Philippine National Heritage Watch [Archive] - Page 3

lewdsaint

May 19th, 2006, 01:18 PM

2006 Heritage Month Celebration: A series of festivities
By Janice V. Busil
Photos by A.Chris Fernandez

Iloilo City proudly hosts this year's National Heritage Month Celebration. In relation to this, the Iloilo City Government, National Commission for Culture and Arts together with the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council and the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. have prepared various activities for the month-long celebration. Different kinds of events featuring the rich culture and talents of the Ilonggos will take place in major heritage sites in the city.

Included in the month-long activities is the traditional mayflower devotion to our Blessed Mother, Flores de Mayo, that will culminate at the end of the month at the San Jose Church. On the other hand, Barotacnons witnessed the first ever Tamasak Festival that was held at the Casa Fiammeta in Barotac Nuevo last May 12. It was a celebration of life in the archaic plantation setting.

Komedya, a traditional theatre form, was held at SM City last May 12. A community theatre company from Barbaza in Antique performed in Iloilo City for the very first time the well-preserved and much-welcomed expression of art.

Arts, crafts, weavings, and textile designs that depict Ilonggo lifestyle were collected for an exhibit that will be shown at the SM City, Archbishop's Residence in Jaro, Magdalena Jalandoni Museum, Rosendo Mejica Museum in Molo, and Museo Iloilo. The exhibit started last May 12 and will last until the end of the month.

On every Sundays of the month, feel the Ilonggo spirit with the popular traditional narrative songs and verse forms in Composo and Binalaybay played at Aksyon Radyo, Villa Regatta, and San Jose Church facade.

An unveiling ceremony took place at Plaza Libertad last May 17 at 8:00 am. Recall the martyrdom of Ilonggo freedom fighters under the leadership of General Martin Delgado and visit the historical marker which commemorates their heroism. Delgado resisted and ended the Spanish domination in Panay on Christmas Day of 1898. Later that afternoon, at 2:30 pm, an Indigenous Culture Lecture and Performance was held at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Auditorium. The lecture featured the pre-colonial way of living of the people of Panay. At 6:00 pm, the delegates from the Karpenko Kary Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television from Ukraine were formally welcomed in an opening program of the XXXI UNESCO ITI at the Robinsons Place Iloilo.

Manilenos experienced the contemporary Ilonggo cuisine through Ilonggo Culinary Festival at the Captain's Bar, Mandarin Hotel-Makati on May 18 to 19. On the same dates, there will be an introductory workshop on theatre followed by a conference, film showing and a discussion on the Conference Room of the University of San Agustin.

The Karpenko Kary Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television will be performing at the University of San Agustin Quadrangle May 19, Friday at 7:00 pm to end their 3-day visit.

A Heritage Forum dubbed "Save Calle Real" spearheaded by the Canadian Urban Institute will be held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel. Guidelines in preserving heritage sites, specifically the central business district will be discussed.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/19/06.heritage.month1.jpg

From May 26 to 28, the unpublished dances of Panay will be given emphasis on the 3-day seminar-workshop at the West Visayas State University of PESCAR. Meantime, a food festival highlighting the favorite Ilonggo delicacies will keep the Plaza Libertad area busy starting on the 26th up to the end of the month.

Traditional games such as pityaw, trompo,tumba patis, tubiganay, sikyo, and holens will bring excitement to Jaro Plaza in the morning of the 30th and to Molo Plaza in the morning of the 31st. The same games will be played at Plaza Libertad on the afternoon of the 31st.

The length of the historical Iloilo River will be traversed by interested visitors on a special tour, from Muelle Loney to Villa de Arevalo this coming May 30 at 8:00 am. At 10:00 am of the same day, photographs taken by Fr. Rudolf Rahmann and Dr. Marcelino Maceda in the years 1955 to 1965 will be displayed at the Museo Iloilo in an exhibit entitled "The Ati of Panay". Later on that afternoon, there will be a walking tour featuring the selected old houses in Jaro, the Archbishop's residence, and the Magdalena Jalandoni Museum. While some will be preoccupied with the grandeur of the archaic structures, some may enjoy a merienda treat of native delicacies such as bitso-bitso, moasi, bitsokoy, combo, tinanok nga mais, bayi- bayi, and bingka at Jaro Plaza.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/19/06.heritage.month2.jpg
To add spice to this year's celebration, the PNP Band and the CPU Symphonic Band will be performing their brass at the Jaro Plaza and Plaza Libertad on May 30 and 31 at 3:00 pm.

Traditional Filipino martial art, Arnis, will be performed by the Tinagan National Arts Club at the Jaro Plaza on the 30th at 4:00 pm. After that, renowned Ilonggo artists like Cynthia Patag, Jose Mari Chan, Aristeo Demavivas, and Nikki Coseteng will breathe life to the popular musical theatre form from Spain--the Zarzuela. It is a celebration of the once affluent cultural lifestyles of the Ilonggos during the 30s. This once-in-a-lifetime collaboration can be witnessed at the Jaro Plaza covered court.

A second walking tour which targets the old houses, church, convent and the Mejica "Makinaugalingon" Museum in Molo is scheduled on the 31st of May. There will also be Chinese cultural performances which include a song and dance presentation by the Filipino-Chinese community as represented by students and staff of the Iloilo Central Commercial High School and the Sun Yat Sen High School later on that afternoon at Molo Plaza. Simultaneously, a special performance of Capiz Province's traditional dance, Escutis will be performed at St. Anne Parish Convent in Molo. Authentic community group from Sigma will portray the ritual of testing the sturdiness of a newly-built house.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/19/06.heritage.month3.jpg

Later in the afternoon of the 31st, beauties clad in Designers Guild of Iloilo City creations will participate in the traditional religious procession, Santacruzan. They will be passing through the San Jose Church, Calle Real, Iznart Street, and Plaza Libertad. Right after the procession, a religious rite called Misa de Gracia will be held at the San Jose Church. This will be followed by a cultural presentation as a tribute to the Blessed Mother dubbed as Halad.

The sky above Iloilo City will be filled with colors as traditional fireworks from Villa de Arevalo will be showcased in the much-awaited fireworks display at the Plaza Libertad.

Indeed, the Heritage Month promises nothing but fun and excitement. Let us all participate and experience the great things that Iloilo has in store for us.

(taken from: The News Today Info
link: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/19/2006.heritage.month.celebration.a.series.of.festivities.html)

lewdsaint

May 19th, 2006, 01:18 PM

lewdsaint

May 19th, 2006, 01:29 PM

]Josefa Segovia Student Center
Text by Atty. Helen J. Camarista
Photos by A. Chris Fernandez

(The following is the last installment of the series of feature articles on the three houses given citation by the Iloilo City Heritage Conservation Council (ICHCC) for preserving the historical significance of their architecture and for observing the ICHCC guidelines in conservation and preservation--Ed.)

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/17/segovia.student.center9.jpg http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/17/segovia.student.center2.jpg

It stands in quiet dignity along the bustling General Luna St., Iloilo City. Its clean and well-maintained façade camouflages the years of its serene existence.

It was built by the Arroyo family in the 1920s and also served as the family residence. The Archdiocese of Jaro under Monsignor Cuenco leased it in the 1950s.

Institucion Teresiana , a Catholic lay women's association came to Iloilo in 1955 to spread the gospel and promote human development through education and culture. The group moved into the Arroyo residence in 1956 and converted the place into a university residence and student center. Since then, the place reverberated with youthful laughter as it accommodated up to 40 female students.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/17/segovia.student.center1.jpg http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/17/segovia.student.center5.jpg

The year 2000 saw Architect Maripaz Villanueva, a member of the Teresian Association redesigned the residence into a student center for 70 ladies and a residence for up to 14 association members at the site of the original structure.

Today, its homey atmosphere shows on its façade – formal and strong but warm and friendly.

(Reprinted from Iloilo Yearbook 2005)

(taken from: the News Today Info
link: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/17/josefa.segovia.student.center.html)

lewdsaint

May 19th, 2006, 01:29 PM

Animo

May 19th, 2006, 06:34 PM

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e132/restardo/Instituto%20Cervantes/endangered_filhispanic_web.jpg

FINALLY, after four years, the book is out — "Endangered, Fil-Hispanic Architecture," published by the Instituto Cervantes de Manila.

This exquisite volume is a compilation of position papers presented during the "First International Congress on Fil-Hispanic Architecture" held in Manila last November, 2002. There was something mystifying about that threeday conference. No tempers were lost as no one forgot his or her upbringing. Spanish colonization was a mere point of reference and allusions to the anti-colonial struggle were somewhat oblique. Usually, conferences about anything FilHispanic turn out to be bloody encounters of bitterly contending schools of thought. The "historia negra" always rears its ugly head, making attempts at dispassionate historical analysis rather futile. People still remember that during the 1996 international conference on the Philippine Revolution, verbal missiles were hurled at the slightest provocation. A UP professor lambasted three American scholars for their mere presence; someone demanded a public apology from Spanish historian Fr. Izacio Rodriguez; the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions clashed rhetorical sabres. Delving into our political history is like rubbing salt on festering wounds. So, you can image how pleasantly surprised I was that there was no weeping or gnashing of teeth during that three-day meeting of Fil-Hispanic architects, urban planners and conservationists.

Unfortunately, the majority of Filipinos do not appreciate our heritage churches, least of all the parish priests who should preserve these cultural treasures. While working at the Department of Tourism (DOT), I would meet tour and travel operators who thought it senseless to promote old churches as tourist attractions because most foreign visitors are not Catholics. What appalling ignorance — don’t outbound Filipino tourists admire Buddhist temples, even if we are not Buddhists?

Many compatriots who have been to Europe think that our old churches are clumsy and ugly compared to the ones in the Old Continent. Yet, Spanish architect Javier Galvan, director of the Instituto Cervantes, continues to rave about Filipino heritage churches. How I wish more of our compatriots could have heard the edifying presentations of Architects Antonio Bonet (Spain) and Jorge Loyzaga (Mexico) during the Asia-Europe Transculturation sessions. For decades, these architect-scholars have been fascinated by the Baroque churches in the Philippines, built from the XVIth to the XIXth centuries. They say that although our ancestors followed the dictates of Baroque architectural forms, our churches turned out to be very distinct from the European ones because of their proportions and exquisite ornamentation. By examining the details of our heritage churches, we can learn about the lifestyle of our ancestors, the flora and fauna that existed in those times, the creative strengths of native artisans and how they applied newly-acquired techniques on local materials. Scrutinizing the details of a heritage structure is as informative as reading a primary source document.

There was a wealth of information in the presentations by both local and foreign participants; I felt I had taken an intensive course in the history of architecture and urban-planning. Two papers were particularly startling — "Philippine Plants in the Construction of Churches during the Colonial Period" by chemist/botanist Pio Andrade Jr. and Mr. Edgardo Castro’s "Brick Artistry in the Philippines," an engaging treatise on the molded brickwork of the fabulous Tumauini Church in Isabela.

After the conference I joined the one-day tour of Baroque churches in the Rizal-Laguna loop, organized by the DOT and the Instituto Cervantes. As the two luminaries Architects Bonet and Loyzaga had signed up, I planned to be within hearing distance while they pointed out the unique features of churches in Morong, Tanay Baras, Pakil, Longos and Paete, I had just been elected president of the Heritage Conservation Society so it was a singular opportunity to learn from the masters themselves. I began noticing details I had never before seen — vigas ending in crocodile heads, wooden columns carved with native flowers, Chinese clouds and oriental vases etched on stone facades and myriad shapes, forms and designs that show how our forbears transformed European Baroque into something delightfully Asian, or distinctly "asiatica-latina." You can give yourself that same crash course about endangered Baroque churches and built heritage by acquiring this exquisite book. (gemma601@yahoo.com)

Tune in "Krus na daan," DZRJ, 810 khz, Monday-Friday, 5-6 p.m. Watch "Only Gemma!" RJTV, Mondays, 8:008:30 p.m. Sky 19 (Mla. & Baguio), Sky 44 (Dagupan) Destiny 6 (Cebu) & 79 (Mla), Palompon 23 (Leyte), Colorview 40 (Zambales), Caceres 6, Comsatel 44, Quezon 29, Mananap 18, Mariveles Space 27, La Union 38, Albay 6, Isabela 18.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/05/18/OPED2006051864377.html

Animo

May 19th, 2006, 06:34 PM

Wonderboy

May 22nd, 2006, 06:50 PM

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/8105/bldgsinmanila11is.jpg
Avenue Theater along Rizal Avenue is one of the prewar structures that survived the second world war.

I received this e-mail from Arch. Baustista of NCCA:

Hi Folks,

Just to inform the body that Avenue theatre and hotel
is undoer demolition, as of yesterday, the crown of
the hotel is already dismantled. The crown had a bas
relief of a woman.

Wonderboy

May 22nd, 2006, 06:50 PM

Wonderboy

May 22nd, 2006, 09:30 PM

I'm so pissed off - two demolitions in a span of one week!

Pride of Place : Portrait of the Filipina as herself
First posted 11:28pm (Mla time) May 21, 2006
By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page C2 of the May 22, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Heritage watch

Driving through Villasis, Pangasinan, last week, we noticed that the heritage Villasis municipio had been torn down. A new construction was underway to replace it. Would there have been a way to either save the old building or incorporate it into the new structure somehow? With the replacement of the old municipio, a major part of Villasis history has vanished.

Wonderboy

May 22nd, 2006, 09:30 PM

Animo

May 22nd, 2006, 09:50 PM

I'm so pissed off - two demolitions in a span of one week!

Is their a government agency or a law that prevents such things?

Animo

May 22nd, 2006, 09:50 PM

I'm so pissed off - two demolitions in a span of one week!

Is their a government agency or a law that prevents such things?

Wonderboy

May 23rd, 2006, 12:07 AM

^^ Animo, the heritage bill has been submitted years ago but is still being reviewed.

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/14/avenue6hf.jpg

For those who would like to save this heritage structure, you can call or fax a complaint to Mayor Lito Atienza at 5276063 or 5274991 or send an e-mail at mayor_atienza@cityofmanila.com.ph.

Thanks to Mr. Binondo for the photo of Avenue theater.

Wonderboy

May 23rd, 2006, 12:07 AM

Pinoy_ako

May 23rd, 2006, 09:11 AM

Most of the structures along Rizal Avenue were works of our National Artists for Architecture, like Juan Nakpil. There should have been a complementary law safeguarding a representative body of works of these National Artists so we can appreciate their works better.

Rizal Avenue has already lost Ideal Theater and State Theater. Ever Theater is in a bad state and is being used as a store. Avenue Theater is being demolished. Galaxy Theater, a work of Toledo, is up for lease and might also be demolished in the future. The rise of malls with their cinemas and the route of LRT led to the decadence of Rizal Avenue. Maybe, the pedestrianization of the street will take its toll on the remaining buildings since business may not be that good if the area is not readily accessible.

Recently Lost Art Deco Buildings of Manila

1. Jai Alai
2. Avenue Hotel and Theater

Pinoy_ako

May 23rd, 2006, 09:11 AM

ivanhenares

May 23rd, 2006, 10:57 AM

Is their a government agency or a law that prevents such things?

Sorry to say there is none. I just found out from the NHI that many of the markers they place are simply markings. Unless it is declared, meaning it is a National Shrine, National Historical Landmark, National Monument, Heritage House or Classified Historical Structure under the NHI; or National Cultural Treasure or Important Cultural Property under the National Museum, PD 1505 does not protect a building with an NHI marker. Imagine?! The only way to save these structures is an increase in the level of consciousness of Filipinos. Sabi nga ng kausap ko sa NHI, all we can do now is appeal to the owners' sense of patriotism and nationalism.

Toti forgot to include Moncada, Tarlac. That elegant municipio is gone as well! I drove by Guimba and the charming wooden early American-colonial presidencia is now a concrete structure. Sigh!

ivanhenares

May 23rd, 2006, 10:57 AM

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 12:55 AM

Below are pictures that I took yesterday. I will call the company that was tasked to demolish the building. I will try to post an update within the day:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6187/avenue11ne.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/280/avenue22pf.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8291/avenue35pc.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6462/avenue41jc.jpg

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 12:55 AM

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 01:40 AM

^ Would it be too late to do anything now? Who owns this building now?

It's just so sad! What is needed is media coverage and mass outcry. If there is some big moneyed person who can at least file for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) before the demolition, but without the law to support the case, I just wonder if the injunction will be grantedl.

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 01:40 AM

dancethingy

May 24th, 2006, 02:16 AM

^^^^ SIGH

dancethingy

May 24th, 2006, 02:16 AM

^^^^ SIGH

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 02:24 AM

Okay. So I called Mr. Esteban Titong of E.V.J. Integrated Services – he’s the one in charge of the demolition of Avenue Theater and I was informed that the site would be turned into a parking lot in the meantime since the owner doesn’t have any plans of putting up another structure.

I was able to get the name as well as the contact number of the owner of the building:

Mr. Eduardo Linton Jua
2584092
(Ms. Alice – Secretary)

He’s the chairperson/ CEO of a Shipping Line. I called the number a few minutes ago and I think it was his wife who answered the phone (it was their residence phone - so folks, hinay hinay lang). I gave out info re: Avenue theater being a prewar structure and all. I was extremely courteous so as not to create too much tension. However, she informed me that they had already made a final decision, which was to demolish the building. She said they don’t have enough money to maintain it.

“I’m sorry hijo, there’s nothing you can do. Nakakkahiya na sa mga contractors if we stop the demolition,” she said.

So could somebody help me out on this? I believe we could still save this heritage structure. Perhaps if the owners will have an incentive or something to help them maintain the building, then it will not be demolished.

NCCA, NHI, HCS? What can we do about this?

By the way, below is the contact information of the demolition team for reference:

Mr. Esteban Titong
E.V.J. Integrated Services
4930087
7835532

I'm thinking instead of calling and bombarding them, perhaps we could send a letter or set up a meeting?

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 02:24 AM

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 02:32 AM

^^ I think we should write a Senator or some big public official to speak with Mr. Linton Jua to stop the demolition in the meantime. But there is just no law to support this cause.

It's futile to call the contractor. It is the owner of the building who should be prevailed upon since they are the ones paying for the services. I just can't believe this Linton Jua and Co., after profitting much from Philippine shipping business, he does not give a damn about historical preservation of the country that made him rich. If I recall, a lot of the areas of Intramuros is also being used as parking of his storage conveyors.

Let us write him a letter copy furnished to the Senator and Congressmen chairing the Committee on Culture or whatever. Let me check the website.

Let me do some quick research on what we can use to back up the case. I will also write some other fora on the matter to raise public awareness.

Can you please contact some media people for coverage? Give them nice, informative materials so that there will be interest in the matter.

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 02:32 AM

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 02:57 AM

^^ Thanks Lili. I already sent an e-mail to some media people that I know.

Nakakapagod ito ah. One-man team. Wala pa akong tulog. At wala pang sumasagot sa mga pinadalaha ko ng e-mail two days ago.

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 02:57 AM

^^ Thanks Lili. I already sent an e-mail to some media people that I know.

Nakakapagod ito ah. One-man team. Wala pa akong tulog. At wala pang sumasagot sa mga pinadalaha ko ng e-mail two days ago.

