly Architect. Architectural designs were
independent nation. also evolving throughout the years as
there were abundant new design
Post-independence architecture approaches and styles that were being
was composed of straight lines, implied post war. The characteristics of

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materials used in construction ranged inside the campus. In 1947, when the
from soft to heavy. Soft deemed to be University of the Philippines was still
light, open and airy corresponding to located in Padre Faura, a group of
googie architecture or space age wherein Christian students felt the need to start a
the architectural elements consist of thin Protestant organization and so they did.
concrete shells, glass walls and brise- They started the movement called
soleils. Along with heavy being massive, Christian Youth Movement (CYM) which
blocky and large scaled use of poured aims to “make relevant Christian
concrete corresponding to brutalist presence in the university campus” with
architecture whereas it appeared to be the help of Philippine Federation of
very monolithic and geometrically rigid. Christian Churches (PFCC), now called
Ultimately, modernism was the ground National Council of Churches in the
breaking new identity of the Philippines. Philippines (NCCP). However, during
This architectural style introduced the that time, any establishments and
utilization of reinforced concrete, steel recognition of religious groups are
and glass. As well as the predominant prohibited within the campus, that is why
use of cubic forms and geometric they were based outside the campus, at
shapes. the Cosmopolitan Church on Taft.

A great deal of post war structures

was highly treasured and became a
testimony to the Philippine architectural
history. Nevertheless, this paper would
focus more on the history and detailed
analysis of the Church of the Risen Lord
located in University of the Philippines,
Diliman.

HISTORY

Fig. 3 Cosmopolitan Church in Taft where CYM

group gathers together.

Fig. 2 exterior perspective of the old University of In 1949 when University of the
the Philippines campus in Manila Philippines finally transferred to the main
campus in Diliman, UP Administration
The students of University of the finally allowed non-academic
Philippines were encouraged to join organizations and religious
extra-curricular groups and organization establishments within the campus.

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Hence, the Christian Youth Movement

was finally recognized by the university.
The CYM group would stay at the
university setting, sawali chapel which is
made from bamboo and nipa. The chapel
was then also shared by other religious
groups namely the UP Student Catholic
Action (UPSCA) and the Iglesia Filipina
Independencia. The university setting
eventually became too crowded for three
religious groups to host masses because
of their conflicting schedules. In 1952, the Fig. 3 Exterior Perspective of the Church of the
CYM group finally decided to start a fund Risen Lord
raising to build their own Protestant
chapel and student center within the Church of The Risen Lord
campus. Sometime during that year, the
UP Administration granted the request of The Church of the risen lord is one
Catholic and Protestant group to have of the structures that truly embraced the
their respective sanctuaries. aesthetics of space age architecture. It
looks very much lightweight and organic
By 1953, a portion of land was with the use of thin shell technology. It
leased to the Catholic and Protestant was designed to have a parabolic
Church and fast-forward that year, exterior because it symbolizes that there
Architect Cesar Concio and his firm are imperfections outside the Christian
proposed plans and blueprints for the world and that whatever goes up
Protestant church and the student center eventually comes down. To further
to the NCCP and the UP Regent of explain this concept, the writer would like
Boards. to site the verse

The Church of the risen lord was Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is
finally built in the year 1954 as well the death, but the free gift of God is eternal
student center. Ground breaking life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
ceremonies were held to commemorate
the spectacular event and sometime Whatever goes up eventually
around that year, an emblematic comes down has a deeper meaning to it.
procession was also held in the newly (up) All the good deeds, merits and hard
constructed church. efforts a man had done in his life will
never be enough to obtain eternal life
(down) because we are burdened by our
sins; and that the only payment required
(wages) for our sins is death. But God
gave us a gift (salvation) whereas he sent
Jesus Christ to pay for our sins and is the
sufficient bridge between the separation
of man and God.

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Now this is where the church of incorporated futuristic designs inspired

the risen lord comes in, its role in the by retro style and rigid geometric shapes
concept is to be the bridge of man and consecutively.
Jesus Christ. A sacred sanctuary where
Christians can connect and learn more CONCLUSION
about the gift of salvation and eternal life.
I believe that this church can be
counted as an example of Filipino
architecture because it was built for the
sole purpose of Filipinos to find sanctuary
in the presence of the Lord. The exterior
façade should not merely be the basis of
how Filipino architecture should be.
Nonetheless, the purpose and concept
are what is important.

Sources:

Iskomunidad. (2013, October 06). Church of the

Risen Lord. Retrieved July 20, 2020, from
Fig 3. Interior perspective of the church https://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Church_o
showcasing the ceiling and chancel f_the_Risen_Lord

As you go inside, the first thing THE POST-WAR PERIOD (1945-1950)

you’ll notice is the enormous cross in the LIBERATION. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2020,
middle of the chancel. There are no from https://prezi.com/sjamaeiycac-/the-post-
images of holy beings unlike in Catholic war-period-1945-1950-liberation/#:~:text=The
churches because protestants believe Coconut Palace also known,also known as
that Jesus’ physical body was already Imelda Madera.
resurrected and no longer resides on
earth therefor there is no need put Jesus’ CountSnake7574. (n.d.). ARC 155 HISTORY OF
physical image. Moreover, the ceiling of ARCHITECTURE 4 PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE
the church narrows upward and towards Pamantasan ng Lungsod: Course Hero.
the chancel which gives a sense of Retrieved July 20, 2020, from
direction that this is the only path to https://www.coursehero.com/file/p3u85lsq/AR
salvation. The sanctuary also gives an C-155-HISTORY-OF-ARCHITECTURE-4-
airy and light feeling because of the large PHILIPPINE-ARCHITECTURE-Pamantasan-ng-
paneled windows and louvers. Lungsod/

The church is beautifully designed Simple but Powerful: What is the meaning of
by the prominent Architect Cesar Concio, Jesus' sacrifice? (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2020,
who was an alumnus of University of the from https://theway.i-
Philippines. In my esteemed opinion, his am.site/?gclid=CjwKCAjwgdX4BRB_EiwAg8O8H
architectural style was a mix of space R9qLSBxwgkuxdQt139HjNsxz2vtCng5J68D3pGh
age and modernism because he QlED9xRnOtxyQRoCCcYQAvD_BwE

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Photos:
Modern. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://historyofarchitecture.weebly.com/mod
ern.html

Church of the Risen Lord. (n.d.). Retrieved July

20, 2020, from
https://foursquare.com/v/church-of-the-risen-
lord/4c5ca6f46147be9aa6fa8f09/photos

Church of the risen lord, University of the

Philippines - Cesar Concio: Philippine
architecture, Architecture, Quezon city. (n.d.).
Retrieved July 20, 2020, from
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/2384093740016
67339/

Pin on What is Filipino Architecture? (n.d.).

Retrieved July 20, 2020, from
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/2174394882296
64292/

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