This paper traces the relationship between shifts in state strategies for capital building in Manila and changes in the political symbolism of urban space. It discusses three distinct epochs in capital building strategies in the Philippines during the past century: the American colonial period, the period of Ferdinand Marcos' authoritarian rule, and the Philippines' current integration into the global economy. It argues that the global era has been marked by the privatization of urban development and the degradation of public space, and that this has led Manila residents to seek new forums for political action, with important implications for the country's democracy.