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:29 AM

I have emailed the following:

Congressman Edmundo O. Reyes, Jr.
Committee Chair on Basic Education and Culture

Congressman Edgar M. Chatto
Committee Chair on Tourism

Other people that we should contact via email, phone, fax or mail are:

- Mayor Lito Atienza

- Senator Juan M. Flavier
Senate President Pro Tempore and
Chair, Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture

- Senator Richard Gordon
Chair, Senate Committee on Tourism

- Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon
Chair, Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement

- Senator Franklin Drilon
Majority Leader

- Senator Francis Pangilinan

- Senator Aquilino Pimentel

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:29 AM

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:32 AM

Here is a copy of the email that I just wrote:

Hon. Edmundo O. Reyes, Jr.
Chairperson
Committee on Basic Education and Culture
Congress of the Philippines

Dear Hon. Edmundo O. Reyes:

It has come to our attention that the historically significant structure, the Avenue Theater on Rizal Avenue in Manila, is slated for demolition. We, a group of historical, cultural and urban enthusiasts, are extremely concerned by this news because the structure is one of the few surviving Art Deco buildings in Manila that survived the destruction during World War II. As the Chair of the Committee on Basic Education and Culture tasked with the preservation and enrichment of Filipino culture, we are asking for your assistance and intervention in order to put a halt to this hasty demolition until such time that there are viable alternatives in order to preserve such a building of historical and cultural significance not only to Manila, but to the country. It is important to preserve these structures because these are testaments to our history and heritage as a nation -- proud reminders of our culture and resilience notwithstanding the bombardment of Manila during World War II. We should not be slave to pure business interests and property ownerships. Ownership of these structures of historical significance are imbued with responsibility and recognition of their importance in preserving historical reminders of our beauty and pride as a nation and as a culture.

It is high time that a National Heritage and Historical Preservation Bill be passed in order to preserve and protect the architectural treasures of the land.

We humbly ask for your intervention and prompt action on this matter before everything is too late and the country is rid of its historical jewels all for the sake of empty profits.

Attached is a link to our website so that you may glean how important this matter is to Filipinos not only based in the Philippines but throughout the world. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8576369

Very sincerely yours,

[complete name]
Skyscrapercity Philippines

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:32 AM

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:36 AM

To those who are similarly minded, please also write to or contact important or influential people in the Philippines so that hasty decisions are not made destroying buildings and structures of architectural and historical significance to the Philippines.

Intramuros group: It's time to prove your mettle. This is a matter of urgency. We can start here from the outskirts of Intramuros in our goal of historical preservation then move to the the Ciudad de Morada.

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:36 AM

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:40 AM

I have read this press release in the Congress website. Perhaps they can earmark funds for Heritage preservation in order to promote education and cultural awareness in the Philippines. This will certainly translate in promoting tourism and pride as a nation for the country.

Latest News
OTHER NEWS «
UNESCO chief backs JDV’s debt-for-equity swap
23 May 2006 03:48:20 PM
Writer: Noel Albano, PRID
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Koichiro Matsuura received the Congressional Medal of Achievement Tuesday, and then expressed support for Speaker Jose de Venecia’s the debt-for-equity program that heavily indebted countries could use to fund projects in education, culture, and science.

De Venecia presented the Award to Matsuura at the Manila Hotel, in rites witnessed by top Philippine and foreign educators from 90 countries and about a hundred guests from the United Nations who are attending the three-day Leaders Forum of the 31st UNESCO-Intercultural Congress at the Manila Hotel.

Senior leaders from the House of Representatives joined de Venecia during the rites, among them Reps. Jaime Lopez, Antonio Cuenco, and Ernesto Gidaya of the party-list Veterans Freedom Party.

De Venecia called Matsuura’s support “crucial and timely” for the debt-for-equity program the Philippine Speaker conceived last year as an innovative way to convert half of the foreign debt of some 100 debt-saddled nations into equity to fund projects aligned with the UN Millennium Development Goals.

“We are gratified and encouraged by this expression of support from the UNESCO chief. It recognizes the need for debt-saddled nations to find innovative ways to fund programs that will fight poverty, disease, and ignorance, promote culture and science, and propel economic development,” de Venecia said.

De Venecia said Matsuura is one of the highest UN officials to endorse the debt-for-equity project, following Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who endorsed the project in September last year.

De Venecia said Matsuura told him he would try to convince nations to each work out separate bilateral debt-swap arrangements, such as debt for education, debt for culture and debt for science.

Matsuura received in June last year de Venecia and his delegation from the House of Representatives at the UNESCO office in Paris, where de Venecia first unveiled details of the debt-for-equity proposal to him.

He said further that Italy and Spain are seriously considering debt-for-equity conversion programs with the Philippines. The presidents and governments of Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania were the latest to endorse the debt-for-equity program.

Source: Public Relations and Information Department
Page last updated on 24 May 2006

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:40 AM

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:55 AM

Here is a similar email I sent to Mayor Atienza:

Hon. Mayor Lito Atienza
Mayor
City of Manila
Philippines

Dear Hon. Mayor Atienza:

It has come to our attention that the historically significant structure, the Avenue Theater on Rizal Avenue in Manila, is slated for demolition. I was born and raised in the city of Manila, particularly in the Sampaloc district and I am extremely proud of my Manila roots. It is particularly distressing to me to read that structures of historical and architectural significance have been slowly, one by one, demolished from the face of my beautiful, beloved Manila.

As a proud Manilena and a member of a group of historical, cultural and urban enthusiasts, I am extremely concerned by this news because the structure is one of the few surviving Art Deco buildings in Manila that survived the destruction during World War II. As an esteemed Mayor of Manila, we are asking for your assistance and intervention using your police power to promote the interests of your constituency, in order to put a halt to this hasty demolition until such time that there are viable alternatives in order to preserve such a building of historical and cultural significance not only to Manila, but to the country. It is important to preserve these structures because these are testaments to our history and heritage as a nation -- a proud reminder of our culture and its resilience notwithstanding the bombardment of Manila during World War II. We should not be slave to pure business interests and property ownerships. Ownership of these structures of historical significance are imbued with responsibility and recognition of their importance in preserving historical reminders of our beauty and pride as a nation and as a culture.

At the same time, we urge that a National Heritage and Historical Preservation Bill be passed in order to preserve and protect the architectural treasures of the land, especially of Historic Manila.

We humbly ask for your intervention and prompt action on this matter before everything is too late and the country is rid of its historical jewels all for the sake of empty profits.

Attached is a link to our website so that you may glean how important this matter is to Filipinos not only based in the Philippines but throughout the world.

Very sincerely yours,

[complete name]
Skyscrapercity Philippines

Lili

May 24th, 2006, 03:55 AM

dancethingy

May 24th, 2006, 05:24 AM

thanks for getting things going on this wonderboy and lili. I hope your examples will encourage people to follow suit. I will write handwritten letters as well as e-mail those involved in the demolition of this landmark.

dancethingy

May 24th, 2006, 05:24 AM

overtureph

May 24th, 2006, 07:17 AM

Manila gab tackles protection of Asian museum collections

First posted 00:09am (Mla time) May 22, 2006
By Lito Zulueta
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page C4 of the May 22, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A growing awareness of the need to conserve and protect cultural patrimony across Southeast Asia, not much emphasis has been placed on storing and preserving cultural collections.

Public and private sector investments have mostly gone to displays and expositions, but not much has been devoted to expanding or renovating storage facilities and improving methods for storage.

To raise regional awareness on urgent issues on storage and deepen their knowledge of storage science, key heritage workers from Southeast Asia are in Manila for a unique international course on storage techniques and issues. The special event is called Collections Asia or CollAsia2010, and it consists of lectures and workshops that have been going on since May 8 at the St. Thomas Aquinas Research Complex of the University of Santo Tomas.

The participants have come from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Viet Nam. All are heritage professionals with at least three years of experience in the field.

The international course is a joint project of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Seameo Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (Seameo-Spafa), and UST under its secretary-general, Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P., who is also the director of the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences and the UST Center for Conservation of Cultural Property in the Environment.

The aim of the course is prevention rather than intervention in protecting collections that are part of Southeast Asia’s patrimony, said Father Abano.

In a majority of heritage institutions, such as museums, libraries, archives and other organizations that hold custody over a collection, objects in storage form the bulk of the collection.

“Therefore a central challenge for these institutions—to maintain their role as centers of knowledge, research and/or inspiration—consists of implementing effective long-term strategies for the adequate care, management and tracking of collections in storage,” saysd Father Abano.

The course aims to consolidate the skills of heritage professionals directly involved with Southeast Asian collections, according to Clarissa Avendano, assistant director of the UST Museum. The heritage workers will study the threats to collections in storage, conceptual and practical tools, storage materials and techniques, relevant to the needs of Southeast Asia.

The threats to the collections are varied. Aside from the climate and the humidity of the region that may impair the collections, there are the threats of air pollution in urban areas, poor provisions for pest control in tropical countries and inadequate security.

The course is headed by Finnish Katriina Simila, a project manager of the Rome-based ICCROM, in partnership with Seameo- Spafa, represented by Irish Kevin Kettle.

The course consists of interactive, participatory sessions, both theoretical and practical held at the UST Thomas Aquinas Research Complex and the National Museum.

Study visits to different heritage institutions in the Philippines will include joint working sessions with the staff of the host institutions.

The teaching team consists of conservation and heritage specialists from the network of organizing institutions. The teachers and the course assistants come from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Finland, Indonesia, India, Italy, Thailand, the Netherlands and the Philippines.

According to Simila, the stress on access to collections must not neglect the need to store and preserve competently the collections.

“Museums must be seen as an integral element in a society,” she says. But because heritage awareness is focused on historic monuments and natural sites (what are called “intangible-immovable”), the problem of storage is often overlooked, she adds.

“The question is how much does a society need to invest in the storage and protection of its cultural capital,” she says. “After all, we cannot let the documents, archives and other cultural properties be food to termites.”

As such, the ICCROM and the Seameo-Spafa have developed programs in the conservation of collections in Bangkok, Lieden in the Netherlands and Manila, according to Kevin Kettle, program development officer of Seameo-Spafa. All in all, the program covers 11 countries in Southeast Asia.

In UST, storage and other heritage concerns are unified in the UST Center for the Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (CCPET), the organizing body for all cultural heritage concerns in UST.

UST has the oldest museum in the country. Its archives contains important cultural and historical documents. The Heritage section of its library holds incunabula and rare books. UST also runs the Cultural Heritage Studies program, which conducts certificate and graduate courses for cultural professionals and heritage workers at the UST Graduate School.

According to Avendano, the CCPET seeks “to value, promote, preserve through research, technology, education, training and other services, the cultural property and environment specifically in the tropics often at risk in the changing world.”

In partnership with national and private institutions as well as international agencies, the CCPET seeks to be an agent in the development, preservation and promotion of Filipino cultural heritage, Avendano adds.

The UST example could well serve as a model for other heritage initiatives in Southeast Asia.

Collections Asia (CollAsia2010) runs in UST until May 31. Its sponsors and collaborators include Omnibus Bio-Medical Systems, Inc., Nestlé Philippines, Philippine Beverage Partners, Inc. (Wilkins) and King Care.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.php?index=1&col=&story_id=76540

overtureph

May 24th, 2006, 07:17 AM

overtureph

May 24th, 2006, 07:20 AM

BREATHLESS IN BULACAN
The province north of Manila is a heritage powerhouse

First posted 11:26pm (Mla time) May 21, 2006
By Ryan R. Reyes
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page D1 of the May 22, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

THE SIMPLETON WHO thinks Bulacan is only about paputok (firecrackers) is going to do back flips over these:

Centuries-old churches with magnificent frescos and architecture; beautifully restored ancestral houses of historic significance; a fine tradition of songs, dances and native craftsmanship; sumptuous delicacies; and historic caves where nation-shaping decisions were mulled over—all within a province just 20 km north of Manila.

Considered as the Gateway to the North, Bulacan has seen the country cradled from a turbulent Spanish colony to today’s busy democracy. As a result, it is replete with rich culture and art which are by-products of roughly 500 years of civilization.

Despite its cultural riches, Bulacan has remained largely unappreciated by cultural tourists. So it’s only fitting that the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Tourism chose to highlight Bulacan culture and travels in the Filipino Heritage Festival this month.

The festival organized Lakbay Bulacan, a one-day exploration of the province’s many treasures.

“Bulacan is full of cultural heritage,” said Bambi Harper, festival director. “It would surprise people how all the architecture in the houses and churches were preserved, and how the traditions were upheld in a place this near to the Metro. It should be a matter of pride to all Bulakeños.

Harper herself is a Bulakeño. “I have roots in Bigaa (now Balagtas), and I’m certainly proud of what Bulacan is,” she said.

The Lakbay tour kicked off in the rustic town of San Miguel de Mayumo, right by the Sierra Madre borders.

The town is a study in irony. It has all the quaint charms of small rural towns—peaceful, unaltered surroundings, hospitable people—but the town sprawls bigger than any Bulacan town except its neighbor Doña Remedios Trinidad.

The tour participants witnessed a showcase of classic Bulakeño hospitality—young dancers from the Sining Bulakenyo Dance Troupe performing the traditional welcoming ritual Salubong, which involved a brisk folk dance capped by the dancers adorning the guests with garlands of fruit and dairy tarts, and serving refreshing coconut juice.

Historic caves

The Biak-na-Bato National Park in San Miguel sheltered freedom fighters during the Filipino-Spanish wars. Its caves served as secret “conference halls” for Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and his top advisers.

The jagged cave walls therefore are silent witnesses in the formation of the nation.

Today, the expanse of rushing river and rock has hanging bridges over the waters, connecting the network of caves and steep rock formations.

The place looks like a scenic picnic and trekking spot, with historical overtones to boot.

Sweet tooth

San Miguel de Mayumo is also the home of the famous Sevilla Sweets, makers of the beloved dairy delicacy pastillas de leche.

These sweets really define the town. In fact, the town was literally named after them: Mayumo literally means sweet.

And the people have really embraced their heritage. Among the many festivals the province is celebrating this month is their very own Pastillas Festival, held for the first time last May 7.

Bulacan’s tasty treasures, though, extend beyond pastillas. Malolos has its ensaymada and inipit; Bustos its minasa; Bocaue and Sta. Maria their crunchy sitsaron; and Paombong, of course, its famous vinegar.

Also an attraction is the Bulacan specialties, particularly the sinigang na ulang and the various recipes for sugpo and tilapia grown in farms.

The seemingly extinct art of the tertulia, usually not seen outside performance halls and cultural showcases, proved to be very much alive in Bulacan.

The Lakbay participants were also treated to a serenade of soaring kundimans and a humorous balagtasan by the Barasoain Kalinangan Ensemble, a creative arts society in Malolos composed of the province’s passionate youth.

Grand dames

Bulacan also boasts its share of beautiful ancestral homes, which were either skillfully restored to their glorious original sheen or preserved since their heydays. These estates still serve as sprawling landmarks that bear witness to the province’s growth and development.

In San Miguel de Mayumo alone, the houses still flourish, turning up in street corners like grand old dames in full regalia.

The De Leon House, built in 1914, was the home of LVN studio matriarch Doña Sisang de Leon. It still attracts people with its antique furnishings and Old-World feel.

The airy two-story mansion now holds a reportedly miraculous century-old statue, “San Miguel and the Devil,” which has weathered wars, storms, earthquakes and floods.

Also notable is the Tecson House, site of the signing of the historic Pact of Biak-na-Bato.

In Bustos stands another grand old house, the Mercado’s. This century-old mansion boasts of its unique stone carvings and distinct turn-of-the-century Mexican villa air.

Apart from old houses, Bulacan also has some of the most beautiful churches in the country.

One of them is the famous Barasoain Church in Malolos. It is both historically and architecturally significant.

In Angat stands the Church of Sta. Monica, which merges Baroque architecture and contemporary motifs.

Enclosed in its stone-carved façade of baroque images of saints is a ceiling frescoed with a “modernized’ Sistine Chapel’s Ceiling.

Alterations include vignettes covering Pope John Paul II’s World Youth Day visit to the Philippines in 1995.

All that glitters

Meycauayan, just 20 km from Metro Manila, has carved a niche for itself in jewelry art.

The intricate craftsmanship and painstaking creative dedication the town’s jewelers pour into their creations have made the town the leading producer of silver and gold jewelry in the country.

The Lakbay tourists had the chance to visit the goldsmith and silversmith workshops and the showroom of Goldenas Jewelry, one of Meycauayan’s leading jewelry producers.

A stone’s throw from Meycauayan, in the town of Marilao, is a top-caliber Bulakeño talent, Arnel Papa. His accessories, made from crystals, stones and carabao horns, have been featured in top fashion magazines. They are much sought after by the country’s fashionista crowd.

World-class craftsmanship characterizes the Bulakeño, whether it be making hand-woven and embroidered fabric and hand-crafted décor.

The finest hand-woven clothes and embroidery come from the towns of Sta. Maria and Bustos.

Bone-inlay furniture and the famed buntal hats are crafted in Baliuag. Fine terra cotta can be found in Calumpit.

Of course, the world-renowned pyrotechnics of Bocaue remains a defining feature of Bulacan, a powerhouse province in itself.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.php?index=1&col=&story_id=76538

overtureph

May 24th, 2006, 07:20 AM

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 09:20 AM

Lili, thank you very much! I will forward your letter to the HCS Secretariat.

Wonderboy

May 24th, 2006, 09:20 AM

Lili, thank you very much! I will forward your letter to the HCS Secretariat.

ivanhenares

May 24th, 2006, 10:03 AM

From: Barn Balquiedra <barn_carlos@hotmail.com>
Date: May 24, 2006 12:21 PM
Subject: Tayabas, Quezon's small church's gate in danger of demolition

I am sending photos of a small Spanish-era church in Tayabas, Quezon which I think is in danger of being bastardized.

You will see in the third photo that they are building a new wall behind the old wall. I am afraid that they will demolish the old wall together with the old gate. I am not a cultural guru but I think the gate & walls should be conserved.

I am sorry but I do not know the details about the church (name, date of construction, etc.) because I am not a Tayabas resident. I am from Lucena and I just happened to
drive by the area recently on my way to Lucban.

I attended mass there once a long time ago and I was mesmerized by its antiquity. Most of the Spanish-era churches have been remodeled already but from what I remember this particular church retains its old charm.

I hope you can do something to save it. Thanks!

Barnard Balquiedra

http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=att&disp=emb&attid=0.1&th=10b64982945cca20

http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=att&disp=emb&attid=0.2&th=10b64982945cca20

http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=att&disp=emb&attid=0.3&th=10b64982945cca20

ivanhenares

May 24th, 2006, 10:03 AM

ivanhenares

May 24th, 2006, 03:16 PM

Other people that we should contact via email, phone, fax or mail are:

- Senator Richard Gordon
Chair, Senate Committee on Tourism

Reply from Gordon's office...

"Our answer will be the same.

"Dick wanted to take over the Post Office Bldg and the Metropolitan Theatre as DOT after getting feelers from foreign investors like Raffles of Singapore who wanted to set up shop here while preserving the landmarks infrastructure. No dice.

"Dick got $5Million from the JICA to rebuild maestranza wall after convincing the Japanese that it was their warplanes that destroyed the walls during the Battle of Manila in WWII. Atienza filed a TRO through Barangay Captains and only recently after 3 years have the courts decided. At last now the project can commence.

