| Gabaldon School Buildings | |
| Alternate Names: | Gabaldons |
| Etymology: | Isauro Gabaldón, author of Act No. 1801 also known as the Gabaldon Law |
| Building Type: | School buildings |
| Architectural Style: | American colonial, Bahay na bato |
| Location Country: | Philippines |
| Architect: | William E. Parsons |
The Gabaldon School Buildings, or simply the Gabaldons, were built during the American colonial era in the Philippines. They were inspired by the bahay kubo and bahay na bato, traditional houses of the Philippines. As of about 2024, there were 2,045 Gabaldon Schoolhouses in the country.[1]
In 1907, the Philippine Assembly passed the Gabaldon Law (Act No. 1801), written by Isauro Gabaldón. The law provided for the construction of public schools from 1908 to 1915.[2]
The Gabaldons were built by the American colonial Insular Government of the Philippine Islands. To aid in the swift construction of schools 20 prototype "standard plans" were designed by American architect William E. Parsons. [3] Building shapes were either straight, L-shaped or U-shaped with courtyards in front or in the middle.
The school buildings were executed in three styles:
The buildings are contemporary in design for the time with elements drawn from the bahay kubo and bahay na bato architecture.
From January 18, 2019, the Gabaldons are protected under the Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act (Republic Act No. 11194) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Under the law, the "modification, alteration, destruction, demolition or relocation" of Gabaldon buildings is illegal, [2] and local government units must protect and conserve of such buildings under their jurisdiction.
The Gabaldons are further protected by being designated cultural properties under National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.[4]