CAPE BOJEADOR LIGHTHOUSE
During the Spanish-colonial period, a variety of building typologies, including the lighthouse (farola) were introduced to the Philippines. The many extant examples of these structures in the country are due to the modernization of shipping, where lighthouses became necessary.
In today’s discussion for #builttraditionthursday, we will examine the exceptional case of a 19th-century lighthouse that continues to operate today after having done so for the first time in 1892.
Serving ships turning towards the Pacific Coast and traveling towards the Babuyan Channel, the lighthouse of Cape Bojeador in the municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Norte is claimed to be the most accessible of all the lighthouses in the northern part of Luzon. Perched on a hill called Vigia de Nagparitan and overlooking the South China Sea, the structure is built 160 meters above sea level.
Part of the Spanish government’s 1857 master plan to illuminate the Philippine archipelago, the construction of the Cape Bojeador lighthouse uses mainly brick, lime mortar, wood, and metal. Initially designed by Engineer Magin Pers y Pers and eventually completed by Engineer Guillermo Brockman, the Cape Bojeador lighthouse’s utilitarian function is supported by three ancillary service buildings that are built in response to its operational needs.
The tower, which is segmented into three levels, is the tallest and is about 23 meters in height. It is octagonal in plan and houses the chamber where the mechanism of the first-order Fresnel lens is operated. Meanwhile, the “lantern” is covered by a brass ribbed cupola accented by a spherical finial. It sits on a glass base with steel frames. It is accessed from the lower chamber by iron spiral stairs decorated with alternating hexagons and cross-cut-out patterns. The tower is one of the most photographed structures in the Cape Bojeador lighthouse complex. Its tapered brick walls, which create an interesting silhouette, are enhanced by the quoin details surrounding the edges. Strategically located blind windows were placed to create balance in design proportions. A steel-framed service deck supported by decorative brackets is perched just below the lantern, creating a distinct architectural feature on the structure.
The main pavilion, which is an elevated brick masonry structure, is the largest in terms of floor area. Its design and arrangement are symmetrical, with four equal rooms that serve as offices and living quarters on either side of a central hallway acting as its division. Today, these spaces are converted into museum galleries. A covered balcony decorated with steel railings, Corinthian steel posts, and metal brise soleil greets the entry to the structure. To provide access from the ground, a split-level staircase is attached to the balcony. Capiz shell windows, clay floor tiles, and wooden doors give it the classic Antillean style of architecture.
Two similar brick masonry structures located in the courtyard are service buildings that are smaller in scale and were utilized as storage room, machine room, and kitchen. Its design motif is typical of the main pavilion and tower; rusticated quoins, a pedimented façade, and segmented arches complete its architectural composition.
In general, its use of classical elements such as pedimented facades, Corinthian columns, pilasters, segmented arches, ribbed domes, symmetrical proportions, and rusticated quoins are interpretations of the European Renaissance vocabulary, indigenized to cater to the Philippine setting. This marvel of architecture and engineering was recognized by the Philippine government as a National Historical Landmark in 2004, and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2005.
Still in service under the Philippine Coast Guard, the Cape Bojeador lighthouse is not only a utilitarian structure but also an icon of the tangible influence of Philippine architecture during the Spanish-colonial period. Its spectacular view is a popular destination for tourists who seek to interact with it and get a share of its history.
Text by Ar. M. Belgica
Illustrations and Photos by Ar. M. Belgica