"What we realy need is a law like the Tourism Act. For now, we suffer because of the Local Government Code of 1991. Its up to the Mayor as national agencies have no police power over these historical/heritage sites. My advice is go to media. Bombard the emails of Inquirer and their columnists - Ambeth, etc who have been "hitting" Dick for Intramauros and Lapu Lapu. Local elections are around the corner, maybe such snippings from media personalities will soften Atienza's hardline stance."

ivanhenares

May 24th, 2006, 03:16 PM

rocky-j

May 24th, 2006, 03:32 PM

Lili, thank you very much! I will forward your letter to the HCS Secretariat.

hi wonderboy and lili,

i feel your pain. so much beautiful buildings have been replaced with ugly structures or just parking lots. anything i can do to pitch in? btw, have you been in touched with the media and ang ngo about this? the lopezes have thier bantay bata and kalikasan, any chance they have a similar program to protect old buildings? what about cultural preservation oriented shows and tv programs? maybe someone can alert the media about this.

my 2 cents...

rocky-j

May 24th, 2006, 03:32 PM

overtureph

May 25th, 2006, 07:58 AM

RP ranks 125th in int’l environmental protection index

First posted 05:02am (Mla time) May 25, 2006
By Blanche S. Rivera
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page A5 of the May 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE PHILIPPINES ranks 125th among 146 countries rated by the 2005 Yale Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), indicating the country’s poor ability to ensure sustainable development of its natural resources.

The Philippines, one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world which together account for up to 80 percent of Earth’s biodiversity, only ranked higher than countries like Haiti, Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, Iraq and North Korea.

Bukidnon Representative Nereus Acosta cited the 2005 ESI during a forum on climate change and renewable energy yesterday as he urged better coordination among government agencies to ensure sustainability.

“It confirms that we are still largely incapacitated when it comes to protecting our environment, averting hazards, reforesting, etc.,” Acosta said in an interview after his presentation.

The ESI evaluates countries based on 21 indicators, including natural resources, pollution levels, and environmental management efforts that characterize and influence environmental sustainability on a national scale.

Scandinavian countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden topped the ESI last year, placing first, second and fourth, respectively.

The ESI is done annually by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, along with invited experts from all over the world. The results are presented every year to the World Economic Forum.

“This is evidence that things are not transparent, that people are not being held accountable,” said Lorenzo Tan, president of World Wildlife Fund-Philippines.

Tan cited the cases of mining explorations and logging that are being done even in protected areas like the Northern Sierra Madre National Park in Isabela province.

Acosta, a former member of the panel of experts invited by Yale to do the ESI, said the Philippines’ ranking was dragged down by its very low performance on social and institutional governance.

Governance, along with environmental systems, vulnerability to stress and disasters, impacts on human health and global stewardship were the major criteria for the ESI.

“What really brought us down was governance. We have rich biodiversity but we don’t get our act together, we don’t put our money where our mouth is,” Acosta said.

He said the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Energy, Transportation and Communication needed to coordinate their initiatives for an ecology-dependent economy.

Acosta said the government’s poor investment in science and technology -- only 0.2 percent of the gross domestic product -- was considered an indicator of institutional support.

The Philippines has only around 150 scientists per one million people, a fact that the ESI also noted, he said.

Acosta called for an environmental accounting of the country’s natural resources amid the government’s aggressive promotion of mining as the economic growth propeller.

He said the development picture would not be complete if the government considered only the revenues and direct benefits of mining without a valuation of the biodiversity and its other possible benefits that would be lost due to extractive activities.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=76945

overtureph

May 25th, 2006, 07:58 AM

lewdsaint

May 25th, 2006, 01:22 PM

From the Heritage Champion : Iloilo

Hala Bira!!!

ILOILO HERITAGE FORUM SET TODAY

“An Invitation to a Proud Heritage”

Pagemaker
By Zedrick Señeres[/CENTER]

In line the National Heritage Month Celebration, the ILOILO HERITAGE FORUM, a noble gathering to “ Save Calle Real: The Iloilo City Downtown Central Business District Heritage Conservation Guidelines,” will be held at 1:00 pm today at the posh Iloilo Grand Hotel.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/lifestyle/photo/lifestyle.jpg

The old world charm-Calle Real, with its colonial buildings, the vintage architectural designs which in time and again have survived the test of times, a living witness to our ancestor’s struggling years from anguish of war..to the present for this landmark to rise again amidst adversity.

While the world class structures kept on rising in various corners of Metro Iloilo, still they could not outshine the splendour of this vintage edifice that adorn Calle Real, which holds the distinction as the very first commercial center to rise in history in the region!

The preservation and the piece by pace renovation and preservation of this structures is a race against time… due to negligence that causes fast deterioration…memories are slowly fading, but a closer look of this “jewels” is indeed a treasure worth keeping.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/lifestyle/photo/lifestyle1.jpg

Responding to the call for cultural and heritage tourism, the Iloilo City Government created the Iloilo City Council Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC) by enacting the April 2000 Ordinance No. 00-54 otherwise known as the Cultural Heritage Conservation Ordinance. The council, composed of individuals from the arts and culture community, was envisioned to be the body responsible in advancing cultural heritage conservation and promotion. It also addressed the call of the tourism Sector Plan of the 1998-2010 Iloilo City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUO) for a program in this conservation program.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/lifestyle/photo/lifestyle2.jpg

The council was tasked to conduct an inventory of the cultural heritage and legacy buildings and promulgate rules and regulations for their preservation to address the need to preserve Metro Iloilo’s vintage structures that could for sure will become a major tourist attractions in the city

Afterall the revival of these areas will spur more investments and create more jobs dearies!

And surely so, this noble endeavors spearheaded by the City Officials, led by ever dynamic Mayor Jerry Treñas, the creative team of the ICCHCC

chairman Arch. Antonio Sangrador, the building owners, the concernes citizens and others who will work hand in hand for one common purpose will for sure make Calle Real glitter once again to dazzle the world!

Aton gid ni Ya!!!.

(taken from: The Guardian Iloilo
link: http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/lifestyle.php)

lewdsaint

May 25th, 2006, 01:22 PM

lewdsaint

May 25th, 2006, 01:46 PM

The truly Heritage Champion of the Philippines.

Preserving Iloilo City’s legacies
By Nereo C. Lujan

Iloilo City is a virtual time machine that will transport anyone back to its colonial past. While malls have risen in various corners of the city, they could not outshine the splendor of its colonial buildings and houses that respectively adorn its commercial center and its adjoining districts. They are not only testimonies of city’s rich cultural heritage but are tourism assets worth promoting.

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However, these mute witnesses to the rise and fall of the Queen City of the South stand voiceless to those who found them of no use as they struggle daily to put food on their tables and clothes on their backs. Jeepney drivers pay no attention to their elegance. Sidewalk vendors shut their eyes to their grandeur. Bargain hunters take no notice of their value.

To the common folk, they merely serve as backdrops for the clatter of traffic, the sweat of commerce and the dust of shopping. They appear inconsequential to the everyday street tenant. As they labor to keep both ends meet, they are oblivious to the splendor hidden behind billboards and panaflex signage.

But at closer look, Iloilo City’s heritage houses and buildings are treasures worth keeping.

As a response, the Iloilo City government has embarked on a laudable program that is aimed at conserving its heritage buildings in a bid to boost economic development through tourism and by reviving business activities along the city’s central business district.

But the program is not just about culture, tourism and economic development. It is also about public-private partnership, about multi-stakeholder approach to planning and about innovative strategies worth looking into.

The Colonial Past

Built during the sugar boom and mostly found in the Central Business District, these structures are not just symbols of opulence and luxury but are proofs to Iloilo City’s economic, industrial, educational and cultural dominance during the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.

The opening to world trade of the port of Iloilo in 1855 saw the birth of the Queen City of the South. Serving as hub for support services to the flourishing sugar industry in nearby Negros Island, Iloilo City became host to banks, social clubs, warehouses, machine shops, printing presses, retail shops, commercial firms, educational institutions and medical services.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/calle1.jpg

Before the turn of the previous century, Iloilo City already has electricity, telephone, telegraph, railway, ice plants, automobiles, theaters, cemented roads and other modern conveniences. It was also the home of the country’s first department store, first car assembly plant, first commercial airline and first luxury liner. Proof to its early global dealings was the presence of foreign business houses and the consular offices of Spain, Great Britain, China, Japan, Netherlands and Norway.

Even outside of the commercial district, there are a lot that speaks about Iloilo City’s distinguished history. The famed cathedral of Jaro and its belfry across the street as well as the church of Molo symbolize the engineering genius of the Spanish friars. The academic legacies of the Ilonggos started with the tutelage of the Augustinians and other religious orders who opened a number of schools that up to these days, still mold the minds of the youth. Iloilo City’s mansions and old houses stand with majesty as they display a unique mix of Asian and Hispanic architecture.

The decline of the sugar industry and the Japanese invasion did not only doom the city’s economy but also left some of these structures in ruins. While nothing can be done to rebuild or restore those that were ravaged by neglect and bombs, those that are left standing require a second look. Conservation efforts are a must to promote Iloilo City’s cultural heritage, and arrest the disappearance of these heritage structures as they are torn down to give way to new and modern buildings in the city.

Restoring the Pride

These structures can be a source of pride for every Ilonggo; reminders that this city was once an important economic anchor for the Philippines, starting from the Spanish colonial period to the American commonwealth era. As such, they can also encourage everyone to strive for greatness. Restoring the splendor of these structures, especially those found in the Central Business District, can also provide the local government with the much-needed income from tourism. Iloilo City’s distinctive landscape, the unique architecture of its heritage structures and its historical wealth can give tourists a very fulfilling visit.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/calle2.jpg

Recognizing this, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) sponsored in October 1998 a cultural heritage tourism workshop. Attended by individuals from local and national governments, cultural institutions, universities, tourism-related businesses and concerned citizens, it introduced the concept of cultural and heritage tourism and identified local cultural and historical resources, and determined how they can be best marketed locally, nationally and internationally.

Responding to the call for cultural and heritage tourism, the Iloilo City government created the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC) by enacting in April 2000 Ordinance No. 00-054 otherwise known as the Local Cultural Heritage Conservation Ordinance. The council, composed of individuals from the arts and culture community, was envisioned to be the city government’s body responsible in advancing cultural heritage conservation and promotion.

Preserving Heritage

The council was tasked to conduct an inventory of cultural heritage and legacy buildings and promulgate rules and regulations for their preservation to address the need to preserve the city’s heritage structures that are slowly disappearing and enhance the city’s tourism potentials. Tourism is seen as a major economic driver for Iloilo City, generating investments and local government revenues as well as jobs for its people.

The main target of this conservation effort is the Central Business District, which consists of the streets of J. M. Basa, Aldeguer, Mapa, Guanco and Iznart. Declared as the Iloilo City Heritage Zone, the area is home to Art Deco-styled commercial buildings built during the 1920s up to the 1950s. A catalogue of these buildings has already been prepared as an initial step in conservation planning.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/calle3.jpg

The ordinance, which underwent some amendments in April 2001, states that all buildings in Iloilo City that are 50 years or more in existence are to be considered heritage or legacy buildings. Likewise, Plaza Libertad and the district plazas of Molo, Arevalo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Jaro were declared historical and cultural landmarks and can only be used for historical, cultural and fiesta celebrations. The ordinance mandates that the use, upkeep and preservation of these structures and landmarks as far as practicable shall always be the concern of the Iloilo City government.

Owners, administrators, lessees or any persons in charge of heritage or legacy structures are prohibited from undertaking any repair, rehabilitation or construction of any kind unless there is a favorable recommendation from the ICCHCC. In the event that the repair or rehabilitation is urgent, building owners, administrators or lessees are mandated to make sure that the façade showing the architectural design of the buildings is retained, restored and preserved.

All businesses within the heritage zone are given incentives. These include exemption from payment of business taxes and building fees. Old investors as well as new ones can avail of these incentives as long as they are in the heritage zone. The grant of incentives are aimed to revive business activities within the heritage zone which, prior to the onset of shopping malls, was the busiest area in Iloilo City. With challenges like shrinking business profitability, deteriorating commercial area and poor environment, it is feared that the Central Business District will have an untimely demise if nothing is done to rescue it. The revival of the area is expected to spur more investments and create more jobs.

Conservation Framework

To achieve the intents of the cultural heritage conservation program, the council, with the assistance of CUI, prepared in 2001 the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Framework. The document, completed following a multi-stakeholder strategic planning workshop, outlines the issues, goals and strategic actions for preserving and promoting Iloilo City’s cultural heritage in general, and the Central Business District in particular.

Guided by the vision statement “Iloilo City: The Heart of Visayan Heritage,” the framework sought to transform Iloilo City into a “culturally-vibrant community working for the preservation, development and promotion of its heritage.”

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The CBD Preservation Framework wishes to strengthen the downtown area’s position as a special heritage zone for socio-economic and cultural development. Its strategies include the preparation of ordinances that will call for the gradual phase-out of big billboards and the regulation of signage, enforcement of environmental standards to enhance urban design and structures, traffic re-routing, the introduction of pedestrian amenities, and the forming of a “heritage watch” to monitor compliance of the CLUP and of the city’s zoning ordinance.

Taking Steps

With financial assistance from the Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants, the ICCHCC completed the first phase of the Iloilo City Downtown CBD Heritage Buildings Catalogue Project, producing a progress report in September 2002. Dubbed as an initial step in conservation planning for the city’s oldest business center, it was aimed to generate baseline information on the city’s heritage buildings at the downtown CBD which may be used for the planned heritage conservation and economic revitalization activities for the area.

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Undertaken in cooperation with the University of San Agustin and University of the Philippines in the Visayas, the project resulted to the profiling of buildings, which include the measurement of nine lot and 16 building areas. A total of 31 sketches of building elevations and ornamentations were also made. It also yielded six architectural drafts of buildings’ perspectives, front elevation drawings of 20 buildings and spot details showing ornamentations from 22 buildings. Photo-documentations were also undertaken involving facades and ornamentation of buildings.

Among the buildings surveyed include the 1922 S. Javellana Building on the corner of J.M. Basa and Guanco streets, the 1925 S. Villanueva Building on the corner of Aldeguer and J.M. Basa Streets that used to house the International Hotel, the first hotel in Iloilo City; another S. Villanueva Building on J.M. Basa Street built in 1927; the 1927 Cine Palace, now the Regent Theater Building also on J.M. Basa Street; and the Elizalde-Ynchausti Building built in the 1930s also on J.M. Basa Street.

Boosting the Economy

Reviving the Central Business District (CBD) to encourage investments in the area can be a boost the city’s economy, but such is just one factor that may spur growth and development. By and large, it is the city’s positioning as a cultural destination that will eventually serve as an impetus of economic advancement as far as tourism is concerned. Heritage buildings, old houses and churches, historical spots, festivals and food, all of which can be found in Iloilo City, provide a perfect cultural experience for tourists.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/calle6.jpg

With structures and policies already in place, thus ensuring the program’s sustainability beyond changes in political leadership, Iloilo City’s cultural heritage conservation efforts can surely bear fruits for a proud people. By the time its economic benefits shall have already trickled down to the everyday street tenant, then jeepney drivers will already pay attention to their elegance, sidewalk vendors will already see their grandeur, and bargain hunters will value them more than the inexpensive goods that they can buy.

Source : http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/05/24/preserving.iloilo.citys.legacies.html

lewdsaint

May 25th, 2006, 01:46 PM

death327

May 25th, 2006, 02:21 PM

Hi everyone, please confirm this information. A friend of mine from Asian Institute of Tourism told me that Maig-ao Chruch is longer a heritage site. The managing priest of the church did some renovations both on the interior and facade of the church. Can someone clarify this or give us some hint or idea? Because I believe once a Heritage site will always be a heritage site.

death327

May 25th, 2006, 02:21 PM

Wonderboy

May 25th, 2006, 02:59 PM

Wonderboy

May 25th, 2006, 02:59 PM

death327

May 25th, 2006, 03:14 PM

death327

May 25th, 2006, 03:14 PM

LordCarnal

May 25th, 2006, 04:30 PM

^^

You can inform the National Historical Institute..

They were the same ones who reprimanded a contractor who tried to "renovate" a Watchtower here in Cebu by literally covering its adobe-stone facade with concrete!

LordCarnal

May 25th, 2006, 04:30 PM

BYAHILO

May 25th, 2006, 05:15 PM

BYAHILO

May 25th, 2006, 05:15 PM

death327

May 25th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the info.... however, I still need to wait for IAMME or anyone from Iloilo to send me some pictures of renovated or extended part beofre I will email National Historical Institute or the Heritage Society.

death327

May 25th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Wonderboy

May 25th, 2006, 09:46 PM

IAMME confirmed that the managing priest of the church really did some renovations. How are we going to address this matter? Who are we going to ask? Who are we going to inform about this?

This activity sghould be stopped. Who can prevent this activity? Do we need to inform UNESCO Heritage Council? Is there a local counterpart or office of that council?

Damn that priest.

Anyway, here are the contact details of LGUs/ NGOs for your reference:

National Commission for Culture and the Arts
Trunklines: (632) 527-2192 / (632) 527-2202 / (632) 527-2210 / (632) 527-2195-97 / (632) 527-2217-19
Fax: (632) 527-2191 and (632) 527-2194
Heritage Sites: local 409
Direct line: (632) 523-5382
E-mail: info@ncca.gov.ph
Contact person: Architect Richard Bautista

Heritage Conservation Society Secretariat
5212239/ 5222497/ 09178668853
E-mail: hcs_secretariat@yahoo.com
Contact person: Ms. Dorie Soriano

National Historical Institute
TM Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila
E-mail: nhi@i-next.net
Contact person: Ms. Melly Almosara

I highly suggest that you get in touch with Arch. Bautista of NCCA and send an e-mail to Ms. Almosara regarding your concern.

I could help you out but these people are sick and tired of hearing from me so it would be better if they receive a call or an e-mail from somebody else.

Good luck and hope this helps.

Wonderboy

May 25th, 2006, 09:46 PM

death327

May 26th, 2006, 03:13 AM

Thank you very much Wonderboy. I will email these institutions as soon as I can get pictures (as proofs) of the extended or renovated part of the church.

Maybe tonight I will start emaling them eventhough I dont have enough proofs of this.

However, this doesn't still answer my question.... is Miag-ao still under Heritage list right? Is there a possibility that UNESCO will take away the heritage title of that site?

death327

May 26th, 2006, 03:13 AM

Lili

May 26th, 2006, 03:23 AM

Update on Avenue Theater

Still no word from the HCS board of trustees except for Mr. Henares.

I sent an e-mail to some media people but I haven't heard from them either.

On a lighter note...

Thank you so much to my fellow SSC Forumers who have supported the campaign to save Avenue theater...

Ms. Lili - For sending e-mails to senators/ gov't officials/ Manila City Mayor. Thank you. :)
TheCameraReturns - for posting old Avenue theater photos on Retrato.

I have not received any response from those public officials I emailed :(. The reality is, I don't think I will. We have no law to back ourselves up. We only have public conscience and love for heritage.

Lili

May 26th, 2006, 03:23 AM

Lili

May 26th, 2006, 03:31 AM

From the NCCA website:

What to do with an Old Church (or Mosque or House)?
by Regalado Trota Jose

Everywhere there are structures from the past that speak to us of our collective identity, which have so much to share about the lessons of history. What to do to save them?

1. Start with Yourself

Interestingly, you should begin by asking yourself why are you fixing your church? Are you really concerned about preserving your heritage? Or do you just want to change things for the sake of change or to raise funds? You must approach heritage work without a blown-up Ego! You must be careful that your heritage project is NOT just for your won self-promotion. Heritage work is about Humility.

