Philippine National Heritage Watch

[JAMAICUS]

Originally Posted by overtureph

QC wants seedling bank out to pave way for urban jungle

First posted 05:01am (Mla time) Mar 29, 2006
By DJ Yap, Blanche S. Rivera
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Mar. 29, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

ONLY GOD can make a tree but man can build a condominium.

The Manila Seedling Bank Foundation Inc. could be replaced by a high-rise condominium unless the foundation pays P59 million in real estate taxes being demanded by the Quezon City government, according to city treasurer Victor Endriga.

"This is plain harassment. They want this corner for the commercial malls, with the intention to create a concrete jungle at the expense of ecology and the environment," Manila Seedling Bank president Lucito Bertol told the Inquirer in an interview.

He said the foundation was exempted from all forms of taxation, duties and imposts by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1197, issued by former President Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 7, 1977.

Half a million seedlings could become homeless once the foundation is ordered to vacate its 7-hectare office-cum-garden on the corner of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) and Quezon Avenue.

The city treasurer had auctioned off the prime property in December last year, after serving a final note on delinquency to the foundation for failing to pay its property taxes from 1978 to 2005.

Since no one made a bid, the city stands to assume ownership of the property, unless the Manila Seedling Bank manages to pay its dues, including interest and fines, before a mandatory one-year redemption period.

The redemption period lapses in December. Should the foundation fail to settle its obligations until then, the city automatically acquires the property, Endriga said.

No notice for taxation

According to Bertol, the Manila Seedling Bank has not received any notice for taxation in the past 28 years, until Endriga served a statement in October 2005, saying the foundation had failed to pay real property taxes from 1978 to 2005, totaling P59 million.

"We have never been charged any real property [taxes]. This is the first time Quezon City has tried to collect from us," Bertol said.

Endriga dismissed PD 1197 exempting the foundation from tax duties, saying it had been nullified by more recent laws, among them the Local Government Code, that declares any commercial-use property taxable.

He said the Manila Seedling Bank -- which had been propagating and giving free seedlings for reforestation for almost three decades -- was considered commercial, since it leased out the property to tenants, such as a florist's shop.

Endriga added that the property was actually owned by the National Housing Authority, with which the foundation is entangled with in an ownership squabble that has been brought to court.

He said the city had been serving its tax notices to the NHA for the longest time, but no one had been paying the taxes. It was only recently that the city treasurer's office undertook measures to recover the unsettled obligations.

Henry Sy interested

According to Endriga, many developers are "very interested" in the prime property, particularly shopping mall magnate Henry Sy, who has signified his intention to bid for it.

Already, plans are afoot to convert the area into a commercial complex, with a high-rise condominium and parks, as part of the city's "Central Business District" project.

"Putting up a mall is not among the initial plans since it might compete with SM City North EDSA (which Sy also owns)," Endriga said.

The CBD spans the North and East Triangles that are bounded by East Avenue, EDSA, North Avenue and Elliptical Road, including the Veterans Memorial Hospital.

If plans push through, and the city secures a presidential proclamation declaring the area a business hub, the city will open to developers several hectares of prime property, which will be infused with as much as P1 billion capital for development.

No green spot

"[This will] spell the demise of that green spot right in the heart of the metropolis that acts as a giant sponge tin purifying the polluted atmosphere in the area," the Manila Seedling Bank said in a statement.

The foundation helped in the reforestation of the La Mesa Dam Watershed, Marikina Watershed, Meralco Jala-jala project, Mt. Samat Agro forestry project, Philippine Nuclear Power Plant project, Bataan Industrial Tree Plantation and the Mountain Resort in Baras, Rizal.

Endriga said the development of the Manila Seedling Bank property was by no means final. There was still the slim possibility that the foundation would pay up, he said.

In fact, the seedling bank was identified as one of the "challenges" to the development of the area, according to a primer on the CBD obtained by the Inquirer.

Other stumbling blocks

Other possible stumbling blocks include the large number of informal settlers and a standing contract between NHA and New San Jose Builders Inc. and Robinson's Land, for the lease development of a 37-ha property near the Metro Rail Transit depot on EDSA.

The city is already in talks with the NHA for a possible joint management of the CBD, Endriga said.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., on the other hand, is on the verge of bringing the matter of the CBD to the attention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he said.

"Considering that the President is preoccupied, we need proper timing [for the proposal]," Endriga said.


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

THIS IS WAY ABSURD, IMHO!!!! THEY CAN JUST TRANSFER! I mean, this is not an endangered rainforest!!!! The seedlings are not even planted in the area! They are planted in pots or separated land!!! The simplest thing that they can do is put the the seedlings in trucks and transfer to an area where Q.C. can provide it. I never thought I'll ever say this but I hope QC. will pull an Atienza on this.

