Lost Urban History: Philcomcen Building.

05.18.2015 – The Philcomcen building was one of the original buildings that were first constructed in the Ortigas area that would be visibly seen from EDSA and used to be the residence for most of the local radio stations and a UHF TV station in the Philippines. Over the years the development of Ortigas has spawned taller structures that are residential or business related. The former Philcomcen building has become an eyesore with failed rehabilitation in the mid-1990s and now it’s being slowly demolished.

Before, it was also a place of business and it was the corporate building for the Philippines’ Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS). It has 18 floors and was home originally to FM station Magic 89.9, Love Radio, and the former 93.9 DWKC now known as iFM. This building is no longer owned by GSIS and has been sold to Filinvest business developer back in 2014 which has been slowly being taken down.

With the broadcast tower photo by Efren Aquino.

I passed by the area and saw what has remained of the Philcomcen building yesterday clearly shows that it appears to be out of place around the modern buildings that have sprouted over the years. If you haven’t heard about the history of this structure or slightly noticed this place then you must know that even though it’s being slowly being erased physically in the Ortigas area, this would be considered to be one of its unofficial landmarks.

Some events happened during its existence like the most recent fire that was averted in 2007. If you looked at it at it in the last few years it felt like the Philcomcen building is indestructible. But as of these recent photos taken (see below), this is what’s left of the once proud Philcomcen building…







In the Philippines, old buildings that could have some cultural heritage do not last forever as the "Throwaway Culture" has been part of this country's legacy. Let alone this building used to be owned by the Philippine government and expect this type of structure not to last long before the next generation even knows about it. The way it was built and its aesthetics may appear to be outdated it had its appeal with the tower being seen from far away. Gone are the days when you have to take the 17th floor to visit what used to be the original home of 93.9 DWKC to claim your prize from one of their phone-in contests or check out the next "Tunog Kalye" live session on Magic 89.9 FM.

It is the end of an era the building that housed most of the local FM stations and a UHF TV station. With its remaining floors slowly being demolished not even a marker would be placed there to even recognize that there was once stood a building like Philcomcen.

Additional Photos (taken on October 18, 2009, and June 2, 2011) Credit: Gee Juan on Flickr