Heritage Watch - Compiled Threads

[Wonderboy]

Heritage Watch

I was a little adamant in starting this thread as I don’t know how long would it last, however, since our country’s heritage sites and historic landmarks are slowly disappearing, here’s hoping that this thread would serve as message board to save the remaining structures that we have.

I’d like to start with a place closer to home: Manila (I would also like to encourage everyone from other regions/ provinces to post here. I will send the weblink of this thread to government agencies and NGOs).

An old house along San Rafael Street will be demolished sometime soon. I took some pictures yesterday during the San Miguel walk:


The sign says it all. Exact address: 333 San Rafael Street, San Miguel, Manila


The house dates back to early 1920s.





Firms/ Companies involved in the demolition project:

LBC Comunidades Development, Incorporated
J.T. Mañosa and Associates (Architects)
Export and Industry Bank
La Casarita Developers (Tel. No.8906265/ 8906326)



The interiors of the house:








There’s even a Rolls Royce in the backyard!


Yes, this is privately owned and it would take extraordinary circumstances to prevent the demolition team from destroying a historic landmark. But if we take the initiative to save this house as well as other sites, people without any cultural sensitivity will be enlightened.

Below is the contact information of the developer:

La Casarita
LBC Comunidades Development, Incorporated
Tel. No. 8906265/ 8906326

NGOs/ Government agencies:

National Commission for Culture and the Arts
5235382 (for Heritage Sites)

Heritage Conservation Society Secretariat
5212239/ 5222497/ 09178668853

Ms. Melly Almosara
National Historical Institute
TM Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila

[overtureph]

This is very sad. What a nice house and what a car! Must be one (old) rich family. Is this the street behind San Sebastian and Kentucky (Recto)? Who's house it it? Did they sold the house and the Rolls Royce too?

[Askal82]

Sayang naman.

[overtureph]

This isn't to discourage anybody, but a few years back, we tried to form a committee in order to save the convento of a provincial church. The convento was used as a school for a number of years and was reverted back to the parish. At first they floated the idea - believe it or not- of putting up an international fast food chain and demolishing the convento. If this isn't surreal or plain stupid, I don't know what is. Well, after voicing our objections to a fast food chain and having the support of parishioners, that plan was shelved. But they (go figure it out who THEY are) where still adamant in having the convento demolished. Without doing any scientific test as I heard, one of the contractors declared the structure unfit (after standing for more or less 150 years hmmm.....). So we did our own ocular inspection, although we didn't do any test either, we found the structure the same as it was when it was being used as a school. In other words, by the look of it, it doesnt look its going to collapse or anything.

Once the food chain idea was defeated, came the main concern of (they) is that it is a fire hazard. If we follow this logic, most old churches has an adjacent or attached fire hazard to it. We presented our arguments and proposal for its other uses. Since the church has a museum which very few of the parishioners knew existed (I guess, since they seem to be surprised to hear in the meetings that there was one), we suggested of moving the museum to the old convento for more visibility and put up a cafe. But nooooooooooooooooo.

So we got an architect who has a firm in Makati and pro bono at that, helped us drew several plans as alternatives and for conservation purposes. Like for example, since one of the main concern was fire (hazzard), we had a plan of just demolishing the part connecting it to the church. And heres the ironic part. Thinking the old convento was a fire hazzard, would you believe that it was the other more recent convento that the they where using that was burned. Tsk tsk. But that incident seemed to have sealed the fate of the old one. They seem to deduced that since the convento that they were using burned to the ground, lets demolish the old one.

May I add also, that one of (they) had the bright idea of demolishing the convento and turning it into a ruins with a garden. Duh????????????????

So what happened, we didn't win. Why? It was like fighting cityhall (but it was worth it). And the usual apathy of the people. I am just hoping that there was a lesson to be learned here for the sake of our culture and history.

Thanks to people like Augusto Villalon, Bambi Harper, Paolo Alcazaren, Ambeth Ocampo, Fr. Rene Javellana, Fr. Pedro Gallende, Regalado Trota Jose, Wonderboy, Animo and to all those people in this thread whose campaigning and educating us, of and for, our heritage and history. It seems things are changing although slowly, but at least it seems people are more aware of what they have and what they are loosing. In addition, there where also succesful conservation projects that where done.