[JAMAICUS]

Originally Posted by overtureph

QC wants seedling bank out to pave way for urban jungle

First posted 05:01am (Mla time) Mar 29, 2006
By DJ Yap, Blanche S. Rivera
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Mar. 29, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

ONLY GOD can make a tree but man can build a condominium.

The Manila Seedling Bank Foundation Inc. could be replaced by a high-rise condominium unless the foundation pays P59 million in real estate taxes being demanded by the Quezon City government, according to city treasurer Victor Endriga.

"This is plain harassment. They want this corner for the commercial malls, with the intention to create a concrete jungle at the expense of ecology and the environment," Manila Seedling Bank president Lucito Bertol told the Inquirer in an interview.

He said the foundation was exempted from all forms of taxation, duties and imposts by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1197, issued by former President Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 7, 1977.

Half a million seedlings could become homeless once the foundation is ordered to vacate its 7-hectare office-cum-garden on the corner of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) and Quezon Avenue.

The city treasurer had auctioned off the prime property in December last year, after serving a final note on delinquency to the foundation for failing to pay its property taxes from 1978 to 2005.

Since no one made a bid, the city stands to assume ownership of the property, unless the Manila Seedling Bank manages to pay its dues, including interest and fines, before a mandatory one-year redemption period.

The redemption period lapses in December. Should the foundation fail to settle its obligations until then, the city automatically acquires the property, Endriga said.

No notice for taxation

According to Bertol, the Manila Seedling Bank has not received any notice for taxation in the past 28 years, until Endriga served a statement in October 2005, saying the foundation had failed to pay real property taxes from 1978 to 2005, totaling P59 million.

"We have never been charged any real property [taxes]. This is the first time Quezon City has tried to collect from us," Bertol said.

Endriga dismissed PD 1197 exempting the foundation from tax duties, saying it had been nullified by more recent laws, among them the Local Government Code, that declares any commercial-use property taxable.

He said the Manila Seedling Bank -- which had been propagating and giving free seedlings for reforestation for almost three decades -- was considered commercial, since it leased out the property to tenants, such as a florist's shop.

Endriga added that the property was actually owned by the National Housing Authority, with which the foundation is entangled with in an ownership squabble that has been brought to court.

He said the city had been serving its tax notices to the NHA for the longest time, but no one had been paying the taxes. It was only recently that the city treasurer's office undertook measures to recover the unsettled obligations.

Henry Sy interested

According to Endriga, many developers are "very interested" in the prime property, particularly shopping mall magnate Henry Sy, who has signified his intention to bid for it.

Already, plans are afoot to convert the area into a commercial complex, with a high-rise condominium and parks, as part of the city's "Central Business District" project.

"Putting up a mall is not among the initial plans since it might compete with SM City North EDSA (which Sy also owns)," Endriga said.

The CBD spans the North and East Triangles that are bounded by East Avenue, EDSA, North Avenue and Elliptical Road, including the Veterans Memorial Hospital.

If plans push through, and the city secures a presidential proclamation declaring the area a business hub, the city will open to developers several hectares of prime property, which will be infused with as much as P1 billion capital for development.

No green spot

"[This will] spell the demise of that green spot right in the heart of the metropolis that acts as a giant sponge tin purifying the polluted atmosphere in the area," the Manila Seedling Bank said in a statement.

The foundation helped in the reforestation of the La Mesa Dam Watershed, Marikina Watershed, Meralco Jala-jala project, Mt. Samat Agro forestry project, Philippine Nuclear Power Plant project, Bataan Industrial Tree Plantation and the Mountain Resort in Baras, Rizal.

Endriga said the development of the Manila Seedling Bank property was by no means final. There was still the slim possibility that the foundation would pay up, he said.

In fact, the seedling bank was identified as one of the "challenges" to the development of the area, according to a primer on the CBD obtained by the Inquirer.

Other stumbling blocks

Other possible stumbling blocks include the large number of informal settlers and a standing contract between NHA and New San Jose Builders Inc. and Robinson's Land, for the lease development of a 37-ha property near the Metro Rail Transit depot on EDSA.

The city is already in talks with the NHA for a possible joint management of the CBD, Endriga said.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., on the other hand, is on the verge of bringing the matter of the CBD to the attention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he said.

"Considering that the President is preoccupied, we need proper timing [for the proposal]," Endriga said.


