Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Malacanang Palace


      The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang or "the Palace", is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. It is located at 1000 José P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila. The house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every Philippine head of government since Rafael de Echague y Berminghan. During the American period, Governors-General Francis Burton Harrison and Dwight F. Davis built an executive building, the Kalayaan Hall, which was later transformed into a museum.
Originally a summer house built by Spanish aristocrat Don Luís Rocha, the structure was sold to Colonel Jose Miguel Formente, and was later purchased by the state in 1825. Since then, Malacañan Palace became the temporary residence of every Governor-General. During the Spanish–American War, Malacañan Palace became the residence of the American Civil Governors, William Howard Taft being the first. During the American period, many administrative buildings were constructed and the Palace was refurbished. To date, Emilio Aguinaldo, was the only head of state who did not live in the Palace complex, instead residing in his private home, in Kawit, Cavite. The Palace was seized by rebels several times, starting from the People Power Revolution, the 1989 coup attempt, where the palace was bombed by T-28 Trojans, the 2001 Manila riots, EDSA II and the May 1 riots.
The Palace has been the residence of eighteen Spanish Governors-General, fourteen American Civil Governors and later Philippine Presidents (with the exception of Emilio Aguinaldo).
In Philippine political and common parlance, "Malacañang" and "the Palace" has become metonyms for the presidency, the executive branch and the government as a whole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaca%C3%B1ang_Palace

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