So I hope something be done to conserve the house and hopefully the car too. I think we have more than enough SHOE BOX architecture already.

Great work Wonderboy.

[ishtefh_03]

anyone here who is part/member of the heritage conservation society?? i know up pa lng may chapter, sana mayroon rin sa ust...

[Wonderboy]

Originally Posted by ishtefh_03

anyone here who is part/member of the heritage conservation society?? i know up pa lng may chapter, sana mayroon rin sa ust...

I'm a member Steph.

Ms. Roz Li, a volunteer based in NYC mentioned that UST should also have its own HCS chapter.

[ishtefh_03]

wow!! member ako kaso sa yahoo groups ako nag join kaya ung inbox ko puro msg ng hsc then i compiled it... and my heritage-youth rin diba??? oo nga dapat meron ang ust, ilakad ko kaya... hmmn... kaso matrabaho...

[ishtefh_03]

pano poh ba mag pa member dun??

[Wonderboy]

Originally Posted by ishtefh_03

wow!! member ako kaso sa yahoo groups ako nag join kaya ung inbox ko puro msg ng hsc then i compiled it... and my heritage-youth rin diba??? oo nga dapat meron ang ust, ilakad ko kaya... hmmn... kaso matrabaho...

Steph, that would be good. I know it would be very tedious but if it's for the sake of protecting what's left for the next generation, your brave move would serve its purpose and encourage more people to be involved in conserving our heritage.

A close colleague mentioned that UST really should put up HCS chapter since the UST admins/ board of directors are putting up gymnasiums, courts, etc. without giving much importance to the fact that the entire UST should be declared a heritage site.

[Wonderboy]

Originally Posted by ishtefh_03

pano po ba mag pa member dun??

You may get call Heritage Conservation Society Secretariat
5212239/ 5222497/ 09175668853 (c/o Ms. Dorie).

[Wonderboy]

Originally Posted by overtureph

Thanks to people like Augusto Villalon, Bambi Harper, Paolo Alcazaren, Ambeth Ocampo, Fr. Rene Javellana, Fr. Pedro Gallende, Regalado Trota Jose, Wonderboy, Animo and to all those people in this thread whose campaigning and educating us, of and for, our heritage and history. It seems things are changing although slowly, but at least it seems people are more aware of what they have and what they are loosing. In addition, there where also succesful conservation projects that where done.

So I hope something be done to conserve the house and hopefully the car too. I think we have more than enough SHOE BOX architecture already.

Great work Wonderboy.

Thanks for the kind words Overtureph. The battle has just started to save the old house from demolition.

[Coffee]

I kinda hate to say it, but that house in its current state is an eyesore. It looks neglected and grimy. It could potentially look good with some renovations and upkeep, but the owners of the place apparently didn't care to maintain it. And the project set to replace it-- though its no architectural masterpiece-- looks like a clean and welcome development. I don't want to seem historically insensitive... I do have a lot of appreciation for history, but not everything from the 1920s is worth saving simply for being old.

[Edmundtanso]

another one =( our gov't officials are just so pathethic......what are they doing??? soon or later there wont be anything to show historical buildings to the generations to come.

i wish there is a law that prevent such building being demolished and such buildings being neglected.....errrrrrr

[Wonderboy]

Originally Posted by Coffee

I kinda hate to say it, but that house in its current state is an eyesore. It looks neglected and grimy. It could potentially look good with some renovations and upkeep, but the owners of the place apparently didn't care to maintain it. And the project set to replace it-- though its no architectural masterpiece-- looks like a clean and welcome development. I don't want to seem historically insensitive... I do have a lot of appreciation for history, but not everything from the 1920s is worth saving simply for being old.

Coffee, thanks for your opinion.

For your enlightenment, below are two photos of Orchid Garden Suites located at Vito Cruz Street, Manila:


Justice Antonio Villareal residence, built ca. 1932. Pablo Antonio, architect



As you can see in the new photo, the old house has been spared from demolition and now serves as a lobby and function area.

