The ceremonial lighting of the restored facade of the historic Juan Luna Building in Binondo was led by Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Thursday evening, 19 February, marking a renewed push to preserve and showcase the capital’s architectural heritage.

Formerly known as the First National City Bank of New York Building and later the Ayala Building, the structure was built in 1922 and remains one of the surviving American-era commercial edifices in Manila’s old business district.

“From darkness, Juan Luna Building will shine — the former First National City Bank of New York Building, or Ayala Building, in Binondo!” Domagoso said during the ceremony.

Built in 1922, the five-storey structure continues to stand as an important part of Manila’s historic architectural landscape.

“With the help of our private partners who continue to trust the City Government of Manila, we will try our best to revive, take good care of, and beautify this historical area and site in the capital of the country,” the mayor said.

The rehabilitation was carried out through cooperation between private partners and the city government.

Domagoso also encouraged owners of other heritage properties in the district to coordinate with the local government for similar lighting initiatives.

“We are encouraging owners of heritage buildings sa Binondo — kabilang ang El Hogar Building at iba pang makasaysayang gusali. Bukas po ang inyong Pamahalaang Lungsod na makipagtulungan sa inyo upang mapailawan din natin at maipakita ang ganda ng inyong mga istruktura sa gabi!” he added.

The Juan Luna Building occupies a prominent corner at Juan Luna Street and Muelle de la Industria, within what was once Manila’s premier financial and commercial district during the American colonial period.

Its construction in 1922 coincided with the rapid expansion of foreign banking institutions and trading firms in the Philippines.

Designed in the Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical style by American architects Murphy, McGill and Hamlin, the structure features classical columns, arched openings and a rusticated ground floor — architectural elements commonly adopted by international banking firms in the early 20th century to project stability and permanence.

Originally completed as the Pacific Commercial Company Building and inaugurated on 13 November 1922, it later housed the offices of the First National City Bank of New York during the 1930s and 1940s, reinforcing Binondo and nearby Escolta as the country’s financial center at the time.

From 1940 to 1959, the property was acquired by Enrique Zobel and became known as the Ayala Building, reflecting its continued use as a major commercial address in post-war Manila.

Over the decades, the building underwent various changes in ownership and use, including a major renovation in 2007 and subsequent plans for adaptive reuse. It sustained damage in May 2018 when a fire that started in a nearby structure spread and affected portions of its upper floors.

Today, the restored facade stands as a reminder of Manila’s early 20th-century commercial rise and the enduring architectural legacy of the American period, when Escolta and Binondo served as the heart of banking, trade and corporate activity in the country.