Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led the ceremonial lighting of the restored facade of the historic Juan Luna Building in Binondo on Thursday night, Feb. 19, highlighting the importance of public-private cooperation in preserving the city’s architectural landmarks.
Formerly known as the First National City Bank of New York Building and later the Ayala Building, the Juan Luna Building was built in 1922 and remains one of the surviving American-era commercial edifices in the capital’s old business district.
Domagoso explained that the five-story building’s rehabilitation was carried out through cooperation between private partners and the City Government of Manila.
“Bahagi ito ng tuloy-tuloy na inisyatiba ng inyong pamahalaang lungsod, katuwang ang pribadong sektor, upang muling buhayin at pagandahin ang mga makasaysayang distrito ng Maynila—para higit pang mapalakas ang lokal na turismo at mapaunlad ang ekonomiya ng ating siyudad,” Domagoso said.
He also encouraged owners of other heritage properties in Binondo, such as the El Hogar Building, to coordinate with the city government for similar lighting initiatives.
The Juan Luna Building occupies a prominent corner at Juan Luna Street and Muelle de la Industria, within what was once Manila’s premier financial and commercial district during the American colonial period.
Designed in the Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical style by American architects Murphy, McGill, and Hamlin, the structure features classical columns, arched openings, and a rusticated ground floor—architectural elements commonly adopted by international banking firms in the early 20th century to project stability and permanence.
“Today, the restored facade stands as a reminder of Manila’s early 20th-century commercial rise and the enduring architectural legacy of the American period, at a time when Escolta and Binondo served as the heart of banking, trade, and corporate activity in the country,” Domagoso stressed. (Patrick Garcia)
