Born in San Nicholas, Philippines on February 12, 1924, Armando Quigtar Rollolazo, Sr. is the only known Filipino-American architect who practiced in Washington State during the mid-century period. He earned his Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas (a private catholic college) in Manila, graduating c.1951. Later he completed additional coursework at University of Hawaii (Fine Arts, 1952-54) and may have also taken coursework in engineering at Seattle University (dates unknown) after moving to the mainland.

In the 1950s, the newly independent country of the Philippines was facing economic challenges, and Rollolazo and his family left Manila for Hawaii in 1952. The year prior he had married Cristina Larican and they had six children. The Rollolazos remained in Hawaii while seeking U.S. citizenship, and Armando worked as a draftsman for various architectural firms there. In 1958, the Rollolazos moved to Seattle where Armando took a job with the engineering firm of Hill & Ingman.

After being granted U.S. citizenship in 1964, Armando decided to officially open his own firm in Seattle (1537 21^st Ave S., demolished) in 1968.

Active within the Filipino community of Seattle, Rollolazo was asked for a proposal to design the Filipino American Recreational Center (1960, unbuilt). Realization of the proposal for a dedicated community space finally came to fruition in 1967 after the construction of his design for the Gran Oriente Filipino Clubhouse at 15^th Ave S and Washington Street in Seattle. The only other known design is the Beacon United Methodist Church (1973). His practice in Seattle struggled, and by 1974, the Rollolazos moved back to Honolulu, where he opened his own firm, called “Village Architect & Associated,” and went on to have a successful career. He passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 8, 2009 at the age of 85.

– Michael C Houser