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

THIS IS WAY ABSURD, IMHO!!!! THEY CAN JUST TRANSFER! I mean, this is not an endangered rainforest!!!! The seedlings are not even planted in the area! They are planted in pots or separated land!!! The simplest thing that they can do is put the the seedlings in trucks and transfer to an area where Q.C. can provide it. I never thought I'll ever say this but I hope QC. will pull an Atienza on this.

[KiBeN]

it's a good idea to find another place for this, if they really want to build a high rise condominium/or a commercial area.

[KiBeN]

it's a good idea to find another place for this, if they really want to build a high rise condominium/or a commercial area.

[Wonderboy]

I would like to call the attention of Intramuros Administration...

[Wonderboy]

I would like to call the attention of Intramuros Administration...

[Wonderboy]

And by the way, there are a couple of stray dogs in Intramuros which I believe is dangerous for tourists, students and passersby...


Rabbies galore...

[Wonderboy]

And by the way, there are a couple of stray dogs in Intramuros which I believe is dangerous for tourists, students and passersby...


Rabbies galore...

[overtureph]

Pride of Place : Summer streetwalking discoveries

First posted 11:22pm (Mla time) April 02, 2006
By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page D4 of the April 3, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

GET OUT OF THE MALLS AND go streetwalking this summer. There is nothing like discovering the Philippine city, whether it be Manila, Cebu, Baguio, or whatever city you happen to find yourself in.

Actually each city has a story of its own, one that can be felt with the senses while walking, and the more you discover the story the more it comes to life. Some accurately call it feeling the pulse of the city.

Each city and each neighborhood within the city has a story of its own and therefore beats with an individual pulse.

There is a languid feel when experiencing Manila's Pasig River from the river walk along densely forested Arroceros Park that reminds you of Josè Rizal's late 19th-century descriptions of the beloved river.

On the opposite bank of the river is one of the business centers of Manila. There energy bristles. It presents another face of the city where the pulse is understandably different.

The pulse of a city is a combination of many things that take place within the protective envelope of a series of homes and buildings that form the urbanscape.

Within the vast urbanscape of each city, neighborhoods are pockets that reflect the distinct lifestyles of their inhabitants.

These are streetscapes inhabited and colored by the people-their visuals, sounds, smells and tastes that together illustrate the pulse of that particular section of the city.

A market neighborhood is obviously different from a purely residential neighborhood. A neighborhood of houses has a character totally unlike that of a skyscraper neighborhood.

Ethnic neighborhoods add a different flavor to the city. These are places where everything changes from the ordinary, the people, their sights, sounds, smells and cuisine.

In ethnic neighborhoods, you may find things out of the ordinary, as well as exotica and shops stocked with interesting goods.

Walking is really the only way to discover your city. Walk when the sun is not at its summer peak, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

During the noon hours, you may enjoy a slow, long lunch in the coolest place you can find. Stay there as long as they will let you. Allow the sun to start cooling off before you go back on the street.

Where to walk? Try your neighborhood first. Take a fresh look at what you have always taken for granted-the same old houses, sidewalks, rutted streets-but see how they tell the story of your neighborhood.

Are there still houses from a few generations ago? Have these houses been replaced with newer ones? Has the neighborhood gone commercial? Have shop spaces been built in the big front yards? On the other hand, discover how wonderful those front yards may still exist.

Are there special things to buy in your neighborhood? Are there homes, shops or restaurants that sell unusual food?

What makes your neighborhood extraordinary? How would it stand out compared to the other sections of the city?

If you heed help, a good guidebook that can navigate you around Manila is "Street-Bound" by Josefina Manahan, published by Anvil Publishing.

Manahan lists various types of walks around Manila that allow people to appreciate nature (yes, there still is some of it in the city), history, culture, and of course, non-mall shopping.

All of Manahan's walks take you through Manila, bringing out the pulse of the city that can never be duplicated in any of the malls.

Walking tour guides

If you would rather be walked around the city, then contact either Ivan ManDy at oldmanilawalks@gmail.com or Carlos Celdran. Both do walking tours.

Ivan calls himself a Streetwalker. He takes people on walks through Tsinoy Binondo in central Manila.

He has another walk at the Chinese Cemetery showing that the cemetery is probably the city's most comprehensive architectural museum and also the honor the Chinese community accords its ancestors.

Tsinoy culture comes to life when he does unforgettable food walks through the kitchens of Binondo for a memorable encounter with the Chinese culture of taste.

Carlos Celdran presents his own take on Manila, sometimes irreverent, but always humorous and engaging.

When he tackles the CCP Complex, he brings out the Marcos mania for iconic architecture. He walks you through Intramuros, develops nostalgia for bygone days while doing a reality check on the ilustrado lifestyle.

