Philippines: Mercedes Raffiñan Villarosa
Recognized as an architect and art historian, Mercedes Raffiñan Villarosa was the first woman licensed as an architect in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia (1934). She was also the first woman to graduate with a diploma in architecture in the Philippines. Villarosa held a diploma in architecture from the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manilla, Philippines. During her career she contributed to the publications, Art and Visuality in the Early Spanish Philippines, 1521-1800, and Looking at Renaissance through Philippine Eyes. Villarosa was featured in a social media post from the Mapua School of Architecture, Industrial Design, and the Built Environment for International Women’s Day (2025).
References
Arkitektura ng Bayan. “Centennial Trivia: First Woman Architect in the Philippines.” Facebook, December 16, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=199409075184588&set=a.119930286465801.
Aycardo, Albert. “Mercedes Raffiñan: The First Filipina Architect.” BluPrint. March 13, 2024. https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mercedes-raffinan-the-first-filipina-architect/.
Baria, Richelle Rhea R. “Inspire and Awe: Women and Architecture.” Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2025. https://business.inquirer.net/514737/inspire-and-awe-women-and-architecture.
Cardinal-Pett, Clare. A History of Architecture and Urbanism in the Americas. New York, Routledge, 2015. https://www-taylorfrancis-com.ezp2.lib.umn.edu/books/mono/10.4324/9781315691817/history-architecture-urbanism-americas-clare-cardinal-pett.
Mapua School of Architecture, Industrial Design and the Built Environment. “The first Filipina architect: A true-blooded Mapuan.” Facebook, March 7, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=643402318234533&set=a.198482739393162.
