Bataan Provincial Capitol
Embedded Files
Reconstructing a Civic Landmark Through Augmented Reality
The Provincial Government Building in Balanga during the early American period, c. 1898–1912. (Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Harvard University).
This augmented reality experience reconstructs the Bataan Provincial Capitol as it stood in early 1942, shortly before the surrender of Allied forces during the Battle of Bataan.
Once the seat of provincial authority in Balanga, the building is revisited at a moment when that authority was beginning to collapse. Though the structure no longer exists today, AR allows it to briefly reappear not as a complete reconstruction, but as a historical encounter suspended in time.
Site, Historical Significance, and Architecture
The Capitol originated as the Casa Real, constructed between 1792 and 1794 as the provincial government building during the Spanish colonial period (Philippines Historical Committee, 1939).
Designed by Domingo de la Cruz Gonzales, the building followed the bahay na bato architectural tradition, combining a stone ground floor with a timber upper structure. Its symmetrical facade, arched openings, and elevated second level reflected stability and institutional authority.
Transcription of the Casa Real inscription documenting the Capitol’s construction in Balanga between 1792 and 1794. (de Guzman, n.d.).
A stone inscription once embedded above the main entrance recorded the building’s construction under Governor General Rafael María de Aguilar and alcalde mayor Domingo de Goyenechea (de Guzman, n.d.).
Over time, the structure adapted to changing political conditions. It later served as the headquarters of the Bataan Revolutionary Government (1898–1900) and briefly housed the provincial high school during the early American period (Philippines Historical Committee, 1939).
The Casa de Gobierno in Balanga after its capture by revolutionary forces on May 31, 1898, marking the end of Spanish rule in Bataan. (Wilcox, 1900, p. 108).
The AR Experience
The viewer is positioned directly in front of the facade.
It is midday.
The space is quiet.
There are no crowds or visible signs of conflict, only the presence of a civic structure that once organized public life. The stillness creates a sense of anticipation, where the absence of activity becomes the clearest sign of tension.
The building remains intact, but the authority it once represented is no longer secure.
Facade of the Provincial Building of Bataan in Balanga, showing its bahay na bato form and symmetrical civic facade, 1914. (Herencia Filipinas).
Reconstruction Approach
The reconstruction follows a conservative, evidence based methodology:
Only the exterior facade is modeled
Architectural form is based on archival photographs and historical references
The model uses a low poly structure with texture driven detail
Interior spaces are not reconstructed due to lack of documentation
Rather than recreating the entire building, the project focuses on reconstructing a historically grounded spatial encounter.
Experiencing the Past Through AR
Following Henri Lefebvre’s concept of the production of space, the Capitol is understood not only as a building, but as a civic space shaped by historical conditions.
At this moment in 1942, the structure transitions from a functioning seat of authority into a space vulnerable to destruction. While the architecture appears unchanged, its meaning has already shifted.
Limitations and Boundaries
Elements such as the historical inscription are acknowledged but not reconstructed visually. No speculative architectural features or interiors are introduced into the experience.
These limitations ensure that the reconstruction remains transparent, historically grounded, and evidence based.
Why This Matters Today
The original Capitol no longer exists.
Over the decades, the site was repurposed into a public market, transport terminal, and later a commercial complex. This transformation reflects a broader shift in the meaning of the site, from civic governance to commercial activity.
Through AR, the Capitol is not fully restored. Instead, it is reintroduced at a moment before disappearance, allowing viewers to briefly encounter a space that has since been replaced, but not entirely forgotten.
References
de Guzman, G. (n.d.). Transcription of the Casa Real inscription, Bataan Provincial Government Building [Unpublished manuscript].
National Library of the Philippines. (n.d.). Provincial building at Balanga, Bataan (built 1793) [Photograph]. Luther Parker Collection Scrapbook. Manila, Philippines.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Harvard University. (c. 1898–1912). Provincial government building at Balanga [Photographic print]. Cambridge, MA, United States. Gift of William Cameron Forbes, 1912. Object No. 12-61-70/10861.1.4556.
Philippines Historical Committee. (1939). The Provincial Government Building of Bataan [Historical marker]. Balanga, Bataan, Philippines.
Wilcox, M. (Ed.). (1900). Harper’s history of the war in the Philippines (p. 108). New York & London: Harper & Brothers.
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