Carlos A. Santos-Viola
He is best known for designing and building churches for the new religious movement Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). Carlos was born in San Miguel, Bulacan, and is one of six children of Melecio de Guzman Santos and Miguela Magpitang Antonio. Starting from San Miguel Elementary School, Carlos moved on to the Ateneo de Manila to finish his high school education.
Also recorded as Carlos Antonio Santos-Viola
Carlos A. Santos-Viola

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- Name
- Carlos A.
- Birth Name
- Carlos Santos-Viola y Antonio
- Born
- 8 April 1912
- Birthplace
- San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippine Islands
- Died
- 31 July 1994
- Place of death
- Quezon City, Philippines
- Education
- Ateneo de Manila University of Santo Tomas
- Spouse
- Caridad de Jesus Nakpil
- Nationality
- Philippines
- Occupation
- architect
- Known for
- Ermita Church
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He is best known for designing and building churches for the new religious movement Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). Carlos was born in San Miguel, Bulacan, and is one of six children of Melecio de Guzman Santos and Miguela Magpitang Antonio. Starting from San Miguel Elementary School, Carlos moved on to the Ateneo de Manila to finish his high school education.
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wikidata · Q5041661 · wikipedia · Carlos A. Santos-Viola
In this article
Biography
Biography
While in Ateneo, he joined the school band and was active in basketball. Santos-Viola was among the first graduates of the College of Architecture of the University of Santo Tomas in 1935. During this time the professors then were outstanding architects and engineers of the period, such as Tomas Arguelles, Tomas Mapua, Juan F. Nakpil, Fernando H. Ocampo, and Andres Luna de San Pedro. Santos-Viola worked in the office of Juan Nakpil after graduating. There he met Juan's youngest sister, Caridad, his future wife and mother to his children: Rosario, Milagros, Paz, Lourdes, and Carlos, Jr. Shortly after World War II, he opened his office in partnership with Alfredo J. In 1955, both parted ways and practiced separately. His first exposure to the INC group was executed under Nakpil's company through the Bishop's Palace in San Juan, Metro Manila. INC gave the subsequent project directly to Santos-Viola. Although common elements may be visible, his designs were distinct from one another. Each structure was created on functionality that was built with integrity, adorned with 20th-century geometric forms, and garnished with Gothic Revival and Baroque lines. Among those completed designs was the INC's central office in Quezon City. Architect Santos-Viola was the only Filipino Architect who designed churches that were built all over the Philippines. Carlos was a lifelong devout Catholic. He ministered for the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Quezon City and was frequently invited to join the INC but repeatedly declined to join due to ideological differences. He also taught architecture at the college where he graduated and helped found the Philippine Institute of Architects in 1938.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Carlos A. Santos-Viola • Birth Name — Carlos Santos-Viola y Antonio • Born — 8 April 1912 • Birthplace — San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippine Islands • Died — 31 July 1994 • Resting Place — Garden Of The Divine Word, Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City • Place of death — Quezon City, Philippines • Education — Ateneo de Manila University of Santo Tomas • Spouse — Caridad de Jesus Nakpil • Children — Rosario Milagros Paz Lourdes Carlos, Jr. • Parents — Melecio de Guzman Santos Miguela Magpitang Antonio • Significant Buildings — Ermita Church Lourdes School of Quezon City Mandaluyong • Significant Projects — Iglesia ni Cristo chapels
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Completed in 1954, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Lokal ng Cubao in Quezon City is the first major chapel designed by Santos-Viola for the INC. With its distinct architecture, it is believed to have inspired future designs of INC chapels all over the Philippines. • Illustration — The Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple in Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City was the largest Chapel designed by Santos-Viola. • Illustration — Another unique design of Santos-Viola was the INC Central Office viewed through the spire of the Central Temple while under construction.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1912
Carlos A. Santos-Viola born at San Miguel.
1994
Carlos A. Santos-Viola died at Quezon City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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San Miguel.
Birth place
Quezon City.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Carlos A. Santos-Viola”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5041661: Carlos A. Santos-Viola
General reference · Wikidata
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General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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