Calvo Building, Manila

The Calvo Building, situated at the crossroads of Escolta and Soda Streets in Binondo, Manila's historic area, holds significant cultural and architectural importance in the Philippines. Erected in 1938, it exemplifies Beaux-Arts architecture, a style popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for its elaborate design and grandeur.

Originally crafted by architect Fernando H. Ocampo, Sr., commissioned by Angel Calvo and Emiliana Mortera, the building has had various functions over time. Initially, it housed commercial enterprises until World War II interrupted its use. During the war, it served briefly as a space for the Japanese Imperial Forces in November 1944. Despite suffering damage in the Battle of Manila in 1945, the Calvo Building was restored in 1946, preserving its historical and architectural significance.

DZBB-AM radio station was one of its notable occupants in its early days, using the building before relocating to Diliman, Quezon City. This period underscores its role in the evolution of media and communication in the Philippines.

In 1994, the building was repurposed as the Escolta Museum on its second floor. The museum is dedicated to conserving and displaying relics from Manila's past, with a focus on the vibrant history of the Escolta area, once renowned as the country's primary commercial hub.

The Calvo Building's importance was officially recognized on August 14, 2018, when the National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker titled "Gusaling Calvo" inside the building. This marker commemorates its architectural, historical, and cultural significance, outlining its origins, wartime use, damage, restoration, and transformation into a museum.