The City of Silay in Negros Occidental was able to preserve many of their ancestral homes and architecture. More than thirty of these houses have been declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as part of the Silay National Historical Landmark.

The architecture of the Philippines reflects the country’s complex cultural identity. First colonized by Spain, then Japan and finally America, Filipinos joke that they spent 400 years in a convent, five in a prison camp, and 45 in Hollywood. This complexity finds its creative expression in the work of these six post-war architects, whose vision simultaneously captured the country’s history while looking towards the region’s future.

The history and culture of the Philippines are reflected in its architectural heritage, in the dwellings of its various peoples, in churches and mosques, and in the buildings that have risen in response to the demands of progress and the aspirations of the people.

Architecture, as practiced in the Philippines during the Spanish era, was not by virtue of an academic title. There were no architectural schools in the country and the only architects with academic degrees were Spaniards. However, the first Filipino recorded architect was Felix Roxas y Arroyo of Binondo, Manila. The closest the Filipino could aspire to practice as an architect was as Maestro de Obras or Master Builder.

Silay City, the Paris of Negros because of its European architecture inspired houses which had been declared historical landmarks, because of this it is the second museum city in the Philippines next to Vigan. Located in the province of Negros Occidental, it is second class urbanized city. Silay is Western Visayas' center for arts, culture and ecotourism and might be as close as the province can get to the dazzling streets of Europe because of its well preserved European colonial houses.

Vigan is in Northern Luzon and the Spanish colonial influence in its local architecture and old-world charm make it a unique city in the Philippines.