We must first accept that No one is an absolute expert on the past. When you are restoring something from memory please remember that your recollection could be wrong. Consult others in your community. Consult experts. Discuss. Keep the decision process transparent. Reach a consensus whenever possible. If you're not sure what to do, don't touch anything that isn't about to collapse. Get help.

II. Respecting the Past

Ask yourself if what you're fixing is really broken. It just might be faded or run-down. Remember: If it's not broken don't fix it. We must learn to respect the past. Old structures are like diaries. They are records of our history allowing us to take part in the on-going story of our community. Old walls with bullet holes can be left alone because they remind us that our grandparents may have fought a war and died to save our town. There are bullet holes for example, in the walls at the back of Pulilan Church in Bulacan. Think twice before repainting something that has achieved a lovely patina after many centuries. Old paint has a quiet faded beauty that is impossible to duplicate even with a lot of money.

Only fix something if it threatens to destroy the integrity of the structure in the long run. Often, it is important to change and replace as little as possible. If part of an old tiled roof is leaking then simply fix or replace the leaking section (with old-style tiles if possible). Remember, heritage structures do not belong to you alone. You share it with many others in the past, present, and future. It's better to make your mark as someone who respected the labors of your ancestors.

III. How to Start the Documentation

A. Know what you have. Photograph the structures you might be working with as they are today. Photograph as much as you can, paying attention to details. You may need to consult your documentation later on. Inventory what you have and keep your inventory in an organized logbook or filing system. Make more than one copy so you have a back-up set. This way, it will be harder to steal your church's things if the thieves know you have the documentation and photographs to track them down. Due to proper documentation, the church of Baclayon was able to track down the stolen statue of San Blas. The thieves had brought it to an antique dealer. He very graciously returned the statue he had already paid for when he learned that it was stolen. He flew all the way to Bohol to personally turn over the piece to a rejoicing church community. Sadly, the statue was stolen again.

Document everything, not just precious objects. Even old vestments, old jars, old books are all part of your church's history, your community history. Remember that it's not just the material, tangible things you can touch which form our heritage. The intangibles, the music, the prayers, the rituals, the stories are all part of heritage and must also be documented. All the precious objects in the church would mean nothing if the spiritual dimension of prayers and rituals were absent.

B. Research/Consult/Discuss

Interview the old people about the church. This will make them very happy and will remind everyone that old people are vital resources for a community. Record their memories. Ask people for their old photos of the church. Remember that in old photos of baptisms and weddings, parts of the church can be seen in the background. Look up books and documents in Archives like that of the Archdiocese of Manila which has records on most of the old towns of the Philippines. You might even find old plans of your church. Don't forget souvenir programmes, fiesta, brochures, school year books and even old diaries! Part of your research and documentation is to make a good site plan of your church. Remember to consider your church in the context of the whole town. What are the related structures? Is there a cemetery chapel? Was your church a site of pilgrimage for the region? Where did the original materials come from? When and how did they get to your church? All of these can make for an interesting story. Discuss your ideas with other people and with local and national experts. Check if there is a heritage commission in your diocese.

C. Plan

Make a master plan of your restoration project. Are you just fixing a leaking roof? Or is your activity part of a larger project? Get others involved. Network with similarly-minded people. Ask experts to help you plan. See your activity as part of a longer-range program. If you fix this leak today, will there be other leaks in the future? Is it just the ceiling that is affected by the leak? Work out your vision together with your community. Visualize your next moves.

IV. Considering Options

Consider your options carefully. Many church retablos were changed because of certain fads. But fads come and go. Tastes change. Do you want to be stuck with yesterday's trendy look? And what do you do if your old retablos have already been thrown away and you've grown tired of the new ones.

Here are some specific concerns:

A. Bells

Some old bells have cracks. There's no need to melt these bells down to create new ones. Cracks in bells are part of history. This is why the crack in the United State's Liberty Bell was never fixed. A bell in Tumauini church in Cagayan, for example, has bullet holes. Bells have special designs and shapes which can tell many stories. They may contain dates as well as names of parish priest and bellcasters. Some bells like those of Balangiga were stolen as war souvenirs by the Americans.

B. Belltowers

One church in Batangas decided to rebuild their own bell tower based on pictures. Unfortunately, the original proportions were not followed, and today, everyone agrees that the rebuilt tower is a great eyesore. What a waste of money that could have been used in other parts of the church! Worse, the rebuilt tower is so heavy that it threatens to cause the church's collapse! Some architects and engineers will claim to be experts in restoration. Be careful. Remember that the materials and techniques of the past are not the same as today. Be sure that whoever you contract knows what she or he is doing.

Sometimes it is better not to rebuild the tower whose destruction and absence is an irreversible fact of history. In the town of Morong, Rizal, a new bell tower was built. So as not to ruin the beauty of the church's famous facade, the new tower was built at the back.

C. Baptismal Chapels

Many Baptisms are no longer carried out in the old Baptismal chapels. Often, these chapels are converted into Perpetual Adoration Chapels. Perpetual Adoration is a worthwhile movement. But old baptismal chapels are not the best places for such a devotion. For one thing, baptistries were not meant to hold people for long periods. The usual solution taken is to install air-conditioning systems and carpeting at great cost. But this goes against the way the old churches were designed (thick walls, small windows). The air conditioning system and carpets trap dust and moisture creating more problems including lingering odors! A good solution is to build a new and separate Perpetual Adoration chapel discretely at the back just as in the church of Calaca in Batangas. There is a symbolic reason why baptistries were near the entrance of the church. Baptism was meant to welcome new Christians into the Body of Christ hence it made sense that it be performed near the door. Imagine being able to baptize your children and your grandchildren at the very spot, at the very same font as your ancestors. Sadly, some perpetual adoration chapels are often empty resulting in the thefts of precious chalices and other church properties.

D. Palitada

It is wrong to remove the lime palitada to expose the old stones or bricks of churches. This does not make them look more "authentic." This can destroy the church. The palitada protects the walls from moisture. When it is removed, the bricks or stones will crumble. Often the palitada had beautiful carvings and decorations, too. Some even bear the markings and names of masons who worked on the church. Some of the old church decor was meant to be viewed against a background of neutral white palitada. Exposing the brickwork beneath can create a very busy effect which distracts one from prayer and contemplation. Please remember that there are different kinds of palitada. Coral stone commonly used in the Visayas is less fragile than bricks. Cagayan Valley bricks are sturdier than their Ilocos counterparts. So palitada layers in the Visayas and the Cagayan tend to be thinner than in Luzon. Know thy palitada and know thyself! Lime palitada is better than cement because cement is quite heavy and may overburden the structure. Do check however if your lime is from an environmentally-acceptable source.

E. Roofs and Ceilings

If the roof trusses and beams of your church are damaged especially by termites, try not to replace everything in one blow. Large logs that are the right size for ceiling beams are now impossible to find. Be careful about changing the pitch of the roof. Church's roofs were built at a certain pitch for precise reason which had to do with the amount of rain that they had to deflect. For that matter, most of the features of traditional structures had a purpose. Do not just change things without understanding their original function.

Some parishes want to restore their dilapidated ceiling paintings. Always remember though that, unless you have precise records of what your ceiling paintings used to look, it is difficult to reconstruct ceiling decor just from old photographs. It is also very expensive and probably not worth the cost. Remember that it is cheaper to maintain a plain ceiling than one with elaborate designs. Rather than create a new design for the ceiling, it would be best just to make sure that the original patches of ceiling paintings that remain do not fall off. This will give you a sense of the glory of the original. An example of this approach can be seen in the cemetery chapel of Nagcarlan, Laguna as restored by the National Historical Institute.

F. Windows

There is a fad to add horrible resin windows to churches that cannot afford stained glass. There is no need to do this. Resin windows have awful acidic colors, which do not match the church interiors. Resin is made of plastic and is not environmentally safe. It also becomes brittle with age and is easily broken. It is a mistake to replace old capiz windows with resin ones. The beauty of capiz windows is that they can be replaced one shell at a time and are therefore easy on the budget. They also admit a soft luminous light that is unique to our country as well as conducive to meditation.

G. Church Museums

There is a trend to set up small museums on the church premises. This is a good idea especially if the exhibits are well done and well labeled. Consider, however, that many of the objects usually placed on display such as statues of saints were meant to be objects of prayer and veneration. By putting them in museums, we are actually pulling them out of their original context. Also please be sure that your museum is well-secured and that we are not just making things easier for thieves by putting all the church's holdings conveniently in one place.

V. The Church of the Poor

The church has made it very clear that it is the Church of the Poor. As such it stresses simplicity. Often, renovation projects are quite extravagant. It can be cheaper to restore things with a lighter touch that allows the beauty of centuries of faith and fervor to shine through. Remember that not every church was meant to be ornate or spectacular. That not every church has to be the "largest" or the "oldest." Do not change things just because things has to be elaborate. Some churches are beautiful simply because they are simple and sparse. Often, the most important ways to help your church cost nothing, except some small practical ways: keeping the church clean; keeping bodegas and closets orderly so that they do not become fire hazards and breeding places for vermin; checking that the back of the church does not become a garbage dump or a urinal. Yes, the most effective preservation projects need not cost money.

___________________________

*Some People and Agencies You can Consult About Heritage

National Commission for Culture and the Arts
633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
Tel. no.: 527-2192, 527-2209
email: info@ncca.gov.ph

National Historical Institute
2nd Floor, National Library Building
T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila
Tel. no.: 523-0905

Honrado Fernandez
College of Architecture
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. no.: 920-5301

Bambie Harper
Heritage Columnist
Adriatico St., Malate, Manila
Tel. no.: 819-5401

Regalado Trota-Jose
Heritage Advocate
email: regalado@pworld.net.ph

Augusto Villalon
A. Villalon Associates Architects
107 Wilson Circle, San Juan City
Tel. no.: 724-1654
Fax: 722-5745

Arch. Clarissa Avendaño
University of Sto. Tomas Museum, España, Manila
Tel. no.: 740-9718

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

reference:

about the author:
Regalado Trota Jose specializes in research and writing on historic Philippine church art. Apart from studying Anthropology and Philippine studies at the University of the Philippines, he also learned about about churches and culture while concertizing for 9 years with the UP Madrigal Singers. For his work on art history, Jose was named one of the 100 Centennial Artists by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1999.

Comment: I would just like to add that Heritage is about Humility as well as Pride. It is about Respecting and Honoring our Past as well as Protecting and Caring for Our Future.

Lili

May 26th, 2006, 03:31 AM

Askal82

May 26th, 2006, 04:21 AM

I have not received any response from those public officials I emailed :(. The reality is, I don't think I will. We have no law to back ourselves up. We only have public conscience and love for heritage.

I'm afraid that cultural preservation of heritage and historical past doesn't translate to the number of votes these greedy bastards will earn in the next election.

However, I still salute you for the effort you and jeff made to create awareness how important these structures are in representing Filipino identity and culture.

Askal82

May 26th, 2006, 04:21 AM

overtureph

May 26th, 2006, 07:49 AM

Pinoy Kasi : Calle Real

First posted 01:27am (Mla time) May 26, 2006
By Michael L. Tan
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on Page A15 of the May 26, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THERE’S an excellent exhibit, “Handurawan,” at the 3rd Floor of SM City mall in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, running up to May 30. Part of the National Heritage Month celebrations, “Handurawan,” which means a glimpse of the past, is actually several exhibits rolled into one, organized by the University of the Philippines (UP) in the Visayas.

One photo exhibit focuses on the “nikkei-jin,” people of Japanese descent, on Panay Island. The exhibit is the product of laborious research conducted by Prof. Maria Luisa Mabunay of the UP. I have written about her work in a previous column.

Another exhibit looks at the “patadyong,” that versatile cotton weave, with 20 samples of different geometric designs, each with their own name -- like “binuskay gamay” [small pebbles], “pulahan” [lots of red] and the “linibat” [literally, cross-eyed, referring to asymmetrical designs].

A third exhibit is devoted to photographs of Iloilo’s old buildings in the central business district, around what used to be called Calle Real (Royal Street, or translated by a 19th-century British writer as High Street) but since renamed J. Basa Street.

I was fortunate to be with Leo Quintilla and his wife Zen. Leo is a historian and an anthropologist teaching at UP. He had pulled me out of the hotel to visit some heritage sites in Iloilo. The instant tour included a sunset peek at the ruins of the old Casino Español and dinner in an old house, reincarnated as Afriques restaurant, and a drive around the central business district.

The district, which includes Basa, Mapa, Guanco, Aldeguer, Guanco and Iznart streets, is home to many old buildings built from the 1920s to the 1950s, mostly in Art Deco style. Many are still functional, the first floor used as shops, and the upper floors as residences. The combinations are wonderfully eclectic -- one of my favorites has a bakery on the first floor, while the second floor has residences with wide windows through which you can peek in to catch exquisite woodwork.

Model

Iloilo could be a model for other Philippine cities when it comes to the preservation of heritage sites, which they define as any place more than 50 years old. The city government has passed a World Cultural Heritage Conservation Ordinance, together with guidelines for conservation planning and development.

That same day I was in Iloilo, a local newspaper, The Informer (with an Inquirer look-alike masthead), publicized a campaign to save Calle Real. That article led me to the website of the Canadian Urban Institute (www.philippines.canurb.com), where I was able to download a hefty 10 megabyte document describing the conservation ordinance and providing guidelines.

The document should be required reading for college students, in or out of Iloilo. The city government, in partnership with local architects and conservationists, has done its homework describing the historical context of the buildings, from Iloilo’s sleepy beginnings as the village of Arevalo in the 16th century, through its urban development in the 19th and 20th centuries. There’s a catalogue of heritage buildings, from religious houses to Lucky Auto Supply, with architectural drawings and descriptions of the façades.

The document gives a rather glum description of the current situation in the central business district. While many buildings are intact, many are deteriorating. Others have been “maligned” by ugly signs (one photograph showed a “Wanted GROs” sign posted on one of the old buildings). The guidelines are almost confessional, admitting that the city government’s own skywalks (overhead pedestrian bridges) have “blighted” the historical landscape.

Incentives

The conservation law offers some hope by forbidding the buildings’ alteration or demolition without permission from the city government. There’s a list of prohibited uses for the buildings -- new warehouses to funeral parlors, and “recreational activities, lewd shows, betting and gambling stations, massage and saunas.”

The ordinance offers incentives by way of tax exemptions, for property owners who will spend for conservation. This is where the guidelines come in, with suggestions on everything down to garbage bins. The guidelines explain what can be done in the area of architecture -- for example, the space between buildings, and the preservation of “arcaded sidewalks” for pedestrians. Reading that section on the sidewalks reminded me of how so many of these old buildings are actually so much friendlier to people—the building owners sheltering passersby from the sun and the rain. Of course, their intentions were also to attract possible shoppers, who would pause and look at their display windows, but the arcaded sidewalks were so much more humane, and aesthetically pleasing, than our malls today.

Public, private

Yes, I did realize the irony of a heritage exhibit in a mall like SM City, but maybe the exhibit did speak, too, of how heritage preservation need not clash with modernity, or with commercial interests.

Easily, as the central district goes through a renaissance, the city gains as well. Property values are bound to soar and businesses prosper. This could mean the district becoming too upper-class or too “touristy,” and that, too, would be a shame. The city government might want to think of ways of keeping it friendly to all Iloilo residents or tourists, rich or poor alike. There are plans for sidewalk cafés and a night market, properly integrated, of course, into the overall design of the area. Providing fairly low rentals could make the market friendlier to all classes.

Iloilo’s conservation guidelines keep going back to the point of making a heritage site more people-friendly, not necessarily just for shoppers and consumers. The guidelines emphasize convenience for pedestrians as they walk through, and the removal of any obstructions that might prevent them from appreciating the heritage sites.

In a way, that conservation ethic is reflected as well in the “Handurawan” exhibit, which gets people to appreciate a whole range of our heritage, from the designs on the “patadyong” to the fine architectural details of old buildings.

Conservation is, of course, more than visual stimulation. The revival of Calle Real can be catalyzed, too, by breathing in culture, allowing it to become a venue for cultural events. Iloilo is, after all, home to so many great artists, from the Kabayao family of musical virtuosos, to the painter Rock Drilon.

With well-planned public activities and public education (a good start is the way they’ve offered a raffle for MP3 players to people who send in comments on the conservation guidelines), Iloilo’s residents -- young or old, rich or poor -- will understand they’re conserving not just buildings and public space, but their identities as Ilonggos, as Filipinos. Eventually, they’ll feel they have stakes in keeping all of Iloilo a city of Royal or High Streets.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=77024&col=81

overtureph

May 26th, 2006, 07:49 AM

Wonderboy

May 26th, 2006, 10:11 PM

I would just like to add that Heritage is about Humility as well as Pride. It is about Respecting and Honoring our Past as well as Protecting and Caring for Our Future.

--- Lili of SSC Philippines

Thank you Lili. Your efforts are very much appreciated. :okay:

---

There would be bloodshed if they tear down these two buildings…

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2658/esc18kf.jpg
Regina Building (left) and Perez-Semanillo Building (right) at Escolta Street, Manila ca. 2006

Wonderboy

May 26th, 2006, 10:11 PM

Wonderboy

May 26th, 2006, 10:29 PM

However, this doesn't still answer my question.... is Miag-ao still under Heritage list right? Is there a possibility that UNESCO will take away the heritage title of that site?

I posted the contact details so that you could confirm if Miag-ao is still under Heritage list.

Wonderboy

May 26th, 2006, 10:29 PM

OtAkAw

May 27th, 2006, 08:19 AM

The funny thing about most of Filipinos is that even though these heritage buildings are so neglected and given very little effort to preserve, some would still use them for profit. Have you seen the newest McDo Commercial about the chicken nuggets? The backdrop of the commercial is in if I'm not mistakened, Escolta, because there's this very pretty European building as they were running by. Also Bamboo's music video for Hallelujah and the Canesten Cream commercial where the lady was about to get run over by a truck because of the itch. The Penshoppe commercial before the denim thingy with Cogie Domingo and so much more. It's as if many of us are just acting blind on the importance and beauty of these structures. They use them and yet many neglect them, that's so frustrating!

OtAkAw

May 27th, 2006, 08:19 AM

overtureph

May 28th, 2006, 12:18 AM

TALES OF THE CITY
Teaching Makati’s roots through storytelling

First posted 03:05am (Mla time) May 28, 2006
By Tarra V. Quismundo
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page A26 f the May 28, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOR AS LONG AS HER MEMORY can go centuries back and return to the present, this energetic grandmother will continue telling her favorite story.

Mercedes Samarista, a 75-year-old retired public school teacher and guidance counselor, has made it her life’s mission to pass on the history of her beloved home, Makati City, to younger generations.

“After realizing how far the city has come, it is very important that we continue passing on (to our children) the city’s history. It should not just be a lasting memory but a living memory of the past,” Samarista said.

Living repository

This living repository of the business capital’s history has been a tireless storyteller at the Museo ng Makati for the last 11 years, narrating to the young a historical account that antedates even her family’s earliest generation. Twice a week, Samarista would put on her “kimona” and retell Makati’s tale to students who visit the museum.

“I enjoy telling stories about Makati to whoever comes here. When I was young, I grew up hearing stories from my grandfather about how Makati was like, and then my parents also told me about my grandfather,” Samarista told the Inquirer, smiling at the recollection.

