Malacañang Palace is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. It is located in old Manila district of San Miguel, and is commonly associated with Mendiola Street. The term Malacañang is often used as a metonym for the president and his advisers. The sprawling Malacañang Palace complex includes numerous mansions and office buildings designed and built largely in bahay na bato and neoclassical style.
The original structure was built in 1750 by Don Luís Rocha, a Spaniard in the galleon trade, he built it as summer house located at San Miguel, Paco, and Sta. Ana along the Pasig River. The Rocha property was built of stone, described as being a relatively modest country house with a bath house on the river and gardens, all enclosed by a stone fence. The latter was probably a nipa-roofed and bamboo-enclosed structure built on the water, where away from the gaze of passing boats. It was easily accessible from Intramuros and Binondo by boat or carriage or on horseback. It was purchased by the state in 1825 as the summer residence for the Spanish Governor-General upon Colonel Jose Miguel Formento’s death.