I really don't know who can walk people through Cebu, Vigan, Iloilo and other places outside of Manila. I am sure that those people exist and ask them to drop me an e-mail.

When I find out who they are and after trying out their walks, then I will publish the contact information of the more interesting walkers.

E-mail the author at afvillalon@hotmail.com


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

[overtureph]

Pride of Place : Summer streetwalking discoveries

First posted 11:22pm (Mla time) April 02, 2006
By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page D4 of the April 3, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

GET OUT OF THE MALLS AND go streetwalking this summer. There is nothing like discovering the Philippine city, whether it be Manila, Cebu, Baguio, or whatever city you happen to find yourself in.

Actually each city has a story of its own, one that can be felt with the senses while walking, and the more you discover the story the more it comes to life. Some accurately call it feeling the pulse of the city.

Each city and each neighborhood within the city has a story of its own and therefore beats with an individual pulse.

There is a languid feel when experiencing Manila's Pasig River from the river walk along densely forested Arroceros Park that reminds you of Josè Rizal's late 19th-century descriptions of the beloved river.

On the opposite bank of the river is one of the business centers of Manila. There energy bristles. It presents another face of the city where the pulse is understandably different.

The pulse of a city is a combination of many things that take place within the protective envelope of a series of homes and buildings that form the urbanscape.

Within the vast urbanscape of each city, neighborhoods are pockets that reflect the distinct lifestyles of their inhabitants.

These are streetscapes inhabited and colored by the people-their visuals, sounds, smells and tastes that together illustrate the pulse of that particular section of the city.

A market neighborhood is obviously different from a purely residential neighborhood. A neighborhood of houses has a character totally unlike that of a skyscraper neighborhood.

Ethnic neighborhoods add a different flavor to the city. These are places where everything changes from the ordinary, the people, their sights, sounds, smells and cuisine.

In ethnic neighborhoods, you may find things out of the ordinary, as well as exotica and shops stocked with interesting goods.

Walking is really the only way to discover your city. Walk when the sun is not at its summer peak, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

During the noon hours, you may enjoy a slow, long lunch in the coolest place you can find. Stay there as long as they will let you. Allow the sun to start cooling off before you go back on the street.

Where to walk? Try your neighborhood first. Take a fresh look at what you have always taken for granted-the same old houses, sidewalks, rutted streets-but see how they tell the story of your neighborhood.

Are there still houses from a few generations ago? Have these houses been replaced with newer ones? Has the neighborhood gone commercial? Have shop spaces been built in the big front yards? On the other hand, discover how wonderful those front yards may still exist.

Are there special things to buy in your neighborhood? Are there homes, shops or restaurants that sell unusual food?

What makes your neighborhood extraordinary? How would it stand out compared to the other sections of the city?

If you heed help, a good guidebook that can navigate you around Manila is "Street-Bound" by Josefina Manahan, published by Anvil Publishing.

Manahan lists various types of walks around Manila that allow people to appreciate nature (yes, there still is some of it in the city), history, culture, and of course, non-mall shopping.

All of Manahan's walks take you through Manila, bringing out the pulse of the city that can never be duplicated in any of the malls.

Walking tour guides

If you would rather be walked around the city, then contact either Ivan ManDy at oldmanilawalks@gmail.com or Carlos Celdran. Both do walking tours.

Ivan calls himself a Streetwalker. He takes people on walks through Tsinoy Binondo in central Manila.

He has another walk at the Chinese Cemetery showing that the cemetery is probably the city's most comprehensive architectural museum and also the honor the Chinese community accords its ancestors.

Tsinoy culture comes to life when he does unforgettable food walks through the kitchens of Binondo for a memorable encounter with the Chinese culture of taste.

Carlos Celdran presents his own take on Manila, sometimes irreverent, but always humorous and engaging.

When he tackles the CCP Complex, he brings out the Marcos mania for iconic architecture. He walks you through Intramuros, develops nostalgia for bygone days while doing a reality check on the ilustrado lifestyle.

I really don't know who can walk people through Cebu, Vigan, Iloilo and other places outside of Manila. I am sure that those people exist and ask them to drop me an e-mail.

When I find out who they are and after trying out their walks, then I will publish the contact information of the more interesting walkers.

E-mail the author at afvillalon@hotmail.com


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

[overtureph]

Originally Posted by JAMAICUS

THIS IS WAY ABSURD, IMHO!!!! THEY CAN JUST TRANSFER! I mean, this is not an endangered rainforest!!!! The seedlings are not even planted in the area! They are planted in pots or separated land!!! The simplest thing that they can do is put the the seedlings in trucks and transfer to an area where Q.C. can provide it. I never thought I'll ever say this but I hope QC. will pull an Atienza on this.