Her undying enthusiasm later landed her a post as a consultant of the Makati Heritage Conservation Committee, an inter-agency task force created to plan and implement a project that would trace the city’s roots.

“I was invited to give those who are interested an idea on how Makati was then. I tell stories to children. I interview old folks so I could get more information about how the city was back then,” said Samarista, whose tanned complexion, brown hair and smooth cheeks belie her age.

Being the city’s unofficial historian seems apt for Samarista, as her family has been part of the history of Makati, which is celebrating its 336th foundation anniversary this year.

Samarista is the granddaughter of the late Hermogenes Santos, who served as Makati’s municipal president (a position equivalent to mayor) from 1908 to 1911. Her mother’s father, Maximo Leyva, was a soldier who served alongside Gen. Pio del Pilar, one of the heroes of the 1898 Philippine Revolution.

City’s first dwellers

Her family’s ancestral house still stands on JP Rizal Street in Barangay Poblacion, the city’s oldest barangay. Located by the Pasig River, the area where the barangay is now located was where the city’s first inhabitants, the Malays, set up their dwellings in the 13th century, Samarista said.

“My family was one of the original settlers of Makati,” a city that in 1670 was known as the San Pedro de Macati, a “visita” of Sta. Ana de Sapa, now known as Sta. Ana, Manila, she added.

“My grandfather established residence here in the 1800s. This was still a swampy area then, and the area there in Ayala (the Central Business District) was filled with tall grasses and boulders,” Samarista recalled.

Having grown up listening to stories, it was natural for Samarista to share with others what she knew about the old Makati: A place where mountains of adobe towered over everything else instead of skyscrapers and where instead of paved riverside streets, you could see swampland. Potters and farmers made up the workforce then compared to today’s businessmen in their smart suits.

Captive audience

When Samarista became an elementary school teacher in 1951, she told her class as well about the history of Makati.

“Whenever I took up history with my class, I always included the history of Makati. I even showed my students a compilation of pictures from my parents which showed how Makati looked like then,” she related.

She must have passed on the city’s history thousands of times as Samarista taught for 40 years until her retirement in 1991.

Origin of city’s name

“It was so much fun. They usually would be surprised when I told them where Makati got its name. They would tell me that all along, they thought Makati’s name was derived from the Filipino term makati (itchy),” she said, of the city’s name that was derived from the local term for the ebbing tide.

The mother of four also made sure that her children grew up valuing the past while moving toward the future. Samarista also passed on to her 10 grandchildren the tales she had heard from her grandfather.

“My generation is the last generation that could carry on the city’s traditions and religious practices. That’s why it saddens me that now, young people look at Holy Week practices as mere rituals that the spirituality of it all is lost. That’s what challenges me now. To keep the city’s traditions alive,” said Samarista, a devout Catholic.

Strong links

During her storytelling sessions at the Museo, Samarista always emphasizes the city’s historical links with the Church. Makati’s establishment as an independent locality began in 1577, she said, when the first missionaries arrived in the city. Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi had discovered the swampland six years earlier.

In the early 1600s, Jesuits arrived in the city and began pottery-making, a livelihood that made the city a wealthy town even during the time of the Spanish colonization. The Saints Peter and Paul Church, one of the city’s oldest, was built in Barangay Poblacion within the same century.

“It’s really important to preserve this place, because this is our heritage to the next generations. They should know how this became a beautiful place to live in. It is not because the city is accessible, but because it has a strong tradition based on the church, which up to now we are still trying to preserve,” said Samarista, whose entire family has long been devoted servants of the church.

With such urgency to keep the city’s history alive, how does a grandmother keep up?

“You know a teacher’s mind... It doesn’t easily forget. The history is all inside my head, and to keep my memory sharp, I keep reading and reading. And I’m always with other people, talking to them, so I stay active,” said Samarista, known in her community as Tita Eden.

Boundless energy

Indeed, Samarista seems to have boundless energy. On top of her duties as history’s guardian, Samarista, along with husband Antonio, regularly attends meetings and activities of the city’s senior citizens organization while, fulfilling their obligations to the church as members of the Legion of Mary.

She also serves as a barangay mediator, helping families and neighbors settle disputes ranging from the trivial to the serious.

At the end of the day, she sees storytelling as the vocation she could carry on the longest, despite her poor eyesight.

“I always look forward to telling the city’s history to children. I tell myself I could do this for 25 more years,” said Samarista.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/metro/index.ph...&story_id=77227

overtureph

May 28th, 2006, 12:18 AM

Wonderboy

May 28th, 2006, 05:50 PM

Sikat na naman ang Skyscraper City. I checked http://filheritagefest.fateback.com/home.html and saw three SSC weblinks on their home page.

Wonderboy

May 28th, 2006, 05:50 PM

Sikat na naman ang Skyscraper City. I checked http://filheritagefest.fateback.com/home.html and saw three SSC weblinks on their home page.

Wonderboy

May 28th, 2006, 08:37 PM

"Manila is the city I love to hate. It is a city on the brink of self-destruction which eats up anyone who tries to improve it. I impatiently look forward to leaving, and when I do, I always return. I have days of not wanting to have any involvement with it, but in the end I realize I can't have enough of it. Manila is my karma."

- Toti Villalon

Wonderboy

May 28th, 2006, 08:37 PM

Wonderboy

May 29th, 2006, 08:21 AM

Shameless Plug

PILMAP Travel and Leisure came up with a special section on Manila. Click here to see photos and articles:

http://www.pilmap.com.ph/spiritofmla.php

Wonderboy

May 29th, 2006, 08:21 AM

Shameless Plug

PILMAP Travel and Leisure came up with a special section on Manila. Click here to see photos and articles:

http://www.pilmap.com.ph/spiritofmla.php

Wonderboy

May 30th, 2006, 04:16 PM

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/8105/bldgsinmanila11is.jpg
Avenue Theater still remains intact despite the ravage of WWII in Manila.

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/14/avenue6hf.jpg
A 1930s masterpiece by National Artist Juan Nakpil.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8291/avenue35pc.jpg
We should not allow this heritage structure to be demolished and be part of Manila's "erasetecture."

Hello fellow SSC members,

I was interviewed awhile ago by a reporter for Manila Times about the demolition of Avenue Theater and gave her a press kit (prewar and latest photos of Avenue theater/ weblink and print out of SSC Heritage Watch, and e-mail correspondence on HCS Yahoogroups).

We need to beef up the article in order for the reporter to come up with an informative and "groundbreaking" article on the impending demolition. We could help out the reporter by providing more information on the history of Avenue Theater as well as Rizal Avenue.

Since we don't have a law to back us up (thanks to our lawmakers) and we have already done our best to save the heritage site from demolition, our last hope is for the media to help us out.

Your assistance will be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Wonderboy

P.S. You may post any information that you may find on this thread or send me a PM. Thank you very much.

Wonderboy

May 30th, 2006, 04:16 PM

Animo

May 30th, 2006, 06:58 PM

http://static.flickr.com/31/36859948_5318874a79.jpg?v=0
Avenue Theatre

The grand lobby of the theatre is treated with faux marble finish.

Save the Avenue Theatre and Hotel
http://ivanhenares.blogspot.com/2006/05/save-avenue-theatre-and-hotel.html

Manila cinemas, old & new

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fixedfocus/sets/814545/with/36859772/

Animo

May 30th, 2006, 06:58 PM

Wonderboy

May 30th, 2006, 07:02 PM

^^ Gracias Animo. :okay:

Wonderboy

May 30th, 2006, 07:02 PM

^^ Gracias Animo. :okay:

Askal82

May 31st, 2006, 01:50 AM

Two thumbs up for you Jeff!! Great Job!! Let's hope it gets media mileage the same way our politicos are doing.

Askal82

May 31st, 2006, 01:50 AM

Two thumbs up for you Jeff!! Great Job!! Let's hope it gets media mileage the same way our politicos are doing.

Lili

May 31st, 2006, 02:08 AM

I think we should link an old SSC thread on old Manila theaters here to stress the importance of preserving these cultural landmarks.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=266590

Lili

May 31st, 2006, 02:08 AM

I think we should link an old SSC thread on old Manila theaters here to stress the importance of preserving these cultural landmarks.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=266590

IAMME

May 31st, 2006, 04:40 AM

Here are the pictures of the Miagao Church expansion. I'm not sure if the church originally had this portion (and they're just reconstructing it), or if it is an entirely new addition. The person at the souvenir shop said the Miagao Church was still in the UNESCO World Heritage List, but its better to get confirmation from other sources.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/IAMME00/100_8976.jpg
The entire structure projecting from the main church structure is the expansion. Reinforced concrete was used. They are currently using this part of the church as a museum.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/IAMME00/100_8979.jpg
Notice the use of concrete.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/IAMME00/100_8980.jpg
They covered (most) of the concrete surface with coral, to make it look like the rest of the original church.

IAMME

May 31st, 2006, 04:40 AM

OtAkAw

May 31st, 2006, 08:31 AM

^^Uso naman ang mga ganyan sa ibang countries diba? Adding something new to a Heritage structure without destroying it. Just take a look at the Pyramids of I.M. Pei sa Louvre Museum.

OtAkAw

May 31st, 2006, 08:31 AM

^^Uso naman ang mga ganyan sa ibang countries diba? Adding something new to a Heritage structure without destroying it. Just take a look at the Pyramids of I.M. Pei sa Louvre Museum.

overtureph

May 31st, 2006, 10:49 AM

Maraming salamat Wonderboy and Lili.

overtureph

May 31st, 2006, 10:49 AM

Maraming salamat Wonderboy and Lili.

overtureph

June 1st, 2006, 06:05 AM

National Artist Juan Nakpil’s work being demolished
Avenue Theater latest victim of wrecking ball

First posted 11:13pm (Mla time) May 31, 2006
By Jerome Aning
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on Page A17 of the June 1, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

CONSERVATIONISTS can only grit their teeth and clench their fists at the ongoing demolition of the once-famous Avenue Theater, a work of National Artist Juan Nakpil.

The building on the western side of Rizal Avenue corner Claro M. Recto Avenue is going down, ironically, in the last days of May, heritage month, to make way for a parking lot. “You can still catch bits of it,” dismayed conservationist and walking tours organizer Carlos Celdran told the Inquirer.

Last week, Celdran, using his blog, hastily initiated a “telephone and e-mail brigade” to try to convince the current owner of the building, shipping magnate Eduardo Linton Jua, as well as Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, to save Avenue Theater. One of Celdran’s colleagues spoke to Jua’s wife and was told the owners did not have the money to maintain the building.

The demolition of the upper floors began late last week. A green net was hung around the building to protect passers-by from falling debris. Celdran said he lit a black candle at the Quiapo Church, whose postwar design was Nakpil’s, “as my personal wish/curse for the ultimate failure of whoever is doing this crime against Philippine culture.”

In its heyday during the prewar and early postwar years, Avenue Theater was a proud part of a cluster of cultural establishments, considered the country’s answer to America’s Tinseltown and Broadway, in Manila’s Old Downtown. Built in the 30s, the theater was one of the few surviving major works of Nakpil, a pioneer and innovator in Philippine architecture who was named National Artist in 1973.

Architect Richard Tuason-Sanchez Bautista of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) heritage office last visited the building in 1998 to document its features. Bautista said the building was once owned by Don Ernesto Rufino Sr. Half of the structure was a stately movie theater, whose fame in those days was comparable to today’s Greenbelt or Rockwell cinemas, Bautista recalled.

The other half was home to a hotel and several movie industry-related offices—distributors, studios, production outfits. The building got its name from Rizal Avenue and was easily recognizable; its signage hanging on the side consisted of large, drum-like structures that were neon lit. Its façade was adorned with four columns and distinguished by a relief of what looked like palm fronds and wreaths.

Bautista said although the building was privately-owned, some sort of recognition to encourage its preservation could have been extended probably by the Cultural Center of the Philippines that gives out the National Artist awards together with the NCCA.

“What’s the use of giving out an award for architecture if the artist’s work would end up being dismantled,” Bautista told the Inquirer. In his projects, like Avenue theater, Nakpil “integrated strength, function and beauty in the buildings that are the country’s heritage today,” the NCCA added.

Nakpil was the son of musician Julio Nakpil and Gregoria de Jesus, widow of the Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio, and was educated at the University of Kansas, France’s Fontainebleu School of Arts and the Harvard Graduate School for Architecture.

Among his works: Rizal Theater, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino Building, Philippine Village Hotel, and the University of the Philippines administration building and library. He also added a dome and second belfry to the Quiapo Church when it was rebuilt in 1930.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/metro/index.php?index=1&story_id=77651

overtureph

June 1st, 2006, 06:05 AM

Wonderboy

June 1st, 2006, 07:38 AM

Hey Ivan, I've posted your e-mail below...

This is the third entry with the word save in such a short span of time. The ignorance of our local government officials, moreso in the nation's capital city, is getting to be really depressing. It seems Mayor Lito Atienza is living up to his name as Manila's heritage destroyer. In the PDI article Arroyo orders rehabilitation of endangered buildings (May 31, 2006), Atienza calls for the demolition of the Luneta Hotel Historical Landmark! It is difficult to fathom how a mayor would even consider doing such.

The article says, "However, the mayor called on the DPWH and the owners of abandoned private buildings to demolish the structures because these posed a danger to the public.

"He cited the Veteran's Bank Building in the Port Area, the Royal Hotel on Carlos Palanca Street and the Luneta Hotel on T.M. Kalaw Avenue, among other buildings.

"These are abandoned buildings," Atienza said. "Uninhabited structures tend to become brittle as the years pass, and this is dangerous."

The Luneta Hotel was declared a national historical landmark by the National Historical Institute and is thus protected by P.D. 1505. According to the decree, "Sec. 5. It shall be unlawfully for any person to modify, alter, repair or destroy the original features of any national shrine, monument, landmark and other important historic edifices declared and classified by the National Historical Institute as such without the prior written permission from the Chairman of said Institute.

"Any person who shall violate this Decree shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years or a fine of not less than one thousand pesos nor more than ten thousand pesos or both, at the discretion of the court or tribunal concerned."

After chopping down centuries-old trees in Manila's last lung, the Arroceros Forest Park; demolishing the art deco Jai Alai Building in order to build a Hall of Justice which up to today has not begun (the lot where the Jai Alai Building used to stand is still a gaping hole in the ground); building a park and ride facility in the Mehan Gardens Historical Landmark, an archaeologically rich area being the site of Manila's Parian, thus destroying evidences of our rich culture; and getting rid of the YMCA Building and San Lazaro Hippodrome to build SM malls, sad to say SM City Manila now towers over the Manila City Hall and the area has become so congested and ugly; he is at it again!

Congratulations for a job well done Mayor Atienza! Kudos to your Patayan ang MayniLA program!

--
IVAN ANTHONY S. HENARES
http://ivanhenares.blogspot.com

Wonderboy

June 1st, 2006, 07:38 AM

Hawayano

June 1st, 2006, 08:14 AM

:tongue: Well, it looks like we have enough evidence to prove that Atienza has got his head up his rectum! I am so frustrated that I'm posting this picture taken of Avenida shortly after "Liberation". I'll be damned if Manileños' architectural legacy wasn't better off back in 1945 than the sorry state that it's in today. At one time I had felt that Mayor Villegas had done the most irreparable damage to Manila's architectural heritage by bulldozing Intramuros ruins in the 1960s, but Atienza forces me to think otherwise: Lito wins the crown as Prinsipe Tanga!!
Look at this picture and try to determine which of these buildings survives to this day!
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/Avenidaupview1945.jpg

Hawayano

June 1st, 2006, 08:14 AM

overtureph

June 1st, 2006, 08:26 AM

I guess it's official then - the uglification of Manila is a policy. If this trend continues, I guess a few hundred years from now, in the event that Manila should cease to exist or that the present city should be buried for whatever reason, and a group of future archeologist and anthropologist will chance upon this discovery, they might surmise or conclude that Manila as compared to other major cities is one of the ugliest. And that it's officials and maybe even it's people has little aesthetic or has no sense of beauty. Even the title Pearl of the Orient may become debatable or just a title with no proof. And in addition, they may also conclude that the past inhabitants where ashamed of their history and culture for it seems they obliterated much of it.

overtureph

June 1st, 2006, 08:26 AM

Hawayano

June 1st, 2006, 08:48 AM

Since you mentioned "Pearl of the Orient", overtureph, carefully check out this brochure from the 1930s: the map calls us "the Riviera of the Orient"! Can we ever regain that??

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c211/hawayano/manilahotel2.jpg

Hawayano

June 1st, 2006, 08:48 AM

overtureph

June 1st, 2006, 08:57 AM

overtureph

June 1st, 2006, 08:57 AM

JAMAICUS

June 1st, 2006, 11:17 AM

^^ They are planning to destroy the National Historical Institue protected Luneta Hotel??? I just forwarded that article to HHI's former head, Ambeth Ocampo... hope it helps.... (and luckily my aunt knows Ambeth...neighbor pala namin dati)

JAMAICUS

June 1st, 2006, 11:17 AM

Pinoy_ako

June 1st, 2006, 12:10 PM

^^Uso naman ang mga ganyan sa ibang countries diba? Adding something new to a Heritage structure without destroying it. Just take a look at the Pyramids of I.M. Pei sa Louvre Museum.

The Pyramids of I.M. Pei at the Louvre were constructed below and above the grounds of the Louvre. Eventhough, it created quite a stir. I remember reading an article years ago that Miagao would be delisted because of additions that were not part or were not in conformity with the original structure. I think this was it. I think they were arguing that the parish still had lots where this convent(?) could be built, although it is situated quite a distance from the church. I am not also sure if they consulted the UNESCO chapter of the Philippines or NHI regarding the additions.

Since the Church is also part of the Filipino community, it would have been better if they would collaborate with concerned government agencies. I also believe that this is also the case with San Sebastian Church here in Manila. An article appeared where World Monument Fund is asking an agency tasked with the restoration of this church to return the money because it was not being used, although I noticed that the spires had been refitted with the original ornamentations. However, the murals inside the church are deteriorating fast.

Anyway, it would be a shame if these structures will be delisted because caretakers of structures would like to do things their way. I noticed a sign in one of the threads that reads something like: Paoag Church, Property of the Diocese of Laoag. The listing does not take away the rights of the caretakers of the structures. It only shows them how to take care of the structures in a manner that will enable future generations to appreciate them the way we do. Natakot tuloy ako sa sign, since i remember that the Laoag Cathedral has been stripped off its original wooden trusses. I just hope Paoay is adequately protected from us all.

Pinoy_ako

June 1st, 2006, 12:10 PM

OtAkAw

June 1st, 2006, 03:18 PM

Anu ba yang si Lito Atienza!!!! So much BUHAYIN ANG MANILA blabbery eh he's killing Manila's grand past slowly but surely! Someone's got to chop his head off before he does more damage to Manila! No, just joking seriously, can anybody do something directly about this? GRRRR!!!! Kung pwede lang palayasin sa city hall yan! Hanggang kelan pa termino niya???

OtAkAw

June 1st, 2006, 03:18 PM

Animo

June 1st, 2006, 09:04 PM

OMG! Can't the national government do something?! :ohno: Lito Atienza is crazy! :ohno: Decisions such as this makes me want to run for government in the future. :dizzy:

The culture in the country is in a sorry state. :bash:

Animo

June 1st, 2006, 09:04 PM

Wonderboy

June 1st, 2006, 09:33 PM

^^ I was really disappointed with the current state of Manila but still ended up walking the streets of downtown Manila awhile ago. Nevertheless, I'm glad that media is trying to help and coming out with articles about the sorry state of our national treasures.

