Philippine National Heritage Watch

[Wonderboy]

Below are a couple of architectural gems in Binondo…


This one’s near the foot of Dasmariñas Bridge.


And at the corner or Dasmariñas and Marquina Street, an old structure with capiz shell windows still stands.


This building used to be the main office of a hardware company. It is now occupied by various business establishments.








Uy Chaco Building at the corner of Plaza Cervantes and Calle Rosario (now Quintin Paredes Street).


Another old structure in a sorry state…


…and the intricate details are rotting away…




Anyway, care for a hearty lunch? Get time warped at A-1 Lunch, one of the few remaining prewar establishments in Binondo…


This building is located at Muelle de Binondo.


China Bank Building at the corner of Juan Luna and Dasmariñas Street.


HSBC Building


Well, Besa’s is still in business after 70 years!


Uy Su Bin Building is another art deco treasure located at Calle Rosario. I will post the interiors of the building when I get back.


Cobblestones along Calle Nueva (now Yuchengo Street).

[Wonderboy]

Below are a couple of architectural gems in Binondo…


This one’s near the foot of Dasmariñas Bridge.


And at the corner or Dasmariñas and Marquina Street, an old structure with capiz shell windows still stands.


This building used to be the main office of a hardware company. It is now occupied by various business establishments.








Uy Chaco Building at the corner of Plaza Cervantes and Calle Rosario (now Quintin Paredes Street).


Another old structure in a sorry state…


…and the intricate details are rotting away…




Anyway, care for a hearty lunch? Get time warped at A-1 Lunch, one of the few remaining prewar establishments in Binondo…


This building is located at Muelle de Binondo.


China Bank Building at the corner of Juan Luna and Dasmariñas Street.


HSBC Building


Well, Besa’s is still in business after 70 years!


Uy Su Bin Building is another art deco treasure located at Calle Rosario. I will post the interiors of the building when I get back.


Cobblestones along Calle Nueva (now Yuchengo Street).

[Hawayano]

Awesome, Wonderboy--I love seeing your latest evidence of your jaunts thru the city! I hope the UyChaco Bldg. can be restored to its former glory someday; too bad it's old companion across the street--the art deco Insular Life building with the eagle statue perched high atop its corner tower--is no longer there (or is it, but without the old tower??)

[Hawayano]

Awesome, Wonderboy--I love seeing your latest evidence of your jaunts thru the city! I hope the UyChaco Bldg. can be restored to its former glory someday; too bad it's old companion across the street--the art deco Insular Life building with the eagle statue perched high atop its corner tower--is no longer there (or is it, but without the old tower??)

[Wonderboy]

Hello Hawayano!

Unfortunately, the eagle is not there anymore. I wasn't able to take a photo of Insular Life Building because I was running late for dinner at Bahay Nakpil. Which reminds me, I have to post photos of the dinner with Quiapo residents and Manila old timers this week.

[Wonderboy]

Hello Hawayano!

Unfortunately, the eagle is not there anymore. I wasn't able to take a photo of Insular Life Building because I was running late for dinner at Bahay Nakpil. Which reminds me, I have to post photos of the dinner with Quiapo residents and Manila old timers this week.

[Askal82]

@jeff, Are they getting any attention? Some of them looks newly painted or even renovated. The grime build up on some is due to the city's inevitable smog problems. Numerous, dangerous and dangling cables contribute visual pollution. I hope that this place has a bright future once again.

[Askal82]

@jeff, Are they getting any attention? Some of them looks newly painted or even renovated. The grime build up on some is due to the city's inevitable smog problems. Numerous, dangerous and dangling cables contribute visual pollution. I hope that this place has a bright future once again.

[Wonderboy]

Askal, based on my observation, majority of the heritage buildings are still in use and owned by Chinese businessmen. I'm glad that some even painted their building. I just hope that proper urban planning should be implemented (fixing the cable wires, major clean-up of buildings and sidestreets, and educate the building owners to preserve their buildings).

[Wonderboy]

Askal, based on my observation, majority of the heritage buildings are still in use and owned by Chinese businessmen. I'm glad that some even painted their building. I just hope that proper urban planning should be implemented (fixing the cable wires, major clean-up of buildings and sidestreets, and educate the building owners to preserve their buildings).

[Lili]

There is such charm to these old buildings. Thanks for this thread and the wonderful pictures @Wonderboy.

[Lili]

There is such charm to these old buildings. Thanks for this thread and the wonderful pictures @Wonderboy.

[Rence]

Nice pictures Wonder BOY!

[Rence]

Nice pictures Wonder BOY!

[Pinoy_ako]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

Hello Hawayano!

Unfortunately, the eagle is not there anymore. I wasn't able to take a photo of Insular Life Building because I was running late for dinner at Bahay Nakpil. Which reminds me, I have to post photos of the dinner with Quiapo residents and Manila old timers this week.