KiBen: it's a good idea to find another place for this, if they really want to build a high rise condominium/or a commercial area.

I disagree with this for the simple reason of where does it stop? Where does it end? As we all know probably theres also the controversy at the Arroceros Forest Park. Our officials still seems to have an ediface complex and I guess the Filipinos love affair with concrete. We have already very few open spaces in the metropolis moreover, proper parks. Shall we all cover our open spaces in the name of progress? The metropolis is already polluted as it is. And we all know the benefits of having more trees. Besides, they say that the seedling bank is covered by a presidential decree. What happened to the rule of law? So again, shall we violate the law and sacrifice the few remaining spaces and the trees that we have just for a condominium project which could be built elsewhere?

[overtureph]

Originally Posted by JAMAICUS

THIS IS WAY ABSURD, IMHO!!!! THEY CAN JUST TRANSFER! I mean, this is not an endangered rainforest!!!! The seedlings are not even planted in the area! They are planted in pots or separated land!!! The simplest thing that they can do is put the the seedlings in trucks and transfer to an area where Q.C. can provide it. I never thought I'll ever say this but I hope QC. will pull an Atienza on this.

KiBen: it's a good idea to find another place for this, if they really want to build a high rise condominium/or a commercial area.

I disagree with this for the simple reason of where does it stop? Where does it end? As we all know probably theres also the controversy at the Arroceros Forest Park. Our officials still seems to have an ediface complex and I guess the Filipinos love affair with concrete. We have already very few open spaces in the metropolis moreover, proper parks. Shall we all cover our open spaces in the name of progress? The metropolis is already polluted as it is. And we all know the benefits of having more trees. Besides, they say that the seedling bank is covered by a presidential decree. What happened to the rule of law? So again, shall we violate the law and sacrifice the few remaining spaces and the trees that we have just for a condominium project which could be built elsewhere?

[overtureph]

Museums of the faith, the power and the glory

First posted 09:37pm (Mla time) April 02, 2006
By Christian Esguerra
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page D1 of the April 3, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

DESPITE BELONGING TO the majority religion in the country, Filipino Catholics are always hard-pressed to disabuse majority ignorance of their 2,000-year-old faith.

So how do you address the problem then?

The basic response, of course, is an aggressive catechism, one that relates, without necessarily oversimplifying, Church doctrines to the ordinary Filipino and his everyday life.

But even here, clergymen like Fr. Andrew Greeley find a vast area for improvement. In his book "The Making of the Pope 2005," the American sociologist-writer complains that a significant number of Catholics in his country ignore important Church teachings, say, on contracepcion.

In the Philippines, two Catholic institutions have come up with new ways to somehow re-energize the Catholic faith.

The Archdiocese of Manila has refurbished its museum into one more fit to its status as the entry point of organized Roman Catholicism in this part of the world.

University of Santo Tomas, established in 1611 through an endowment by Manila Archbishop Miguel de Benavidez who died in 1605, has mounted a quiet exhibit packaged to introduce its rectors (or, in modern language, university presidents) to the public at large, emphasizing the historic importance of the UST rectorship to the Church and nation as well as the cultural patrimony fostered by that institution.

It isn't quite easy to immediately establish the relevance of both activities, even to Catholics, in this debilitating age of Ragnarok, Counterstrike and Pinoy Big Brother. For who would prefer to see a cement bust of Felix Huertas or a rectorial medal over a riotous online game?

'Living Canopy'

But people like Fr. Gabriel Casal, director of the Manila archdiocesan museum, isn't losing hope. Instead of sulking from the steady stream of modern-day frivolities, he's picked up a convenient technology to generate appeal for his priceless artifacts.

He's come up with an interactive CD containing the history and development of the archdiocese, including paintings, busts, markers, capes, carvings and other artifacts on display at the museum. He says the CD, "Living Canopy," is so long that it'll take about five hours for a straight viewing.

It's now available for public viewing following the museum's renovation recently. The museum is on the 3/F, Arzobispado de Manila, Intramuros.

But while CDs can help bridge the generation gap, they're still no match to appreciating history, in this case, of the religious kind, by staring at the actual artifact.

Just a few steps of the entrance is the original historical marker of the seventh Manila Cathedral that stood from 1879 to 1945. The three bullet holes speak of the ill fate of what was once a majestic structure.

Adjacent to the marker are three giant molave carvings of Saints John, Peter and Paul. They used to flank the three arches of the lower faćade of the wartime cathedral before bombs dropped them to earth.

Occupying an entire wall of the small museum is a Carlos "Botong" Francisco depiction of Jesus Christ ascending to the heavens. There's also a glass showcase displaying works by Msgr. Josè Abriol, who single-handedly translated into Filipino the Old and New Testaments, Sacramentary, Lectionary and other religious books.