I chanced upon this weblink last night and would like to share it to everyone. Ms. Bambi Harper published a book entitled, "Sta. Cruz Church: Living Heritage" which was only sold in the bookstore of Sta. Cruz Church, Manila. I believe they only have a few copies left so if you could shell out 900 bucks (paperback and P1,500 for a hard bound), I highly suggest that you buy this book right away as it is not only focused on Sta. Cruz Church but about district of Sta. Cruz and old Manila as well:

History seen through Sta. Cruz district in Manila
2005-02-14 00:38:00(LA)*/*2005-02-14 16:38:00(Manila)

ANNA Maria L. Harper in her book "Santa Cruz Church, A Living Heritage" meticulously chronicles the development of the Sta. Cruz district in Manila from a sleepy 16th-century agricultural backwater to its rise as one of the premier economic hubs of Manila.

Although the book's title focuses on Sta. Cruz Church, Harper places the church in the context of its surrounding district, and rightly so, since construction of public edifices especially churches is the result of collaboration among its users, parishioners and priests, a reflection on the lifestyle, economics and religiosity of the people.

Sta. Cruz church is the outcome of such collaboration, a structure reflecting the development of the Sta. Cruz lifestyle. The church architecturally records the district's history. Originally a wooden structure built by the Jesuits in the early 17th century, it became a stone church in the 18th century, then expanded a commercial center, until World War II flattened it. It was reconstructed after the war.

"The story of the parish of Sta Cruz begins in the 1590s when Jesuit rector, Fr. Antonio Sedeno, went searching for land outside Intramuros that could be cultivated for the support of the College of Manila," Harper writes, adding that the priest would never have imagined that the land would develop into the rich and powerful district of Sta. Cruz.

Towards the mid-18th century, male Chinese tenants of Jesuit farms intermarried with Filipinas. Their children, known as mestizo Sangleys, grew to become painters, sculptors of ivory, silversmiths and jewelers, giving the district an identity as the center for artists and craftsmen.

Despite the British invasion of 1762 and the Jesuit expulsion in 1768, Sta. Cruz prospered. Residents replaced the original wooden church with a stone church to mark their status. The surviving tower from the 18th century is now the oldest part of the present church.

By the 19th century, Sta. Cruz took on an urbanized and cosmopolitan ambiance. It developed into a business center, with warehouses next to Pasig River near spacious residences of local and foreign businessmen that could be reached either by land or through the network of esteros that flowed through Manila until recent times.

In the mid-19th century, Sta Cruz flourished with mansions such as the Mauricio house on Calle Anloague depicted by Rizal in "Noli Me Tangere." Harper describes the lifestyle of the era in vivid detail, tracing the growth of the district, its notable personages, and the establishments that arose in the area.

Mixed neighborhoods developed, "of residences and commercial establishments... some buildings were designed as accessorias-rows of attached dwellings in a block-that housed stores on the ground floor and the shopkeeper's family on the upper floor.

"There were theaters, like Teatro Libertad on Calle Oroquieta, that specialized in moro-moros, while others, like the Zorilla, presented operas. There were ateliers of artists and stores run by Chinese, Europeans, government offices and even a jail."

The American colonial period changed Sta Cruz. From a being purely residential neighborhood, it became a commercial district with restaurants, theaters and other commercial establishments multiplying. The Manila City Beautiful plan by architect Daniel Burnham expanded Dulumbayan as Avenida Rizal, which became the new "downtown" of Manila.

Avenida Rizal quickly became Manila's entertainment and shopping area, anchored by Ideal Theater on Plaza Goiti. Soon after, it was punctuated by a row of movie theaters like the Avenue and State and many others.
Those were the "Empire Days" of rapid change. English was being taught in newly opened schools. Business transferred from Binondo to Sta. Cruz. Many of the well-to-do moved away to Quiapo or the outlying districts of Malate, Ermita and to what eventually became Quezon City.

Sta. Cruz kept up with all of the changes happening in the country. Harper recounts how each change had an impact on the district's lifestyle and urbanscape.

Harper writes facts, not nostalgia. She successfully builds on accurate historical facts, presenting them in a great narrative that reconstructs life in Sta. Cruz over four centuries, tracing the evolution of its residents' lives from being farmers, then as craftsmen, and finally as entrepreneurs.
She backdrops their lives with their surroundings, an agricultural suburb of Manila that developed into an urban economic center in the late 19th century, then flowering into pre-eminence as a residential, business, and entertainment district during the American colonial period until World War II.
Harper ends her chronicle of Sta. Cruz during World War II: "On March 3, 1945, a Manila that was laid waste-described by the military authorities as the second most devastated city after Warsaw-was liberated.

"The quaint oriental city of medieval churches, shaded avenues of acacias, leisurely days of promenades and lighthearted banter vanished forever, buried in the ruins of her buildings, burnt to ashes with the bodies of the 100,000 Manileños slaughtered in that fateful February holocaust."

Ending her narrative of Sta. Cruz district with the destruction of Manila was an inspired and merciful decision, sparing the author from having to write about the insufferable urban condition that today's Manila has degenerated into.

The city seems to have never recovered from the urban damage done by World War II that still continues to be followed by even more horrors of urban damage inflicted on our Manila by its citizens and leaders.

The Sta. Cruz Church Parish Pastoral Council published "Santa Cruz Church, A Living Heritage." The book is difficult to find. However Ms Masbate at the Sta. Cruz Church Parish Office (tel. 7330245) will take orders. Call 7330245.

Wonderboy

June 1st, 2006, 09:33 PM

Josepepe

June 1st, 2006, 11:08 PM

^^ Hmmmm......well I guess it's not impossible but I think it is highly improbable. Same may even argue that it still is the "Pearl of the Orient" or "Riviera of the Orient". By the time our officials and our citizenry might have come to their/our senses, there might be nothing left to save, preserve, conserve or restore. But there's always the option of constructing replicas. Tsk tsk.

Where are the "nationalists" when you needed them? I guess they dont care because these structures are from "da spanis." Why should the chinese owners of these buildings care? Its not their country and the only thing that counts is the return of their investments exponentially.

Ah, the defacement of the visible heritage of Filipino culture continues. Hey they might set up a new country. Maybe a new kind of "Filipino" when this is over. No wonder Filipinos dont get respect abroad because they dont value what they have and what their ancestors themselves have built. The lack of vision and self respect will turn their ancestors in their graves.

But for those who believes in the rightness of this cause. Please dont lose hope and continue making a ruckus. There is no other alternative regardless. I admire your efforts for fighting the good fight because what you are doing is standing up for your country.

josepepe

Josepepe

June 1st, 2006, 11:08 PM

Lili

June 1st, 2006, 11:58 PM

It is really deplorable what is happening in Manila with this utter disregard of our historical/architectural treasures. I have not even received a decent response nor acknowledgment from the officials and legislators I wrote to. :ohno:

When I saw Wong Kar Wai's movies "In the Mood for Love" and "2046", I somehow thought about the nostalgic beauty of the Avenida of yore. Why can't they see it?

scene from 2046:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/ECdoesit/2046.jpg

scenes from In the Mood for Love:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/ECdoesit/in_the_mood_for_love_0012.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/ECdoesit/in_the_mood_for_love_0015.jpg

Lili

June 1st, 2006, 11:58 PM

Wonderboy

June 2nd, 2006, 12:42 AM

^^ Damn! "In The Mood For Love" is one of my favorite movies! I also love the cinematography - one can really feel and smell the place.

Wonderboy

June 2nd, 2006, 12:42 AM

^^ Damn! "In The Mood For Love" is one of my favorite movies! I also love the cinematography - one can really feel and smell the place.

ivanhenares

June 3rd, 2006, 02:18 PM

What are people doing to Manila's heritage? It seems the uglification of Manila is moving forward at such an alarming rate. The sad part is our utter disregard for the works of people we call National Artists. Why do we give out the award in the first place if we don't even care whether their works are preserved for future generations of Filipinos to appreciate?

I got this from Richard Tuason Bautista of the Heritage Conservation Society, "This morning (3 June 2006) during our taping and inspection of the ongoing demolition of the Avenue Theater and Hotel, we learned from the EVJ Demolition Team, with representation of their general manager Mr. Esteban Toting, that the Galaxy Theatre is next to face the demolition crew.

"Galaxy theatre is a work of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio. It may not be too late to save this one. But how to save it, an uproar from the public is needed."

We should not sit down and simply watch while what's left of the Pearl of the Orient and its capital city, goes down one by one! To the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), National Historical Institute (NHI) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), it's about time you guys take a stand and protect the works of our National Artists! And to all of us ordinary citizens, let's write Mayor Atienza and tell him to stop giving out demolition permits for Manila's architectural heritage!

Again, for those who would like to save this heritage structure, you can call or fax a complaint to Mayor Lito Atienza at 5276063 or 5274991 or send an e-mail at mayor_atienza@cityofmanila.com.ph .

ivanhenares

June 3rd, 2006, 02:18 PM

Lili

June 3rd, 2006, 02:42 PM

^^ That is really deplorable! Who is the owner now of the Galaxy Theater building? Will it be another member of the Johnny Litton movie owners group?

Even as we write a complaint to Lito Atienza, what can his office do? Issue an injunction? Exercise police power? issue city legislation? provide tax cuts and incentive?

Oh now I just read that you wrote to stop giving demolition permits to these demolitions projects. But once they have issued it, can they withdraw it?

What can compel these owners to stop demolishing these edifices?

What are these Heritage insitutions doing to rally support to the cause of Heritage Building/ Site preservation?

Lili

June 3rd, 2006, 02:42 PM

Animo

June 3rd, 2006, 05:49 PM

http://www.philskies.net/images/RATS/First%20PPL%20flights/Carlo%20birthday%202004/Luneta.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pe02b07e5a6c6e7b5a70a4385fbc25cfc/fb3025fc.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/lunetahotel.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/DSC_0065.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/bayviewhotel45.jpg
1945, just after the Battle of Manila. The burnt out building is the Bayview Hotel, where some atrocities by Japanese soldiers occurred. To the left, you can see a part of Luneta Hotel.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/DSC_0066.jpg
Bayview Hotel is gone, and so is Hotel Otani which took over the spot. The white building on the right is the University Club Building, where a penthouse has apparently been added post-war. The two trees to the right corner in the photo above still exist.

Comparisons by TheCameraReturns

Animo

June 3rd, 2006, 05:49 PM

ivanhenares

June 3rd, 2006, 06:44 PM

What can compel these owners to stop demolishing these edifices?

What are these Heritage insitutions doing to rally support to the cause of Heritage Building/ Site preservation?

At the very least, the National Historical Institute should declare all works of national artists as classified structures. But at the rate they are going, I don't know when that will happen. They could not even get a quorum for meetings! I miss the old board since they met monthly. I hope my good friend NHI/NCCA chairman Ambeth R. Ocampo puts his foot down and starts convening the board regularly and not at the members' convenience.

The NHI Board is composed of Ambeth Ocampo as chairman, Fr. Jose Cruz S.J., Heidi Gloria, Benito Legarda Jr. and Serafin Quiason as members; and National Museum Director Corazon Alvina and National Library Director Prudenciana Cruz as ex-officio members. These are the people responsible for preserving and protecting our historical and architectural heritage.

ivanhenares

June 3rd, 2006, 06:44 PM

Wonderboy

June 3rd, 2006, 10:41 PM

^^ I went there last week to accompany a newspaper reporter who's doing an article on Avenue Theater demolition and we found out that one of the reasons why NHI is a "little slow" is because they're understaffed.

One of them said that if people will help them out, it would be easier for them to document everything and cover all the heritage sites/ buildings all over the country. Manila alone has more than 500 undeclared sites and the monuments and heritage dept. of NHI has what, 5 staff?

They gave me a form to fill out in case I know certain significant historical structures that should be declared. I photocopied it and started documenting the buildings on Escolta - this is the least thing that I could do because I can't be superman, do research and list all the heritage structures in the Philippines. If this was my day job, I could zoom like a rocket and devote all my time and effort to save all the undeclared and unprotected sites in the country. I actually applied and expressed my intention of joining the Institute but I was told that Executive Order No. 366 was issued, thus prohibiting the filling of vacant positions to prepare for the implementation of the Rationalization Program.

I opted to do volunteer work instead for HCS and MFPI but oftentimes, my are efforts put to waste because those people in higher positions don't even listen and respond at all.

Wonderboy

June 3rd, 2006, 10:41 PM

overtureph

June 4th, 2006, 03:17 AM

Pila, Laguna: Keeping a heritage site beautiful

By John L. Silva
July 2005

My story has a distressing beginning but a happy ending and lessons for us advocates of heritage preservation.

Visitors to the town of Pila, Laguna are amazed at its well preserved state. Dating back to 900 AD and founded by the Spaniards over 400 years ago, Pila retains its plaza with age-old trees, a gracious church and convent, an American period town hall building, and large stone houses around the square. Pila is cited and studied by historians from around the world as one of the few intact examples of Spanish colonial town planning.

There’s a museum with artifacts from a nearby archaeological site and one section of the plaza still has a free-flowing fountain. Tomas Pinpin printed the first Tagalog dictionary in Pila in 1613.

The Pila Historical Society Foundation with its current President Monina Rivera and its treasurer Cora Relova have over the years, been tireless in showing off this picturesque town to many local and foreign tourists. Five years ago, Cora secured National Historical Landmark status for the town from the National Historical Institute giving it a well-deserved distinction as well as safeguarding its pristine state. With that status, Cora was able to further improve the town and stop a yearly fair from camping on the plaza and transforming the place into a garbage and fecal dump.

In late July, Cora called, quite upset and angry. Globe had posted over forty banners of their ad materials on every lamp post on the plaza, and more banners on the main road leading to it, and on the national highway nearing the town. It was an advertising blitz from hell.

I drove over to Pila and in the pouring rain, saw the ad carnage that Globe had so insensitively done to the town. The pretty plaza was ruined aesthetically, the gracious old houses marred, and with rain making the banners sag, the once delightful town was transformed into a disgusting hovel.

Cora and I strategized how to have the posters immediately removed. First, we reviewed all the write-ups about the town so as to make a case that this was a heritage and tourist site. Second, we searched for allies in our address books who can get to the decision makers in Globe.

A stalwart Pila supporter and former Ayala Museum Director Sonia Ner, gave us a name in the marketing department. We called, the person was abroad and could help out after the weekend.

Cora and I couldn’t wait for a weekend. The offending banners were up, the town had become a tourist pariah, and Globe was destroying the town’s image.

I resorted to Plan B, an all out media broadside against Globe when Cora remembered another Pila supporter. Bea Zobel Jr. had written about the town in the Inquirer Lifestyle section and applauded its beauty. With a few text messages, Cora got to Bea and Bea immediately came to the rescue. An hour later, Archie Monzon of Globe’s corporate marketing department called and the offending posters were removed the next morning, six days after they were put up.

When I shared the happy news to friends, Maribel Ongpin, another heritage stalwart asked “What if there was no Bea?” She added “Don’t you think Globe would be intelligent enough not to mar a heritage site?”

And so, here are the lessons I am sharing for us as well as for Globe in the continuous battle to keep our country beautiful:
1. Heritage sites play an important role in remembering our past as well as generate much needed tourism revenue. They must be off limits to commercial advertising that ruin their charm and drive away tourists.
2. Action, and well planned at that, is better than whining. Cora picked up the phone, did her texting, e-mailed, threatened, cajoled, and found “The Tipping Point” in Bea Zobel. Cora fought not to get sympathy, but results.
3. Globe needs a course on heritage conservation. Why should the onus always be on the Heritage Conservation Society to point out the damage done by rapacious advertising? They must have at least one enlightened heritage advocate in their midst. If not, the Society is ready to teach Globe.

Last year, I successfully got Globe and Smart not to post their banners on trees ever again. They have, despite a few indiscretions, complied with that agreement. And the country looks a little cleaner and more charming.

I have also noted that after a year of no more advertising posted on trees, that both cell phone companies continued reaping profits. It would be reasonable to deduce that both companies can stop all advertising banners and posters on lamp posts and electric posts and, perhaps, even billboards with no profit loss. If Globe instead had sponsored a tourism project of Pila Historical Society instead of littering the town with cancer-causing tarpaulins, would there be more tourists, more jobs, more Globe subscribers? It’s a no-brainer.

Heritage sites are primary tourism destinations in Thailand (11 million tourists a year), Singapore (7 million), and Malaysia’s (10 million). You do not see advertising banners marring their temples, churches, towns and old houses. I am convinced if we do the same, the measly two million tourist arrivals we get each year will increase substantially as visitors will finally see and revel in our heritage sites like that of quaint and gorgeous Pila, Laguna.

John L. Silva (jsilva79@hotmail.com) is a member of the Heritage Conservation Society.

http://preservephilippineheritage.blogs.friendster.com/hcs/2005/08/pila_laguna_kee.html

overtureph

June 4th, 2006, 03:17 AM

Lili

June 5th, 2006, 04:11 AM

From Glad Mad Sad thread:

GLAD nabasa ko pangalan ni Jepoy (wonderboy) sa Manila Times. Here is the Article :) Go Jepoy..

Rizal Avenue landmark gone

By Katrice R. Jalbuena, Researcher

IN downtown Manila several buildings, considered as major works of art created by two National Artists, stand forgotten, abandoned and in danger of being lost forever.

Many Manilans remember Rizal Avenue as the center of city’s social life. The stretch of Rizal Avenue, from Plaza Goiti to Claro M. Recto, was the Greenbelt or Glorietta of the post-World War II era. The avenue was lined with shops, restaurants and movie theaters.

Unlike the megaplexes and cineplexes in today’s malls, the cinemas of Rizal Avenue were not part of a homogeneous development plan. They were attractions by themselves, designed by some of the premier architects of the day.

Two National Artists for Architecture left their imprint on Rizal Avenue. Pablo Antonio created the Galaxy, the Ideal, the Scala and the Lyric theaters. Juan Nakpil conceived the Capitol, the Ever and also designed the Avenue Theater.

Built in the 1930s, the Avenue towered over its surroundings, housing not only the cinema but also a hotel, various shops and small offices. It was one of the few buildings in the area to survive the devastation that followed Japanese and American bombardment during the end of the war.

The theater survived the war only to fall victim to urban renewal. The art deco masterpiece, considered a showcase of Nakpil’s unique blending of foreign influences such as Art Deco and International Modern Style with his own Filipino tastes and sensibility, the Avenue will be demolished and the lot transformed into a parking area before the year is over.

The dismantling of the building began last week. Already the crown, with a bas relief of a woman, is gone. The building’s front is draped with a green net to prevent dust and debris from falling on passersby. The columns and palm fronds are obscured by aluminum sheeting.

An unprofitable venture

“The owners really feel that it is more profitable for them to tear the building down,” says Jeffrey Yap, a volunteer of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS).

Realty taxes for a parking lot, it turns out, are smaller than for an intact building or vacant lot. Yap tried to get in touch with the owner, Eduardo Linton Jua, who also runs a shipping company.

“I think I talked to his wife, or some other female relative.” Yap said. “She was very nice and accommodating but firm. The decision had been made to demolish it as they didn’t have the money to maintain it.

