REGINA BUILDING
Regina Building, previously known as Roxas Building, is a historic building located along Escolta Street in Binondo, Manila. It was designed sequentially by Andres Luna de San Pedro and Fernando H. Ocampo. The neoclassical beaux-arts commercial structure was built in 1915.
Before the present Regina Building was built, another building stood on its location. The old Roxas Building was located opposite the Pérez-Samanillo Building, occupying a block from Calle David (now Burke St.) to Calle Banquero. The owners of the old Roxas Building were the de Ayala-Roxas family, specifically Doña Carmen de Ayala Roxas de Roxas, widow of rich man-nationalist Don Pedro Pablo Roxas Castro.
The de Ayala-Roxas matriarch and heiress Doña Carmen de Ayala Roxas de Roxas died in 1930. As a result, the Roxas family sold the property to Don José Leoncio de León, a prominent industrialist from Pampanga. The old structure facing the estero was demolished and was replaced by a concrete building.
The building was designed by two architects, Fernando H. Ocampo, and the great Andrés Luna de San Pedro, the son of Juan Luna. Ocampo was credited in designing and renovating the existing concrete building while Luna was the one who designed the new building facing the estero and Plaza Sta. Cruz.
One of the tenants of the building was Pacific Motors, dealer of General Motors vehicles in Manila. Pacific Motors was responsible for bringing General Motors to the Philippines.
In 1934, the new building was completed. Designed in a mixed neo-classical and beaux-arts styles by Andrés Luna de San Pedro. The building was renamed as Regina, in honor of José Leoncio de León's wife, heiress Regina Joven Gutiérrez Hizon de León. The building became the offices of the de León businesses of Pampanga Sugar Development Co. ( PASUDECO ) and National Life Insurance Co.
World War II brought destruction to the city and the Regina Building was not spared in the battle. However, it only had minor damages and was repaired after the War.
The post-war years saw a new era for the Regina Building. Most of the de León businesses were housed in the Regina and its sister property, the Natividad Building. Today, the building is still owned by the heirs of Don José Leoncio de León of the PASUDECO wealth and now houses several freight forwarding companies.
Regina Building, previously known as Roxas Building, is a historic building located along Escolta Street in Binondo, Manila. It was designed sequentially by Andres Luna de San Pedro and Fernando H. Ocampo. The neoclassical beaux-arts commercial structure was built in 1915.
Before the present Regina Building was built, another building stood on its location. The old Roxas Building was located opposite the Pérez-Samanillo Building, occupying a block from Calle David (now Burke St.) to Calle Banquero. The owners of the old Roxas Building were the de Ayala-Roxas family, specifically Doña Carmen de Ayala Roxas de Roxas, widow of rich man-nationalist Don Pedro Pablo Roxas Castro.
The de Ayala-Roxas matriarch and heiress Doña Carmen de Ayala Roxas de Roxas died in 1930. As a result, the Roxas family sold the property to Don José Leoncio de León, a prominent industrialist from Pampanga. The old structure facing the estero was demolished and was replaced by a concrete building.
The building was designed by two architects, Fernando H. Ocampo, and the great Andrés Luna de San Pedro, the son of Juan Luna. Ocampo was credited in designing and renovating the existing concrete building while Luna was the one who designed the new building facing the estero and Plaza Sta. Cruz.
One of the tenants of the building was Pacific Motors, dealer of General Motors vehicles in Manila. Pacific Motors was responsible for bringing General Motors to the Philippines.
In 1934, the new building was completed. Designed in a mixed neo-classical and beaux-arts styles by Andrés Luna de San Pedro. The building was renamed as Regina, in honor of José Leoncio de León's wife, heiress Regina Joven Gutiérrez Hizon de León. The building became the offices of the de León businesses of Pampanga Sugar Development Co. ( PASUDECO ) and National Life Insurance Co.
World War II brought destruction to the city and the Regina Building was not spared in the battle. However, it only had minor damages and was repaired after the War.
The post-war years saw a new era for the Regina Building. Most of the de León businesses were housed in the Regina and its sister property, the Natividad Building. Today, the building is still owned by the heirs of Don José Leoncio de León of the PASUDECO wealth and now houses several freight forwarding companies.
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