The archdiocesan museum, of course, won't be complete without an exhibit on Jaime Cardinal Sin and the colorful archbishops who came before him. You'll find an old desk and typewriter of Rufino Cardinal Santos and the already-brittle cape of Bernardino Nozaleda, the last Spanish archbishop of Manila.

"It's a humble collection," Casal tells the Inquirer, explaining that other important artifacts pertaining to the history of the archdiocese were kept in more elaborate ecclesiastical museums such as that of nearby San Agustin Church.

UST Museum

Others are with the safekeeping of the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences, the oldest museum in the country.

The school did an experiment of sorts by mounting an exhibit on its rectors recently.

Some might dismiss it as the school's vanity, but organizers believe there was value in introducing and explaining the role of the UST rector to Filipinos who have a short memory.

The institution of the UST rector, after all, is not without historical importance. UST is the oldest Western-style university in Asia. During the Spanish colonial era, it functioned as a bureau of education, with the UST rector having supervisory rights over all schools in the islands.

The importance of the UST rectorship in the history of higher education in the country cannot be discounted. As veritable secretary of education, the rector sat in academic tribunals to determine the fitness of a candidate for an academic degree.

One can visualize the UST rector, a Dominican scholar trained in the true scholastic and Thomistic tradition, frowning on a candidate's answer in a tribunal, waving aside the answer, and pronouncing "Non" on whether or not to grant him the degree. The first Filipino ilustrados such as Fr. Josè Burgos, Apolinario Mabini and Felipe Agoncillo underwent grilling by the academic tribunal headed by the UST rector.

The incumbent rector, Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P., the school's 93rd rector, admitted that the position used to be "clothed with mystery" and was once seen as the "invisible power" in the university, next only to God. "A medieval concept," he says.

As in papal succession, moving from one rector to another requires a solemn and elaborate ceremony not alien to pure Vatican tradition. (In fact, it is the Vatican that appoints the UST rector as the school is a pontifical university, the only one of 13 in the world with that title.)

In the exhibit were the silver maces (c. 17th-18th century) and the rectorial gown and medallion, all symbolizing the authority of the rector. The passage of those symbols from one rector to another signifies the sophisticated transfer of academic authority.

The heart of the exhibit were the huge paintings of some of the 93 rectors, done by the likes of Fernando Amorsolo, Alfredo Esquillo, Rafael del Casal, Ronald Ventura and Wenceslao Garcia. Garcia painted the first Filipino rector of UST, Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. (1971-77), who is now archbishop of Nueva Caceres.

Esquillo was a favorite of rectors, having been tapped to paint most of those on exhibit such as the portraits of Fr. Jesus Diaz (1965-70) and Fr. Rolando de la Rosa (1990-98).

A standout were Amorsolo's paintings of Fr. Serapio Tamayo (1926-36) and his successor, Fr. Silvestre Sancho, who was rector until 1944.


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

[overtureph]

Museums of the faith, the power and the glory

First posted 09:37pm (Mla time) April 02, 2006
By Christian Esguerra
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page D1 of the April 3, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

DESPITE BELONGING TO the majority religion in the country, Filipino Catholics are always hard-pressed to disabuse majority ignorance of their 2,000-year-old faith.

So how do you address the problem then?

The basic response, of course, is an aggressive catechism, one that relates, without necessarily oversimplifying, Church doctrines to the ordinary Filipino and his everyday life.

But even here, clergymen like Fr. Andrew Greeley find a vast area for improvement. In his book "The Making of the Pope 2005," the American sociologist-writer complains that a significant number of Catholics in his country ignore important Church teachings, say, on contracepcion.

In the Philippines, two Catholic institutions have come up with new ways to somehow re-energize the Catholic faith.

The Archdiocese of Manila has refurbished its museum into one more fit to its status as the entry point of organized Roman Catholicism in this part of the world.

University of Santo Tomas, established in 1611 through an endowment by Manila Archbishop Miguel de Benavidez who died in 1605, has mounted a quiet exhibit packaged to introduce its rectors (or, in modern language, university presidents) to the public at large, emphasizing the historic importance of the UST rectorship to the Church and nation as well as the cultural patrimony fostered by that institution.

It isn't quite easy to immediately establish the relevance of both activities, even to Catholics, in this debilitating age of Ragnarok, Counterstrike and Pinoy Big Brother. For who would prefer to see a cement bust of Felix Huertas or a rectorial medal over a riotous online game?