Old houses that are derelict would definitely look grimy - this is a sad fact. But that doesn't mean that it has to be demolished. 1920s to 1930s was the height of Phil. art deco - one of most celebrated 'high art' and a great achievement in Phil. architecture.

Yes, the project that would replace the old house is clean - malamang, it's a new structure. Assuming you're pertaining to the architectural design that you think is 'clean,' well, a shoe box design has clean, fine lines but I think it pales in comparison to the one that should be spared from demolition.

The Orchid Garden Suites is a perfect example of how an old structure can be turned into something new and there’s no need to demolish a piece of heritage simply because it looks grimy and neglected.

[Hawayano]

Originally Posted by Edmundtanso

i wish there is a law that prevent such building being demolished and such buildings being neglected.....errrrrrr

I agree, Ed--does the national government or City of Manila offer property owners any incentives for historic prservation of such homes? That has saved a number of such structures from destruction here in Honolulu and the US. And while the non-descript "La Casarita" may be practical and serve a greater residential density, why can't speculators choose to build elsewhere? The remaining old San Miguel houses should be placed on a national historic register of sorts that would ensure a consistently clean and uncongested district surrounding Malacañang. Not to sound arrogantly suplado, but foreign visitors find Manila too chaotic and lacking in aesthetic qualities--so to a degree we have ourselves to blame for their raving about neighboring Asian capitals while trashing ours.

Thanks for expanding our awareness, Wonderboy--I'll go draft some letters when I get into the office later today.

[Hawayano]

Wonderboy--
Thanks for citing the example of Orchid Garden Suites as one recourse for developers to retain a sense of character that is historically Manila! I would thing that historic preservation would appeal to the cultural sensibilities of Filipinos, since we tend to gravitate toward our roots when overseas. However, the unfortunate quick-fix seems to lean toward get-rich-quick-and-easy instead. Gratefully, Orchid Suites offers very clear evidence of a superior solution!

[drfeelgood17]

^ This thread is a great idea Wonderboy for raising awareness about our endangered heritage (rather like endangered species...!)
I feel sad about those houses that are about to be demolished...especially when you know that they are going to be replaced by dull, character-less "condos" with "subdivision architecture". I really dislike these pre-fab styles....
The old Rolls is a great find btw...I'm amazed it's survived the ravages of the of the years!

[OtAkAw]

Anyone who will directly or indirectly destroy a historical structure must be exterminated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ishtefh_03]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

Steph, that would be good. I know it would be very tedious but if it's for the sake of protecting what's left for the next generation, your brave move would serve its purpose and encourage more people to be involved in conserving our heritage.

A close colleague mentioned that UST really should put up HCS chapter since the UST admins/ board of directors are putting up gymnasiums, courts, etc. without giving much importance to the fact that the entire UST should be declared a heritage site.

well, yeah, goal ng UST yun onward 2011 kaya ang daming tinatayo sa UST ngayon, nagiging crowded na nga ang UST because of the new building being build around...

You may get call Heritage Conservation Society Secretariat
5212239/ 5222497/ 09175668853 (c/o Ms. Dorie).

thanks poh!!!

[overtureph]

Originally Posted by Coffee

I kinda hate to say it, but that house in its current state is an eyesore. It looks neglected and grimy. It could potentially look good with some renovations and upkeep, but the owners of the place apparently didn't care to maintain it. And the project set to replace it-- though its no architectural masterpiece-- looks like a clean and welcome development. I don't want to seem historically insensitive... I do have a lot of appreciation for history, but not everything from the 1920s is worth saving simply for being old.

No offense meant and I do respect your opinion, but I think this was how generally Filipinos thought back then and up to know. So as what we can see and experience today, is a result of this kind of thinking. To exaggerate it a bit, let us think what if the Greeks thought of the Parthenon and the whole of the Acropolis as just a bunch of ruins and not worth conserving. A mall and a restaurant with a great view would have made a better replacement.

And may I just add, this kind of attitude in my opinion, is why we lose out to tourist to places like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia etc.

I am of the belief that if we keep doing this, in the future, our culture and history would be neither here, nor there.