“She told me, ‘I’m sorry hijo, there is nothing you can do. Nakakahiya na sa mga contractors if we stop the demolition,’” Jeff said.

Period of decline

The decline of Rizal Avenue as Manila’s downtown is blamed on the construction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the 1980s.

The overhead railway was meant to ease traffic on Rizal and Taft avenues. It may have but it also killed business along the street.

The construction of the LRT itself was a huge inconvenience for those who used to frequent the area. The place never recovered the glamour it once enjoyed. Shoppers and strollers moved to the malls and arcades popping up in the Ortigas Center in Pasig City and in Makati. Rizal Avenue became dingy and dangerous.

The cinemas held out for a while, showing mainly double feature B-movies and soft porn. Eventually, they, too, succumbed to the growing disrepute of the place.

In the year 2000 Mayor Lito Atienza tried to reenergize business on Rizal Avenue by encouraging “pedestrianiza*tion,” an approach to urban renewal that had been implemented successfully in Singapore, Kuala Lampur, Beijing, Shanghai and other Asian cities. The basic principle was to make Rizal Avenue a street for strolling.

The city government paved the area from the length of Carlos Palanca to Claro. M. Recto, creating a “city walk,” a series of plazas and broad sidewalks. The buildings were cleaned and painted. Even the LRT was painted, its columns decorated with tiles in geometric patterns. This brought the area of Carriedo back to life. Unfortunately, this renewal did not reach the length of Rizal Avenue.

Several other theaters still stand, long past their day of glory. Antonio’s Ideal Theater has been demolished but the Galaxy is now an empty shell of a building. So are the Scala and the Lyric.

The ground floor of the Ever is occupied by small stalls. The rest of the building is abandoned and no attempt has been made to spruce up the façade.

The Capitol is the one bright spot. An example of adaptive reuse, the owners have spruced up the façade and cleaned it. No longer a theater but a dimsum palace, according to Yap, the owners are proud of the history and beauty of the structure and have taken pains to keep it attractive to attract business.

Preserving our heritage

“The Avenue Theater is an important testament and example of Filipino genius,” says Architect Richard Tuason-Sanchez Bautista of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. “Juan Nakpil is the first National Artist for Architecture. Architecture is a fragile art form in the sense that it is hard to reproduce. You cannot reprint it or reperform it. Once a building is gone, the beauty of the architecture is lost.”

“The National Historical Institute [NHI] is the government office mandated to undertake the preservation and conservation works on historic sites and structures,” Architect Louisa Valerio, of the Historical Preservation Division of the NHI, said.

The NHI also sees to the implementation of Presidential Decree 1505, which bans the alteration of original features of historical sites and structures.

“We can provide technical assistance for restoration and rehabilitation. However, when dealing with private property, we can not force someone to let us declare a building a historical site. Neither can we prevent a Local Government Unit from issuing the permits that would allow people to renovate or demolish a building.”

The NHI is working on developing a database of historical sites all over the Philippines. But it is saddled by a lack of manpower and funds, also by uncooperative landowners and local governments.

“We hope that more property owners will be open to the idea of adaptive reuse. Once a building is a historical site that does not mean they can’t use it. We just ask that they preserve the façade and the basic structure,” Valerio said.

Admittedly, many people find preserving an old building more trouble then it is worth. Executive Order 226 gives only an income-tax holiday of four years and a 50-percent deduction on labor expenses for any work done on the site for the first five years. After that, there seems to be no more additional benefits that might encourage someone to maintain a historical building.

The Fate of the Avenue Theater

Members of the HCS are on a frantic campaign to try and get the theater saved. Conservationists Ivan Henares and Carlos Celdran, who through walking tours have shown that appreciation of historical sites can be a commercially lucrative as well as culturally rewarding business, have also been appealing through their respective blogs and networks.

Skyscrapercity Philippines, an on-line forum of urban architecture enthusiasts, have also gotten on the job.

As of last week e-mails, letters and fax have been sent to Representatives Edmundo O. Reyes Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, and Edgar M. Chatto, chairman of the Committee on Tourism.

“Ownership of these structures of historical significant are imbued with responsibility and recognition of their importance in preserving the historical reminders of our beauty and pride as a nation of our culture,” the campaigners said.

Bautista said the lack of appreciation for historical structures hastens their demise. “People don’t recognize the value of these structures. They are examples of how we evolved as a people. They stand there are representations of how we did things back then and how we do things now. When people realize this, when they take pride in this, then they will take care of these structures.”

Lili

June 5th, 2006, 04:11 AM

Lili

June 5th, 2006, 04:15 AM

For what it's worth, if we can get that media mileage, then we should actually really concentrate our energies into worthwhile causes like this Heritage conversation/conservation as well as the protection of the La Mesa Dam.

Kudos for all the work of our very own Jeffrey Yap, Ivan Henares and Carlos Celdran. It is not a thankless job. We are here to support your worthy causes. SSCers unite! Let us show our support to them and show that we are not all talk, but we can also walk our talk.

Lili

June 5th, 2006, 04:15 AM

ivanhenares

June 5th, 2006, 07:51 AM

One of them said that if people will help them out, it would be easier for them to document everything and cover all the heritage sites/ buildings all over the country. Manila alone has more than 500 undeclared sites and the monuments and heritage dept. of NHI has what, 5 staff?

That is right. And the best way to solve this problem is by coordinating with architecture schools to make their students document these heritage sites as part of their schoolwork. Let me post your message to our group with my two cents worth.

Here's my message to the group:
Please read the posting of Jeffrey Yap below. The solution there is to get all architectural schools to help the NHI by documenting heritage structures in the vicinity of their schools. Hope all the members of the HCS-YOUTH GROUP could bring this up with their Deans. Please give us feedback. Thanks!

ivanhenares

June 5th, 2006, 07:51 AM

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 10:24 AM

^^ The Architectural Students Association of the Philippines, Inc. led by Marion Villanueva (the National Internal Affairs Director) has already started the cultural mapping of the Quiapo district. I gave them photos of Quiapo old houses that I took and told them that I will coordinate with NHI. Sila ang toka sa Quiapo, ako naman sa Escolta.

Kung tutulong ang lahat, we could save a lot of heritage sites all over the country.

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 10:24 AM

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 10:26 AM

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 10:26 AM

Pinoy_ako

June 5th, 2006, 12:31 PM

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6231/galaxy1qk.jpg

Galaxy Theater

The LRT line mars the vista needed to properly appreciate this modernist theater along Avenida Rizal. The interior gives a hint of the theater's name.

Toledo still has another work or two ( based on the style ) in the area, about a block or two from Avenue Theater.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3479/quiapo9lx.jpg

I think this is one other work of Nakpil, though I'm not so sure of this. Ang ganda ng sculptured mural !

They say that the city reflects the various layers of its history. This is clearly seen in its architecture. However, Manila is fast losing its modernist architecture - its Art Deco and International Style buildings.

By the way, I read in an old magazine that the City Council of Manila ( in the 1930s ) made a move so that the Jardin Botanico or Mehan Garden would be declared as a National Historical Landmark. At that time, the other landmarks mentioned include the Recollect Church in Intramuros ( with a photo of the plaque ) and the old Ermita Church. If the original plaque is missing, could the article be used as basis for saving what remains of this garden and restore it to its former state?

Pinoy_ako

June 5th, 2006, 12:31 PM

bagel

June 5th, 2006, 02:05 PM

Where are the "nationalists" when you needed them? I guess they dont care because these structures are from "da spanis." Why should the chinese owners of these buildings care? Its not their country and the only thing that counts is the return of their investments exponentially.

Ah again with the essentialism of Philippine "culture" with Spanish. Yes we have to be concerned about those buildings, and we have lost many in recent years, like the Meisic Cuartel, which was built in Spanish times. But much of the consternation raised in this thread is also about architecture from the American period. With the exception of the Luneta Hotel, the theaters and buildings that people are also concerned about losing because they are Filipino came in the 20th century as well.

bagel

June 5th, 2006, 02:05 PM

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 04:58 PM

More media exposure re: demolition of historical landmarks

I was interviewed awhile ago by Joey Villarama of ABS-CBN News about the demolition of Avenue Theater. I think it will be shown tonight. I'm at work so I will not be able to see it.

Nevertheless, I'm glad that the media is helping out raise cultural awareness.

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 04:58 PM

richardtsb

June 5th, 2006, 05:23 PM

that building is Main Theatre, it was designed by Juan Nakpil at it was completed in the 1950's.

richardtsb

June 5th, 2006, 05:23 PM

that building is Main Theatre, it was designed by Juan Nakpil at it was completed in the 1950's.

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 08:14 PM

^^ Uy, Arch. Richard of NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) Heritage. Welcome to SSC Forums! :)

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 08:14 PM

^^ Uy, Arch. Richard of NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) Heritage. Welcome to SSC Forums! :)

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 09:57 PM

Below is a colored photo of Avenida during the 50s or 60s. Key landmarks in the photo are Ideal Theatre, Good Earth Emporium (left), Otis Department Store, State Theater (right), among others. Photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries:

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/1570/downtownrizalave9gc.jpg

And how about an old song as an accompaniment to the nostalgic photo? --- Forgive me guys, I can't help it. :)

Downtown
Petula Clark

When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?

The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - no finer place, for sure
Downtown - everything's waiting for you

Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows - downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to

Where they never close - downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over
Happy again

The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown - waiting for you tonight
Downtown - you're gonna be all right now

------ instrumental break ------

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along

So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - don't wait a minute for
Downtown - everything's waiting for you

Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown...

Wonderboy

June 5th, 2006, 09:57 PM

overtureph

June 6th, 2006, 03:09 AM

Kaya pala gusto mo yang kanta na yan Wonderboy.

overtureph

June 6th, 2006, 03:09 AM

Kaya pala gusto mo yang kanta na yan Wonderboy.

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 03:52 AM

You know, i never thought people here in this country actually cared about the heritage here. And before I moved to manila I never thought there was a culture here in the philippines, cause most of the filipinos that move to the US leave their culture and way of living behind. i didn't know the rice terraces were here. I didn't know the spanish and americans used to own this place. I am obsessed with history. I get a wierd feeling whenever I see something that was of significant important, like intramuros and fort santiago. To me its kinda like finding that treasure that you've been looking for.
I used to just think that all of philippines looked this way in terms of sari sari stores being everywhere. Pollution so bad that it sticks to buildings and turns it black. Telephone and power cables in the sky looking like flying spaghetti. Now that I see these old pictures my heart melted away.
Where has Manila gone? Its amazing to see a country that was so beautiful, so clean, so organized, so disciplined go straight to hell. I couldn't believe that 1970s and before, manila, to me, truly did look like the "Pearl" or the "Riviera" of the Orient.
I'm american, the way i think and speak is total truth, and i'm not ashamed to tell the truth even when it hurts people sometimes, but present day Manila is the dirtiest city i have ever been to. Thats why my job dropped when i saw old pictures of Manila.
I posted in another forum how much i would love to help clean these places up.
I dont want to donate money, as I know how incompetent some of these "recievers" are. I just want to donate my time, effort, and care. I'm not ashamed of what nationality I am, i will get my hands dirty to help out and show that foreigners want to help out.
I think what the philippines needs to unite her is pride, pride that can grow by having a deep culture. A lot of people say that the philippines never made it's own culture, well, yes it did. It is a newer variant of chinese type, spanish type, and american type culture all mixed together and altered to become the philippine culture.
So many poor people are upset at the government for their actions that they denounce that they come from this country. But how come the filipinos in the US, in comparison to EVERY OTHER asian there, are at the top of the list for the most productive asians in the US. With Hmong, Laos and Cambodian at the bottom of the list for the least productive asians on the list.
That proves that filipinos CAN BE disciplined and CAN work hard.
The way to start this is to be proud of your heritage and never forget where you came from no matter what. And a start would be to save older buildings and artifacts from being destroyed, and vandalized.
FINALLY, i'm glad I can vent out my thoughts to people who care like I do.

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 03:52 AM

Josepepe

June 6th, 2006, 04:57 AM

Ah again with the essentialism of Philippine "culture" with Spanish. Yes we have to be concerned about those buildings, and we have lost many in recent years, like the Meisic Cuartel, which was built in Spanish times. But much of the consternation raised in this thread is also about architecture from the American period. With the exception of the Luneta Hotel, the theaters and buildings that people are also concerned about losing because they are Filipino came in the 20th century as well.

And what's wrong with the "essentialism" of Filipino culture? Filipino culture is by and large both native and hispanic. Sure there are add-ons but they are not the structure that holds it together. The addition beautifies and creates detail to the intricate work we call culture. The foundation of character and identity begins with essentialism. This is true in physical science aned philosophy. Where do you measure the amount of force acceleration without using the formula of acceleration equals force over mass? Or the elements in nuclear fusion and diffusion without its basic components to act upon such as e=mc2 ? This is the same with the social science. In fact, your frame of mind over these things start from the essentialism you have learned through your own education and experience. So your refusal to accept the reality of essentials or basics already contradicted it. How can one construct anything without materials to build it on? Those american period buildings has a lot of hispanic and native influences in its detail and foundation work. That's the base. The one plus one of Filipino culture. I've talked with scholars and social scientists and indeed they agree there is something that glues an identity together. I understand where you are coming from and its also grounded in theory. But I respect your beliefs. However, respect what I have learned because it did not come from lala land either. Oks? I was not in anyway ignoring the american graft in past and present Filipino architecture.

josepepe

Josepepe

June 6th, 2006, 04:57 AM

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:08 AM

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:08 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:09 AM

He he...I read this last night and I thought, this guy obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. I beg to disagree that Manila is just one huge hopeless dump.

It's very frustrating that this kind of mindset is in fact how most Manileños think --- this is a sad fact that should be dealt seriously.

Perhaps instead of complaining that Manila is dirty, polluted, etc., that guy should help out in saving the beleaguered city of our affections.

A rotten, stinking, polluted, corrupted, and ugly (most places) in Manila? YES

a hopeless Manila? NEVER

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:09 AM

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:12 AM

^ So do you have Filipino roots or are pure American?

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:12 AM

^ So do you have Filipino roots or are pure American?

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:12 AM

I think Western culture and architechture - Philippine version is more fitting than lets say it is entirely Hispanic.

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:12 AM

I think Western culture and architechture - Philippine version is more fitting than lets say it is entirely Hispanic.

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:13 AM

pure american

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:13 AM

pure american

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:18 AM

I think Western culture and architechture - Philippine version is more fitting than lets say it is entirely Hispanic.

I agree

Before I moved to the Philippines I lived in San Diego where there are a lot of Mexican influence. And to tell you the truth, I hated the Mexican culture which is primarily based on Spain. It was the Philippines that made me appreciate Spanish culture and Influence. I think I would rather have it the culture of the Philippines than pure Spanish.

Another thing that most people dont know, is every country that the Spanish went to and established, what language do they speak now? Spanish
All countries except one........ the Philippines, that is something sure to be proud of. Of course there are words adopted from it. But the english language has words adopted from every language and even including tagalog.

I dont know if anyone knows this.... but in the US, in our slang language. The word bondok or the way we pronounce it (boondocks or boonies) means a place very far away. This was adopted from the tagalog language and used in our own language.
Everyone I told this to did not know this.

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:18 AM

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:18 AM

pure american

You probably haven't explored the East and South side of Metro Manila yet. ;)

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:18 AM

pure american

You probably haven't explored the East and South side of Metro Manila yet. ;)

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:24 AM

pure american

^ I see. Sometimes, it pains us Filipinos, particularly Manilenos, to hear the plain truth how dirty the city of Manila has become. When Claire Danes shot a movie there "Brokedown Palace" and mentioned that she has never been to a place so full of rats and cockroaches, with a lot of cross-eyed people, the Filipinos were outraged, banned her and chastised her.

The truth is a bitter pill to swallow. From this vantage point, I saw what you see in Manila -- that it is grimy and dirty. That it has lost a lot of its past glory. I am pained by it, but I accept its truth. Taken out of context, you might even take flak for speaking the truth. But one thing different though, is that you care enough to make a difference.

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:24 AM

Josepepe

June 6th, 2006, 05:25 AM

I think Western culture and architechture - Philippine version is more fitting than lets say it is entirely Hispanic.

It is hispanic. The mestizaje. Yes, there are other elements. But the first thing one sees is not american or chinese. However, you are entitled to what fits your personal beliefs. I have already based my conclusion on the decade long work of a social scientist. And my own education. But be that as it may I am proud of those Filipinos who are standing up for their essentials. Their advocacy for the Filipinos' cultural heritage inspire others that I know who have almost given up on it. So kudos to the Filipino skyscrapers.

josepepe

Josepepe

June 6th, 2006, 05:25 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:26 AM

You probably haven't explored the East and South side of Metro Manila yet. ;)

not the east side, except around ortigas home depot

furthest south i've been is around makati area. Driven straight through to laguna though, but never stopped and took a look.
Why do you come to that conclusion?
so far my favorite place is intramuros, to me its just fascinating and i really wish they would boot the squatters from that place, they are a complete eye sore. Make lots of parks there, and completely revamp the whole place. If it is a tourist attraction, clean the whole area, not just specific parts. I have heard that it's a law in intramuros that if you are gonna build a new building there it has to be spanish type architecture based on the 1800s, i was really happy when i found that out.

I came out with the best idea for the intramuros administration.
Since fort santiago borders the pasig river, and the spanish used to bring their galleons and dock them right outside the buildings there and unload goods. Why doesn't the administration build and completely authentic spanish galleon and just leave it outside the walls in the pasig river. Charge an entrance fee maybe about 100 pesos per person or something. This entrance fee can help pay upkeep for the boat.

Wouldn't that be so cool if you are driving along one of the roads and you see this huge wooden type galleon that looks like it's ready for war or something. That just makes the hair stand up on my arms just thinking about that.
They have done this in san diego with 3 ships, i think the entrance fee is about 500 pesos per head.
Where else can you see an authentic spanish type galleon in Asia?

AMAZING IDEA TO HELP SHOW WHERE FILIPINOS CAME FROM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:26 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:31 AM

^ I see. Sometimes, it pains us Filipinos, particularly Manilenos, to hear the plain truth how dirty the city of Manila has become. When Claire Danes shot a movie there "Brokedown Palace" and mentioned that she has never been to a place so full of rats and cockroaches, with a lot of cross-eyed people, the Filipinos were outraged, banned her and chastised her.

The truth is a bitter pill to swallow. From this vantage point, I saw what you see in Manila -- that it is grimy and dirty. That it has lost a lot of its past glory. I am pained by it, but I accept its truth. Taken out of context, you might even take flak for speaking the truth. But one thing different though, is that you care enough to make a difference.

Whoa, i didn't know brokedown palace was filmed here? Where at? I seen that movie and thought it was filmed in thailand.
I did hear of some actor or singer saying that about manila, i just laughed cause its true. A lot of locals did get mad at her, and the only thing i said to my wife was "whats wrong, does the truth hurt?"
She said, "I'm filipina, and I know the truth, im embarassed by a lot of it, but yes, in this case, the truth does hurt"

My wife told me to be careful who i say that to, unless i know them well, dont say it. and I dont. Sometimes i subtely mention it, but not too harshly.

