Bobby Mañosa's fave destination is his bahay kubo

Bobby Mañosa is bahay kubo. Bahay kubo is Bobby Mañosa. Architecturally speaking, that is.

Christened Francisco, but known to most as Bobby — his wife Denise’s travel partner; his children Angelo, Dino and Bambi’s best friend and his grandchildren’s clown — the ever-playful and forever youthful Bobby is now 81. Yet to be admired as one of the country’s most respected designers and architects of our time seems to be a complete, utter understatement of the gravity of his contributions to how we have risen as a nation in the field of architecture.

Yet his own words belie such massive effort. “I have never worked in my life,” he claims.

Erecting monumental works such as the unparalleled palace built mainly from the coconut tree; the sterling resort dubbed the most exquisite of Philippine hideaways; the shrine for the Blessed Virgin Mary of EDSA I; and Pope John Paul II’s Mass altar during his historic 1995 Philippine visit among other wonders, his style is simply a return to our grassroots — ancestral wisdom and indigenous materials — while artistically playing around with design, showing his fondness for toys. It’s a life inseparable from the love that he puts into whatever masterpiece he creates, regardless of scale. Admittedly, “Whether a doghouse or a high rise, my passion holds the same. No project is too small or too big,” he has said, and this philosophy convinced both former First Lady Imelda Marcos (on “the day when she embraced us to be part of her dreams for Manila, Lindy Locsin for the PICC and I for the Coconut Palace”) and Hong Kong movie mogul Run Run Shaw (the tycoon once said, “Bobby, you and I will stick together because we are good feng shui”) to commission him for greater projects.

His father convinced him he had the potential and the talent. At an early age, he simply wanted to play piano, his personal vocation. But he yielded to his father’s wishes and pursued a career in architecture.

Holy Land with love: Forever by his side is Denise, his most cherished travel companion.

His other muses include sports and music. Badminton and bowling were among his favorite athletic activities in his younger years. He likewise tickles the ivories, making ouido with beats in his head, having performed back in the day with the legendary Executive Band, a group that has also included, on one occasion or another, the late Raul Manglapus, former First Lady Ming Ramos, and Bert del Rosario jamming with Thailand’s King Bhumipol on clarinet, American President Bill Clinton on saxophone, and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad on vocals, just to name a few.

Bobby likens himself to his idol, Frank Lloyd Wright, a much-celebrated American architect who also dabbled in music and pushed for an architecture that would assert man’s communal relationship with his environment. Likewise, this local architect once said, “Philippine architecture must be true to itself, its land and its people.”

PHILIPPINE STAR: What do you remember most of your first trip abroad?

BOBBY MANOSA: I was a recent architecture graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in 1953 when I first left the country. My destination: Guam.

A cousin of mine, Carmen Rosales — mind you, not the actress of the good old days — insisted that I stay with them. Not only did I have a roof over my head and home-cooked meals, but together with her husband, who was a rather influential man in the island, they introduced me to their friends and eventually their world. I soon discovered there were many Filipinos in this US territory, and before long, I felt I hadn’t left home.

I also had my first significant, if I may say, architectural break in Guam. The assignment was to build a Catholic church, which until today venerably stands in Agana. This has proven to be my one lucky charm, my inaugural edifice to my career.

What won’t you leave home without?

The Father’s touch: A once-in-a-lifetime private audience with Pope John Paul II along with wife Denise (center) in 1987.

I always travel with a camera. Growing up with a Kodak — I don’t have to tell you this — but we still print actual photos even in this digital age. Sad to say, I have no records of Guam as my camera was stolen.

Likewise, I cannot be without a paper and a pen. While the camera captures my surroundings, paper and pen document and bring to life what is inside of me. These three items are forever present on every trip I take.

Describe your present passport photograph.

Still handsome after all these years. (Laughs)

How do you pass time at airports?

I usually drop by the bookstore and search for interesting finds related to architecture, landscaping and interior design. Then I look for toys for my seven grandchildren.

Who is your ideal traveling companion?

My choice has not changed through the years. It’s my wife Denise.

What is the first thing you do upon checking in to a hotel or a resort?

I don’t waste any time and immediately start to flash my camera around, and continuously at that. From the lobby, I snap the grand staircase, sofas and chairs, side and coffee tables, paintings and art pieces, chandeliers and carpets, to the particulars such as throw pillows, vases and ashtrays. It doesn’t stop there either. The moment I walk into my room, I make sure that I document the interior furniture and room amenities. And having taken the outside view from my temporary quarters, can you imagine how my camera and I go crazy once out of the hotel and exploring the city? Doing this, I always learn by being exposed to all these details because architecture is designing. It is creating. It is inventing. It is innovating.