'Living Canopy'

But people like Fr. Gabriel Casal, director of the Manila archdiocesan museum, isn't losing hope. Instead of sulking from the steady stream of modern-day frivolities, he's picked up a convenient technology to generate appeal for his priceless artifacts.

He's come up with an interactive CD containing the history and development of the archdiocese, including paintings, busts, markers, capes, carvings and other artifacts on display at the museum. He says the CD, "Living Canopy," is so long that it'll take about five hours for a straight viewing.

It's now available for public viewing following the museum's renovation recently. The museum is on the 3/F, Arzobispado de Manila, Intramuros.

But while CDs can help bridge the generation gap, they're still no match to appreciating history, in this case, of the religious kind, by staring at the actual artifact.

Just a few steps of the entrance is the original historical marker of the seventh Manila Cathedral that stood from 1879 to 1945. The three bullet holes speak of the ill fate of what was once a majestic structure.

Adjacent to the marker are three giant molave carvings of Saints John, Peter and Paul. They used to flank the three arches of the lower faćade of the wartime cathedral before bombs dropped them to earth.

Occupying an entire wall of the small museum is a Carlos "Botong" Francisco depiction of Jesus Christ ascending to the heavens. There's also a glass showcase displaying works by Msgr. Josè Abriol, who single-handedly translated into Filipino the Old and New Testaments, Sacramentary, Lectionary and other religious books.

The archdiocesan museum, of course, won't be complete without an exhibit on Jaime Cardinal Sin and the colorful archbishops who came before him. You'll find an old desk and typewriter of Rufino Cardinal Santos and the already-brittle cape of Bernardino Nozaleda, the last Spanish archbishop of Manila.

"It's a humble collection," Casal tells the Inquirer, explaining that other important artifacts pertaining to the history of the archdiocese were kept in more elaborate ecclesiastical museums such as that of nearby San Agustin Church.

UST Museum

Others are with the safekeeping of the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences, the oldest museum in the country.

The school did an experiment of sorts by mounting an exhibit on its rectors recently.

Some might dismiss it as the school's vanity, but organizers believe there was value in introducing and explaining the role of the UST rector to Filipinos who have a short memory.

The institution of the UST rector, after all, is not without historical importance. UST is the oldest Western-style university in Asia. During the Spanish colonial era, it functioned as a bureau of education, with the UST rector having supervisory rights over all schools in the islands.

The importance of the UST rectorship in the history of higher education in the country cannot be discounted. As veritable secretary of education, the rector sat in academic tribunals to determine the fitness of a candidate for an academic degree.

One can visualize the UST rector, a Dominican scholar trained in the true scholastic and Thomistic tradition, frowning on a candidate's answer in a tribunal, waving aside the answer, and pronouncing "Non" on whether or not to grant him the degree. The first Filipino ilustrados such as Fr. Josè Burgos, Apolinario Mabini and Felipe Agoncillo underwent grilling by the academic tribunal headed by the UST rector.

The incumbent rector, Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P., the school's 93rd rector, admitted that the position used to be "clothed with mystery" and was once seen as the "invisible power" in the university, next only to God. "A medieval concept," he says.

As in papal succession, moving from one rector to another requires a solemn and elaborate ceremony not alien to pure Vatican tradition. (In fact, it is the Vatican that appoints the UST rector as the school is a pontifical university, the only one of 13 in the world with that title.)

In the exhibit were the silver maces (c. 17th-18th century) and the rectorial gown and medallion, all symbolizing the authority of the rector. The passage of those symbols from one rector to another signifies the sophisticated transfer of academic authority.

The heart of the exhibit were the huge paintings of some of the 93 rectors, done by the likes of Fernando Amorsolo, Alfredo Esquillo, Rafael del Casal, Ronald Ventura and Wenceslao Garcia. Garcia painted the first Filipino rector of UST, Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. (1971-77), who is now archbishop of Nueva Caceres.

Esquillo was a favorite of rectors, having been tapped to paint most of those on exhibit such as the portraits of Fr. Jesus Diaz (1965-70) and Fr. Rolando de la Rosa (1990-98).

A standout were Amorsolo's paintings of Fr. Serapio Tamayo (1926-36) and his successor, Fr. Silvestre Sancho, who was rector until 1944.


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

[ramvingar]

Originally Posted by overtureph

I disagree with this for the simple reason of where does it stop? Where does it end? As we all know probably theres also the controversy at the Arroceros Forest Park. Our officials still seems to have an ediface complex and I guess the Filipinos love affair with concrete. We have already very few open spaces in the metropolis moreover, proper parks. Shall we all cover our open spaces in the name of progress? The metropolis is already polluted as it is. And we all know the benefits of having more trees. Besides, they say that the seedling bank is covered by a presidential decree. What happened to the rule of law? So again, shall we violate the law and sacrifice the few remaining spaces and the trees that we have just for a condominium project which could be built elsewhere?