For example: I have told closer friends that yes there is a lot of trash, but I understand why that is. If you want to throw trash away, WHERE IS THE TRASH CAN? exactly, thats what i figured out, so i understand now

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:31 AM

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:39 AM

^^ Revitalizing Intramuros and the docked Galleon Ship are good ideas. We just need political will and support mechanisms to relocate the squatters and provide them with means and livelihood. Infuse economically viable establishments in the Intramuros that will attract tourists, commerce and generate revenues. The existence of squatters in Intramuros is really its bane. The pro-urban poor will again have issues with it but I am not saying just to displace them and leave them out in the cold. I am talking about relocating them to viable settlement sites where they can be provided with support programs.

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:39 AM

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:39 AM

not the east side, except around ortigas home depot

furthest south i've been is around makati area. Driven straight through to laguna though, but never stopped and took a look.
Why do you come to that conclusion?
so far my favorite place is intramuros, to me its just fascinating and i really wish they would boot the squatters from that place, they are a complete eye sore. Make lots of parks there, and completely revamp the whole place. If it is a tourist attraction, clean the whole area, not just specific parts. I have heard that it's a law in intramuros that if you are gonna build a new building there it has to be spanish type architecture based on the 1800s, i was really happy when i found that out.

I came out with the best idea for the intramuros administration.
Since fort santiago borders the pasig river, and the spanish used to bring their galleons and dock them right outside the buildings there and unload goods. Why doesn't the administration build and completely authentic spanish galleon and just leave it outside the walls in the pasig river. Charge an entrance fee maybe about 100 pesos per person or something. This entrance fee can help pay upkeep for the boat.

Wouldn't that be so cool if you are driving along one of the roads and you see this huge wooden type galleon that looks like it's ready for war or something. That just makes the hair stand up on my arms just thinking about that.
They have done this in san diego with 3 ships, i think the entrance fee is about 500 pesos per head.
Where else can you see an authentic spanish type galleon in Asia?

AMAZING IDEA TO HELP SHOW WHERE FILIPINOS CAME FROM

Actually, thats how you beef up tourism and fascination with culture - enhance what is already there. Hopefully, the local government can come up something like your idea. Im wish they can also put back the (tranvias) Tram lines (similar to San Francisco) before it was destroyed by war. Im pretty sure you saw them around here too. Oh by the way, Pasig river will be used as transporation hub once again. They are constructing ferry boats which I hope would spur environmental awarness and rejuvenation. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=8752175#post8752175 :)

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:39 AM

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:42 AM

^^ The thing with Filipino mentality nowadays is that they are so fascinated with "malling". They don't appreciate cultural exposure much nowadays. So Josepepe has a point about the lack of appreciation of that part of the Filipino that came with "da Spanis".

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 05:42 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:45 AM

It wouldn't be hard to do, i'm sure the spanish government would release copies of the blueprints for the ships. You can even use locally produced wood. It DEFINITELY would spark SO MUCH interest for the project. People everywhere would be interested in that idea.
I have told some people from DOT and it seemed like they didn't even care. I felt like slapping them cause to me, why are you working at such an agency if you dont care about what you are doing.
I think i'll mention it one more time.

Imagine driving past intramuros and seeing the top of a huge spanish galleon in pasig river and thinking, wow, this is what it feels like during the spanish era.

I'm also sure people will feel more proud and more powerful cause of this.

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:45 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:47 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:47 AM

JAMAICUS

June 6th, 2006, 05:49 AM

^^ slang for going shopping in malls

JAMAICUS

June 6th, 2006, 05:49 AM

^^ slang for going shopping in malls

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:54 AM

^^ slang for going shopping in malls

oh yeah, that makes sense

I was thinking of "mauling"

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:54 AM

^^ slang for going shopping in malls

oh yeah, that makes sense

I was thinking of "mauling"

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:54 AM

^^ slang for going shopping in malls

I think malling covers more than just shopping since people considers malls as amusement centers rather than just a place to shop. There is even term known as mall hopping.

Askal82

June 6th, 2006, 05:54 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:58 AM

I think everyone in power should read this....

Since everyone is so on the "getting a degree" thing which is good, when you study for your degree you are learning about other peoples mistakes they made in the past

regular experience is learning from your own mistakes from the past.

So if we learn from everyones past, this is how the philippines can prepare for the future.
So instead of tearing down old buildings trying to prepare for the future, why not preserve these, learn from the mistakes and gains from the past and prepare for the future this way. Instead of a hit and miss method

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 05:58 AM

Animo

June 6th, 2006, 08:03 AM

Animo

June 6th, 2006, 08:03 AM

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 08:21 AM

Hi kc5169 ! Nice of you to join when I sent you the message. :)

I hope you'll enjoy this forum. We have a lot more photos of different places in the Philippines and less negativity compared to the other one. :cheers:

Thanks for inviting me. Yeah i like this forum. People are quite informative and educated. I thought the other one was ok, but too much tagalog not enough english. :) lol

kc5169

June 6th, 2006, 08:21 AM

Animo

June 6th, 2006, 08:47 AM

Thanks for inviting me. Yeah i like this forum. People are quite informative and educated. I thought the other one was ok, but too much tagalog not enough english. :) lol

Yes, people here are more civil in my opinion. I hope you'd get to visit other threads besides this one or the links in my signature. :cheers1:

Animo

June 6th, 2006, 08:47 AM

Josepepe

June 6th, 2006, 10:33 AM

Josepepe

June 6th, 2006, 10:33 AM

dancethingy

June 6th, 2006, 10:41 AM

KC5196, welcome to our forum and your ideas are my ideas.
I believe though that beneath the grime and mildew; the smog and dust; and the destruction and abuse, lies the pearl that once was. You are very right about nurturing a sense of patriotism among Pinoys and more importantly a sense of pride regarding our culture and prideful past.

My grandfather turns 90 years old this August and when i look into his eyes i see a man who survived the death march to bataan during world war two; a man who fought bravely for our country and for America as well; and of course i saw a man so proud of being Pinoy that he would die for our country. For Pinoys to turn their backs on their culture and their place of origin would be a slap in the face to all those brave men and women who fought for our very existence today. SIGH, there's my sermon for today

dancethingy

June 6th, 2006, 10:41 AM

LordCarnal

June 6th, 2006, 03:21 PM

^ I see. Sometimes, it pains us Filipinos, particularly Manilenos, to hear the plain truth how dirty the city of Manila has become. When Claire Danes shot a movie there "Brokedown Palace" and mentioned that she has never been to a place so full of rats and cockroaches, with a lot of cross-eyed people, the Filipinos were outraged, banned her and chastised her.

The truth is a bitter pill to swallow. From this vantage point, I saw what you see in Manila -- that it is grimy and dirty. That it has lost a lot of its past glory. I am pained by it, but I accept its truth. Taken out of context, you might even take flak for speaking the truth. But one thing different though, is that you care enough to make a difference.

I've read in Asiaweek Magazine that Claire Danes was actually referring to one of the mental hospitals in Manila that she visited, and that she was just misquoted by some of the media. That was what she meant by dirty, full of cockroaches with a lot of "cross-eyed" people.

KC5196, welcome to the forums. I guess you have some of the characteristics that each Filipino -- including those in power -- should have.
Do visit other theads here that tackle about heritage too like the Cebu, Iloilo, and Vigan Heritage Threads. There's also another thread about old churches in the Philippines.

Cheers.

LordCarnal

June 6th, 2006, 03:21 PM

^ I see. Sometimes, it pains us Filipinos, particularly Manilenos, to hear the plain truth how dirty the city of Manila has become. When Claire Danes shot a movie there "Brokedown Palace" and mentioned that she has never been to a place so full of rats and cockroaches, with a lot of cross-eyed people, the Filipinos were outraged, banned her and chastised her.

The truth is a bitter pill to swallow. From this vantage point, I saw what you see in Manila -- that it is grimy and dirty. That it has lost a lot of its past glory. I am pained by it, but I accept its truth. Taken out of context, you might even take flak for speaking the truth. But one thing different though, is that you care enough to make a difference.

I've read in Asiaweek Magazine that Claire Danes was actually referring to one of the mental hospitals in Manila that she visited, and that she was just misquoted by some of the media. That was what she meant by dirty, full of cockroaches with a lot of "cross-eyed" people.

KC5196, welcome to the forums. I guess you have some of the characteristics that each Filipino -- including those in power -- should have.
Do visit other theads here that tackle about heritage too like the Cebu, Iloilo, and Vigan Heritage Threads. There's also another thread about old churches in the Philippines.

Cheers.

LordCarnal

June 6th, 2006, 03:45 PM

Here's a photo of Vision Theater here in Cebu City. The facade was designed by Dante Guidetti, an Italian sculpture who had a studio in the city.

How I hope it would be rehabilitated to its former grandeur. As of now, parts of it have been converted to offices and shops selling pirated DVDs. There are also hawkers who would suddenly approach you and ask if you want "x." I dunno what he meant by that.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/CebuHeritageWalk/34VisionTheater.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/CebuHeritageWalk/35VisionTheater.jpg

This is the old Campanera Maritima building (Cebu City). If my memory serves me right, I read in a newspaper article regarding its pending demolition for the construction of a school building. My view: instead of demolishing it they should just renovate it and turn it into a school.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9389/4127986253e3380834b7np.jpg

The old Prudential Bank building, now Bank of the Philippine Islands. I'm happy that BPI didn't demolish this structure (after they acquired Prudential).
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/CebuHeritageWalk/cityhall/02prudentialbank.jpg

Bank of the Philippine Islands building. I think this is the first BPI here in Cebu City. A bronze plaque in Spanish and English at the entrance says that this bank was the first to be established alongside with the ones in Manila, Iloilo and Davao.

I'm also happy that BPI isn't demolishing it. As of now they're currently renovating this building.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/CebuHeritageWalk/banco_islas_felipinas.jpg

LordCarnal

June 6th, 2006, 03:45 PM

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 03:51 PM

^^ What a beautiful structure. Is that on Colon Street? I do hope they rehabilitate and preserve it.

Lili

June 6th, 2006, 03:51 PM

^^ What a beautiful structure. Is that on Colon Street? I do hope they rehabilitate and preserve it.

JAMAICUS

June 6th, 2006, 03:58 PM

At least it is being reused... unlike things in Manila.... demolished....

JAMAICUS

June 6th, 2006, 03:58 PM

At least it is being reused... unlike things in Manila.... demolished....

Animo

June 6th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Another thing that most people dont know, is every country that the Spanish went to and established, what language do they speak now? Spanish
All countries except one........ the Philippines, that is something sure to be proud of. Of course there are words adopted from it. But the english language has words adopted from every language and even including tagalog.

I dont know if anyone knows this.... but in the US, in our slang language. The word bondok or the way we pronounce it (boondocks or boonies) means a place very far away. This was adopted from the tagalog language and used in our own language.
Everyone I told this to did not know this.

I'd also like to say that Spanish also adopted Filipino words into her vocabulary. ;)

Spain's rich legacy to the Philippines
By ISABEL CARO WILSON

The Filipino is not wholly Oriental nor totally Occidental. I like to
think of the Filipino psyche as a triangle: the base is essentially
Asian while the two sides represent Spain and America. Somewhere in
between there are Chinese influences. I would explain that our Spanish
heritage is evident in our customs, religion, music, dance, cuisine
and way of life. To our Spanish friends who lament that the Spanish
language has been lost in the Philippines, I explained that Spanish
has never been the language spoken by the majority of Filipinos. The
idiom was spoken by a minority: the government, the church and
Filipino elite. Because of distance, there were relatively few
Spaniards who emigrated to the Philippines.

However, the friars learned our languages and dialects in order to
evangelize our people. These erstwhile missionaries succeeded in
preserving our language and to them we owe numerous books and
dictionaries on Hispano-Tagalog, bisaya, pampango, bicolano and more.
It is estimated that 20 percent of our vocabulary derives from the
language of Cervantes. For instance there are common words and
expressions we use daily: kotse, tasa, sepilyo, baso, problema, libro,
grabe, kumusta, sige, etc.

On the other hand, although we are not aware of it, we have also
enriched the Spanish language. Listed in the dictionary edited by the
Real Academia are words such as pantalan, baguio, batalan, nipis,
jusi, bata, nipa and more. Best known by Spaniards is paypay.

Americans taught us English but modern usage has incorporated
"taglish" in our spoken and written communications in English. We have
also Filipinized a lot of Spanish words. Spaniards find this quite
amusing. Our mental process is Filipino, which is then transported in
another tongue. This mutation of t he language is also done in
Iberoamerican countries: Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Chile and so on.
"Filipino-speak" goes: "Tu ya cuidao," a literal translation of
"Bahala ka na." "No se contigo" -- "Ewan ko sa iyo." "Ellos de Pedro
vienen mañana" --"Darating sila ni Pedro bukas." "Llama na'mas a Juan"
-- "Pakitawag lang si Juan." We use "seguro" to say maybe when the
word actually means certainly. In the same way, the telephone operator
answers "for a while" in English to mean "sandali lang" when the
correct phrase should be "just a moment" or "hold on."

Animo

June 6th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Wonderboy

June 7th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Hello Hawayano. I hope you don’t mind if I post again your comment below:

Regarding the inefficiency of LGUs in the Philippines...

Well, yes--they should be mad--at themselves for allowing their inefficiency to go unchecked! And as for the LGUs who read this thread, I would hope that they are professional enough to realize that there is room for improvement regardless of how lofty their positions. Herein lies the root of so many problems that the Philippines faces--not only in the public sector but the private as well: inherent complacency that breeds inefficiency. Perhaps too simplistically stated, the problem still stems from too many agencies allowing the status quo to persist despite it being counter-productive...and the problem goes even higher than just the management (in this case, the NL Director) to extend to their superiors as well.

So is it no wonder that the mass majority have no clues as to the depth of the Filipino culture and history? This complacency is systematic and far-reaching; at worst, it breeds the corruption that has become the international media's by-word in Philippine stories. So, LGUs and others in positions of responsibility, take these criticisms at least as food for thought. There are many regular contributors to this site's Philippine thread who are conscientious and educated persons sharing a genuine concern for the betterment of the Philippines!

Wonderboy

June 7th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Hawayano

June 7th, 2006, 12:52 AM

Hello Hawayano. I hope you don’t mind if I post again your comment below:

Regarding the inefficiency of LGUs in the Philippines...

Anytime, compadre! Keep up your brilliant mission! :)

Hawayano

June 7th, 2006, 12:52 AM

Hello Hawayano. I hope you don’t mind if I post again your comment below:

Regarding the inefficiency of LGUs in the Philippines...

Anytime, compadre! Keep up your brilliant mission! :)

overtureph

June 7th, 2006, 06:53 AM

Inquirer Northern Luzon : Old-timers slam ‘uglification’ of Baguio

First posted 11:36pm (Mla time) June 06, 2006
By Shayne Anne Basco, Beverly Castillo, Jahzeel Abihail Cruz
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on Page A21 of the June 7, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THEY grew up smelling the familiar scent of pine, experiencing foggy afternoons, and finding comfort in Baguio City’s verdant carpet.

Cecile Afable, Leonora San Agustin and Virginia de Guia, now in their 80s and 90s, practically grew up with Baguio and witnessed how its pristine environment was slowly ruined by creeping development.

They are now fighting for a cause that will restore their beloved city, their home, to its glory. Their latest challenge? To stop a flyover project at Baguio’s gateway.

This battle, they believe, is worth fighting for, even to their last breath.

The educator

Leonora Paraan San Agustin, 91, recalls her memories of Baguio like they happened only yesterday.

“The smell of pine and the sight of Benguet lilies along Kennon [Road] used to make us excited to go home to Baguio,” says San Agustin, curator of the Baguio-Benguet Museum.

San Agustin graduated valedictorian at the Baguio City National High School
and finished chemical engineering at the old Adamson School of Engineering in Manila to become the first woman chemical engineer in the country.

She found herself going back to her roots in Baguio. She taught English, Chemistry and Geology for 45 years at the Baguio Colleges Foundation (now the University of the Cordilleras).

“I had to go home to Baguio, and I literally became the labandera (laundrywoman) of my family,” says San Agustin.

She never forgot to give back to her city. Aside from founding various women’s organizations, such as the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Lioness Club, she pursued projects to preserve Baguio’s natural beauty.

“I’ve been fighting for the city for 15 years on a crusade to safeguard Baguio’s ambiance and allure,” she says.

The proposed flyover stretching over the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center rotunda, she says, will “uglify” Baguio, one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

She is puzzled why the Department of Public Works and Highways insists on a project that many people are opposing.

Should the construction push through, the felled trees, disrupted aquifer and pollution would make Baguio deteriorate further, she says.

“I will still work [to protect Baguio] until I cannot breathe anymore,” said San Agustin.

The public servant

De Guia, Baguio’s first woman councilor and acting mayor, now leads a quiet life at 90. Yet her role as a public servant has not ended.

“Baguio was a dream city created, formed and planned by the Americans,” she says.

But she says that like her old photographs, good governance is stuck in time.

De Guia comes from a prominent family in the city. She says she is a natural environmentalist since her father was among the pioneer foresters in the country.

After graduating from the University of the Philippines with a degree in philosophy, De Guia took up law and earned her degree in 1940.

She returned to Baguio and found herself running for office that same year.

“I don’t regret taking up law because it was fun and I learned a lot,” De Guia says.

Knowledge of the law, she says, helped her make Baguio a well-administered city during her term. “Baguio had a good government, [it was] a very disciplined city,” she says.

But Baguio, once a model city in the country, has deteriorated due to politicking and lax law enforcement.

She blames politicians for pushing through with unnecessary projects such as the proposed flyover.

“We are in favor of development, but development must have direction,” De Guia says. The project, she believes, may end up unfinished due to lack of funds.

The writer

Afable’s house is a museum in its own right. Decorating it are Sung Dynasty jars and one of National Artist Benedicto Cabrera’s early paintings. But its most prized possession is still its owner, a small woman bound to big responsibilities.

“When they ask me what organization I belong to, I say I only belong to one, ‘Cecile Afable,’” she says.

Afable, 83, is editor in chief of the Baguio Midland Courier, the oldest community newspaper in the city.

Though her four children, now all professionals, chose to settle elsewhere, Afable is happy to stay in Baguio. She adores the blue sky and open space.

But like San Agustin and De Guia, Afable thinks that Baguio has changed for the worse. “There are too many houses, more than enough to be supported by the water system,” she says.

Among the causes she is advocating are the regreening and the protection of the water system of the city. But what occupies most of her time now is opposing another flyover in Baguio.

Issues

These women believe that people who do not care about Baguio have not experienced it the way they have.

“We’re fighting because we experienced the beauty, ambiance and good life of Baguio,” says San Agustin.

They say the flyover will ruin Baguio’s small town appeal and result in the cutting of century-old trees.

“The city does not have the funding. The Commission on Audit now will not give certification that the money is there,” says Afable.

Afable said if traffic at the BGHMC rotunda was the problem, a traffic light would be the cheaper and more environment-friendly solution.

San Agustin, De Guia and Afable agree that apathy is their worst enemy.

“If you don’t demonstrate against [the flyover], nothing will happen,” says Afable.

“The worst crime is not doing anything,” San Agustin says.

But the DPWH is determined to push through with the project despite the opposition of some sectors.

Mariano Alquiza, DPWH regional director, says he is planning to issue another suspension order on the project following the agency’s failure to obtain a permit to cut trees from the city government.

“We are studying the possibility of going directly to the DENR [for the permit],” he says.

Mayor Braulio Yaranon has opposed the flyover and says he will not issue the permit to cut trees for the project.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=2&story_id=78302&col=36

overtureph

June 7th, 2006, 06:53 AM