I studied architecture at the University of the Philippines in the 1970s. I’m of that martial law generation that looked to Leandro “Lindy” V Locsin as a role model in design and practice. His was one of the largest and most successful firms from the 1960s to the 1990s when he passed away. His office continues today, a testament to his appreciation of corporate practice, as he had prepared for continuity early on. His main legacy, however, remains his body of work, its influence on Filipino architecture, and his contributions to the country’s creative and cultural endeavours.
Locsin did not take the traditional path to become a master architect. His aspirations and initial college education were in law and music. His well-known backstory is that when he realised in his last year at the UST Conservatory of Music that he would not become a great pianist, he shifted to architecture. He did not pursue postgraduate studies in the US, unlike the prewar generation of pensionado architects. He also