I totally agree. There are many other places where a condo can be built. Sadly, it is easier to build concrete/steel structures while it is harder to replace areas of greenery and trees. The metropolis is already lacking in green spaces as it is. We keep ranting about the pollution in Manila but are so ready to sacrifice the exact things that can help curb this pollution.

[ramvingar]

Originally Posted by overtureph

I disagree with this for the simple reason of where does it stop? Where does it end? As we all know probably theres also the controversy at the Arroceros Forest Park. Our officials still seems to have an ediface complex and I guess the Filipinos love affair with concrete. We have already very few open spaces in the metropolis moreover, proper parks. Shall we all cover our open spaces in the name of progress? The metropolis is already polluted as it is. And we all know the benefits of having more trees. Besides, they say that the seedling bank is covered by a presidential decree. What happened to the rule of law? So again, shall we violate the law and sacrifice the few remaining spaces and the trees that we have just for a condominium project which could be built elsewhere?

I totally agree. There are many other places where a condo can be built. Sadly, it is easier to build concrete/steel structures while it is harder to replace areas of greenery and trees. The metropolis is already lacking in green spaces as it is. We keep ranting about the pollution in Manila but are so ready to sacrifice the exact things that can help curb this pollution.

[Askal82]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

And by the way, there are a couple of stray dogs in Intramuros which I believe is dangerous for tourists, students and passersby...


Rabbies galore...

Is that my relative?

[Askal82]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

And by the way, there are a couple of stray dogs in Intramuros which I believe is dangerous for tourists, students and passersby...


Rabbies galore...

Is that my relative?

[JAMAICUS]

Originally Posted by overtureph

I disagree with this for the simple reason of where does it stop? Where does it end? As we all know probably theres also the controversy at the Arroceros Forest Park. Our officials still seems to have an ediface complex and I guess the Filipinos love affair with concrete. We have already very few open spaces in the metropolis moreover, proper parks. Shall we all cover our open spaces in the name of progress? The metropolis is already polluted as it is. And we all know the benefits of having more trees. Besides, they say that the seedling bank is covered by a presidential decree. What happened to the rule of law? So again, shall we violate the law and sacrifice the few remaining spaces and the trees that we have just for a condominium project which could be built elsewhere?

May I repeat, there are no trees in there. Only few trees which probably dates back before the Seedling bank. The seedling bank does not contribute in directly reducing pollution(tree seedliings, not trees).And, I do believe in the law of progress of filling up more spaces.Yes, we must save as many spaces as we can in Manila yet the North Triangle area is a special area that can provide jobs when commercialized due to the Metro's unemployment rate. It is not just an open area, it is a strategical area due to its closeness to the Manila-province border.Yet, as a young person this is my opinion and I respect yours(Being a Q.C. progress supporter, see Q.C. thread). Also, you were talking about the law. May you please explain this, said in the article :

Endriga dismissed PD 1197 exempting the foundation from tax duties, saying it had been nullified by more recent laws, among them the Local Government Code, that declares any commercial-use property taxable.

[JAMAICUS]

Originally Posted by overtureph

I disagree with this for the simple reason of where does it stop? Where does it end? As we all know probably theres also the controversy at the Arroceros Forest Park. Our officials still seems to have an ediface complex and I guess the Filipinos love affair with concrete. We have already very few open spaces in the metropolis moreover, proper parks. Shall we all cover our open spaces in the name of progress? The metropolis is already polluted as it is. And we all know the benefits of having more trees. Besides, they say that the seedling bank is covered by a presidential decree. What happened to the rule of law? So again, shall we violate the law and sacrifice the few remaining spaces and the trees that we have just for a condominium project which could be built elsewhere?

May I repeat, there are no trees in there. Only few trees which probably dates back before the Seedling bank. The seedling bank does not contribute in directly reducing pollution(tree seedliings, not trees).And, I do believe in the law of progress of filling up more spaces.Yes, we must save as many spaces as we can in Manila yet the North Triangle area is a special area that can provide jobs when commercialized due to the Metro's unemployment rate. It is not just an open area, it is a strategical area due to its closeness to the Manila-province border.Yet, as a young person this is my opinion and I respect yours(Being a Q.C. progress supporter, see Q.C. thread). Also, you were talking about the law. May you please explain this, said in the article :

Endriga dismissed PD 1197 exempting the foundation from tax duties, saying it had been nullified by more recent laws, among them the Local Government Code, that declares any commercial-use property taxable.