Yes, the eagle is no longer there, but the structure is basically the same. They remodelled it, I think when the International Style(?) was in vogue, so it looks so austere right now. Besides the eagle, they stripped it of all ornamentations.

[Pinoy_ako]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

Hello Hawayano!

Unfortunately, the eagle is not there anymore. I wasn't able to take a photo of Insular Life Building because I was running late for dinner at Bahay Nakpil. Which reminds me, I have to post photos of the dinner with Quiapo residents and Manila old timers this week.

Yes, the eagle is no longer there, but the structure is basically the same. They remodelled it, I think when the International Style(?) was in vogue, so it looks so austere right now. Besides the eagle, they stripped it of all ornamentations.

[Wonderboy]

Thanks Lili and Rence!

Pinoy-ako, I wonder what happened to the eagle...

[Wonderboy]

Thanks Lili and Rence!

Pinoy-ako, I wonder what happened to the eagle...

[Pinoy_ako]

They don't salvage anything in this country, so baka naging panambak.

Detour:

There is an international organization that can be of help if the structures of monuments meet their criteria. Nominations can be made by governments, specialists or NGOs. The past sites that were nominated and selected from the Philippines include the following:

Philippines, Benguet, Kabayan, Kabayan Mummy Caves (1998)
Philippines, Ifugao, Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras (2000)
Philippines, Manila, San Sebastián Church (1998)
Philippines, Rizal, Angono, Angono Petroglyphs (1996)

I think San Sebastian Church did not avail of this opportunity, based on an article I read sometime ago. If we have a truly significant structure, streetscape or village ( Luneta Hotel, San Nicholas(?) ) , maybe HCS may be able to nominate since they are staffed by competent specialists like Architect Villalon, or were they the ones who nominated the earlier sites? The web site: http://wmf.org/watch.html


World Monuments Watch

Launched in 1995 in response to increasing threats to cultural heritage sites around the globe, the World Monuments Watch is WMF's flagship advocacy program. Announced every two years, the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites calls international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, or natural disaster. Through the Watch, WMF fosters community support for the protection of endangered sites and attracts technical and financial resources to assist in their rescue. More than 75% of Watch sites have been saved or are well on their way, thanks to timely intervention. The American Express Company is the proud founding sponsor of the World Monuments Watch.


Watch sites are selected by an independent panel of experts from nominations submitted by governments, preservation professionals, NGOs, and others. Sites of all types and from all time periods—from ancient to modern—are eligible. “Monuments” can be archaeological sites; residential, civic, commercial, military, or religious architecture; cultural landscapes; and townscapes. The 2006 list includes sites from 55 countries on all seven continents.

Nomination forms for the 2008 list will be available here on June 1, 2006. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2007 (postmark, if mailed). Incomplete applications are not considered. Electronic submissions are preferred, but hard copies are accepted. To receive a form, send your name and address to watch@wmf.org; +1-646-424-9593 (fax), or World Monuments Fund, 95 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016, Attn: Watch Forms.

[Pinoy_ako]

They don't salvage anything in this country, so baka naging panambak.

Detour:

There is an international organization that can be of help if the structures of monuments meet their criteria. Nominations can be made by governments, specialists or NGOs. The past sites that were nominated and selected from the Philippines include the following:

Philippines, Benguet, Kabayan, Kabayan Mummy Caves (1998)
Philippines, Ifugao, Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras (2000)
Philippines, Manila, San Sebastián Church (1998)
Philippines, Rizal, Angono, Angono Petroglyphs (1996)

I think San Sebastian Church did not avail of this opportunity, based on an article I read sometime ago. If we have a truly significant structure, streetscape or village ( Luneta Hotel, San Nicholas(?) ) , maybe HCS may be able to nominate since they are staffed by competent specialists like Architect Villalon, or were they the ones who nominated the earlier sites? The web site: http://wmf.org/watch.html


World Monuments Watch

Launched in 1995 in response to increasing threats to cultural heritage sites around the globe, the World Monuments Watch is WMF's flagship advocacy program. Announced every two years, the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites calls international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, or natural disaster. Through the Watch, WMF fosters community support for the protection of endangered sites and attracts technical and financial resources to assist in their rescue. More than 75% of Watch sites have been saved or are well on their way, thanks to timely intervention. The American Express Company is the proud founding sponsor of the World Monuments Watch.


Watch sites are selected by an independent panel of experts from nominations submitted by governments, preservation professionals, NGOs, and others. Sites of all types and from all time periods—from ancient to modern—are eligible. “Monuments” can be archaeological sites; residential, civic, commercial, military, or religious architecture; cultural landscapes; and townscapes. The 2006 list includes sites from 55 countries on all seven continents.

Nomination forms for the 2008 list will be available here on June 1, 2006. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2007 (postmark, if mailed). Incomplete applications are not considered. Electronic submissions are preferred, but hard copies are accepted. To receive a form, send your name and address to watch@wmf.org; +1-646-424-9593 (fax), or World Monuments Fund, 95 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016, Attn: Watch Forms.