Compania Maritima

Compania Maritima

M. J. Cuenco Ave, Cebu City, Philippines

author:

Christopher Joseph A. Hisula

This structure is the Fernandez Building, It was built in 1910 by the Fernandez Hermanos Inc. but was abandoned after it was bombed down during the World War II. During the 1930’s it housed Manila Steamship Company and Shamrock Hotel, according to studies it was not clear who the occupants were before Shamrock. It is an American Colonial Era ornate commercial building, its internal structure and roof were destroyed during the liberation of Cebu City in 1945.

After its repair it became the main office of Compania Maritima, the biggest shipping company in the Philippines during that time but it was bankrupted in the 1980’s. The building contributes significantly to the understanding of the development of maritime, trade and shipping activities in Cebu at the turn of the 20th century for it was the first structures built on the reclaimed port area. The location of the building at the water’s edge ensures that the building is a prominent landmark and distinctive townscape feature.

The building design influenced much of its surrounding structures in terms of its architectural design during that period. At present, the building have been inhabited for a quiet number of years but was preserved by the City Government which made the building very ideal for an “Augmented Reality” project. The City Government has a lot of plans to re-use the building but because of budget constraints, up until now it is still unused. It has also attracted a lot of tourists and photographers because of its beauty even though it has already aged through time, the architecture and details that it showcase drew a lot of audience to be mesmerized.