The SSS: A social and architectural legacy

One of the most robust institutions of our Philippine Republic is the SSS (Social Security System). Membership in the system has been a rite of passage for millions of Filipinos entering the work world. I remember that filling out an SSS form was one of the first things I did when I started employment as an architectural apprentice in the 1970s.

For millions of employees and agricultural workers, over the last 50 years of its existence, the SSS has always been there to help out in times of need. The cycles of the Philippine economy being what they are, a social safety net for those faced with its repercussions has always been a necessity. Although I never had to resort to a loan, many of my fellow employees, with burdens greater than mine, could always count on an SSS loan to see them through.

The SSS was conceived and brought to reality over the first decade of our newly independent country. From concept to working agency, it got the attention of Presidents Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay and Garcia, who, on September 1, 1957, established the SSS we know today.

The fascinating history of the institution is thoroughly laid out in an elegant book, The SSS Legacy: A Golden Heritage as Friend, Ally and Partner of the Filipino People, recently published by the SSS.

The book, just like the institution, also took a while to see completion. The project was started as part of the SSS’s 50th-anniversary celebrations under the tenure of Corazon S. de la Paz-Bernardo; it was completed under the present president and CEO, Romulo L. Neri, and chairman Thelmo Y. Cunanan. Key executives responsible for the book were led by Horacio T. Templo, chief actuary and SSS vice president.

A powerhouse team was assembled by book mavens Joe Orosa (who sadly passed away recently) and Marily Orosa of Studio 5. The main author of the book is multi-awarded writer Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, whose body of work covers culture, history, and the culinary arts.

Sections of the book were written by another good friend, Jeremy Barnes. The suave Jeremy is currently director of the Malacañan Museum. When he is not trying to restore the palace to its former architectural glory, he writes history. We worked together with Manolo Quezon III on the official illustrated history of Malacañan Palace.

I was called to contribute the chapter on the iconic SSS Building on East Avenue. I jumped at the chance also because they gave me the opportunity to tour the building and all its nooks and crannies, and to photograph what was Juan Nakpil’s last major work.

I had always wanted to document the SSS Building. It had been an inspiration to me as a student of architecture. I often passed by the statuesque structure on the way to school in the ’70s and always admired its clean lines, balanced massing, distinctive sunscreens, and even its understated tropical landscape design.

I would find out later that it was the work of National Artist for Architecture Juan Nakpil and that it also had one of the country’s best auditoriums built into its podium structure, much like the United Nations complex in New York City.

The SSS was first housed in central Manila. It transferred from the old Moserco Building to the squat but modern Phoenix Building in Intramuros in the late 1950s. The government’s planned move to Quezon City, then still the designated capital of the Philippines, led to the planning of a large new complex on East Avenue. Nakpil, at the height of his career at the time, was chosen for the job. I had written about the building in an article for “City Sense” (you can search the STAR’s wonderful archives online for it). Let me just excerpt my conclusion for the book:

“The SSS building stands as an icon of modern Filipino architecture. It is a heritage of our immediate past made also more valuable as it is the creation of a National Artist Juan F. Nakpil. It is also notable as an example of proper design, planning, and construction excellence. Many other government buildings built after the SSS have deteriorated or have been altered beyond recognition. The SSS Building should, because of all of these reasons, be recognized as a national landmark. It is a concrete example of a solid government institution that keeps itself modern, is a source of pride for those who work in it, and a welcome facility for the general public it serves.”

Over 40 years later, the SSS building stands out from others by its strength, practicality, and the flawlessness of its modernist design. We don’t build government buildings like we used to, and little of what I see today can match this last work of Nakpil. The building also reflects the robustness of the institution itself — already more than 50 years in the service of its millions of members. I wish it and the building another 50 years of strength.