Machuca Tile Inc., originally known as Mosaicos Machuca, holds the distinction of being the oldest tile[1] manufacturing business in the Philippines, with a history dating back to the early 1900s.
Baldozas Mosaicos was the accurate term used to describe the Mediterranean cement tiles, but they are now more commonly referred to as Machuca tiles, named after Don Pepe, the son of the renowned producer of Baldozas Mosaicos in the Philippines, Don Jose Machuca by Romero.[2]
During the early 1900s, Don Jose Machuca y Romero was the foremost producer of Mediterranean tiles in the Philippines. His son, Don Pepe, an Audencia, established Mosaicos Machuca in an ancestral house located on Calle Tanduay in San Miguel, Manila, while the tile factory itself was situated beside the Pasig River. They were pioneers in implementing both wet and dry processes for manufacturing Mediterranean-designed cement tiles in the Philippines.[2]
Machuca Tiles Inc. is presently under the management of Arch. Luis P. Machuca Jr., a fourth-generation[3] member of the Machuca family.
In 1993, the Machuca Tile Inc. showroom was relocated to its current address on the ground floor of J y J Condominium, #867 General Solano Street, San Miguel, Manila. Meanwhile, their factory is situated at Lot 17 Marian Park, Road I, East Service Road, South Superhighway, Parañaque.[2]
Machuca Tiles Inc. employs a traditional tile-making method that does not involve baking. They also utilize Lansco powder imported from Spain to achieve a traditional earth-tone color palette. The tiles exhibit a rustic appearance characterized by intricate border motifs and muted colors, showcasing hand-brushed quality and sophisticated palettes.[4]
The standard size of the tiles is 8 inches by 8 inches (200 mm by 200 mm).
The tiles can be designed in three different ways: