Since the Philippine Pavilion at Expo ’70 occupied a small corner lot opposite the large Canadian Pavilion (a mirror-wall pyramid), the architect felt that it had to make a strong architectural statement despite the limited building budget. Otherwise, it would be overwhelmed by its spectacular neighbour.
The dramatic roof sweeping up from the ground was intended to express the soaring prospects and future-oriented outlook of the Filipino people. The architectural message was that although the Philippines is a young and developing country, it has a progressive spirit.
Fine Philippine hardwoods and other native materials were used extensively throughout the pavilion. The pattern of the narra planking on the ceiling directed the eye up toward the apex. Panels of capiz shell in the skylight diffused a warm interior light. Not yet installed when the building was photographed was a large capiz chandelier, which added a spectacular focal point to the pavilion. The chandelier now hangs over the central stairway in Ang Maharlika.
The exhibit in the pavilion was a photo essay covering the history of the Philippine Islands form their mythic origins to the present day. Interspersed with the photos were small exhibits of artefacts such as Oriental trade porcelains, Philippine-made gold jewellery dating from the twelfth-century and earlier, Muslim woodcarvings and brass jewellery, and Spanish-colonial sculpture. On the ground floor were exhibits of native products such as lumber (artistically displayed as sculpturelike works) and handsome silk fabrics (stretched on frames to form colourful, decorative panels on the walls). The basement housed a small art gallery of contemporary Philippine art and sculpture.
The Philippine Pavilion was well received and was judged one of the ten most popular pavilions at the exhibition.