Stairway to heaven: The avid traveler in mountainous China, 1994.

What would you consider a must-do activity in every foreign city that you visit?

I take photos of whatever the destination is architecturally famous for. When I visited the Vatican, I captured St. Peter’s Basilica and all its grandeur, in Paris I clicked the sights such as the Arc de Triomphe, in Kuala Lumpur it was the Petronas Tower. This is how I continue my never-ending education while I record the memories of my entire journey.

Describe your most memorable trip.

For handling the renovation from 1971 to 1975 of the St. Joseph Parish Church, which houses the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, and several other projects for the Catholic Church, I was knighted the Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great, an award granted to those who have rendered special services. Together with my wife Denise and my mother-in-law Margarita Araneta-Singh and good friend Andres Soriano, we had the rare privilege of having a private audience with Pope John Paul II which was truly memorable.

What do you miss most when you’re away from home?

My grandchildren. In fact, any delay in my return flight would drive me nuts! That’s how much I miss them.

Name your favorite spot in the Philippines.

No destination or attraction can ever match my sanctuary here. My house, basically a bahay kubo, has been in existence for 34 years without any major renovations. Its original components such as the coconut tiles have remained untouched. It’s a testimony to how our indigenous architecture can endure. Today, I’m proud to say that tours of the house are still being hosted.

Sadly, our government structures, buildings and subsidized housing don’t adhere to the power of our own Filipino architecture. Instead, we continually try to adopt other styles — Western, Chinese, Caribbean. Going around Asia, I noticed different cultures have played an important role in their respective architecture. Case in point: the Balinese houses of Indonesia.

Bless you: With wife Denise (right) and mother-in-law Margarita Araneta-Singh after their 1987 visit with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

We’re the only ones still suffering from an identity crisis.

Favorite airline?

Without a doubt, it’s simply Philippine Airlines.

Favorite museum?

Definitely, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC Imagine hundreds of millions of items: fossils, relics, artworks and spacecraft housed in a series of 19 museums, many of which, like the Smithsonian Castle and the National Museum of Natural History, are architectural gems.

Favorite resort?

My sentimental choice is Amanpulo. I designed its Phases One to Three, and we’re busy working on Phase Four. Adrian Zecha, owner of the Aman Group and also a personal friend, has declared that no one — absolutely no one — can alter or renovate its existing design and structure without the approval from the architect.

Favorite building?

The San Miguel Building in Ortigas Center which my brothers and I designed. It was inspired by the basic architecture of bahay kubo, and while doing the project, I thought to myself that if only the folk song’s lines were followed (he starts singing “Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari, singkamas at talong…”), there wouldn’t be a single Filipino who would die of hunger.

Favorite musical or play?

Definitely, a Filipino one. My most recent favorite is the Bagong Harana which I just watched the other night together with my brother Manny and a grandson. With the nostalgic melodies of the concert, my brother and I recalled the songs taught by our mother, the former Maria Tronqued, who was a stage and silent movie artista during her early years.

Reach out: In Barcelona, Spain in 1992, with nephew Nacho Legarda and then young sons Angelo and Dino who today continue their father’s legacy.

Favorite restaurant or bar?

I enjoy being in any resto or bar that is Pinoy, especially with a refreshing San Miguel beer in one hand. I have exceptionally wonderful and pleasant memories of San Mig Pub.

Name an event anywhere in the world you would like to participate in?

The Summer Olympics, anywhere in the world. You see, I love sports in general. Through the different times of my life, I’ve been involved in badminton, soccer, bowling and diving. The former First Lady Ming Ramos and I were badminton champions once upon a time. My interest in sports continues till today. In fact, the other day, my grandchildren and I watched a game of soccer at the Rizal Memorial. This particular outing was my little way to encourage them to make sports a part of their lives.

What pasalubong do you buy — inbound and outbound?

Outbound, dried mangoes, for they are appreciated anywhere in the world. Inbound, I bring back souvenir items — shirts, key chains, and ballpoint pens — with the name of the particular event or destination that I’ve recently been to. I also buy toys, iconic ones like Mickey Mouse.

Aside from unpacking your suitcase, what is the first thing you do upon returning home?

Look for my grandchildren who are usually at our home, which is the family clubhouse. Walang katapusan ang kwentuhan. They report to me in great detail about what happened to them while I was away.

Passing on the torch: In Venice with son Angelo, now CEO of Mañosa & Co., Inc.

Name a city you have never visited but would like to someday.

I’m very happy with the places I’ve been to in the past. And I’m just glad to be here at home. My sons Dino and Angelo are the ones doing most of the traveling these days.

Name a country you wish to explore.

The Philippines! The Philippines, my Philippines!