"After seeing age-old Buildings,
Ruins-to-be structures,
And the Hope to reclaim, revive almost-lost heritage"
Seems that some of the age-old buildings stubbornly continue to stand despite threats coming for years.
Mostly coming from old districts within Manila and other major cities, these buildings, made before, during, and even after the American period, stood the est of time only to face this kind of challenge- demolition threats from new owners.
It is a valid concern, for given the city's historical heritage would say that tourists come and go to see its timeless wonder- and some of which has its mark in history like the former building of the Hospicio de San Jose in Binondo, Burke Building, Edificio Calvo, Perez-Samanillo, Regina, and others whose contribution to history hath been etched in its annals.
However, not all of these buildings would soon remain especially with developers wanting to replace with another that's "aesthetically pleasing" but devoid of its significance as the older ones. Worse, to see a supposed proactive government but having lack of attention and political will towards these timeless structures, thus making these gorgeous landmarks disappear. Worse, to see the same government tolerating such unlikely work "in the name of progress and development"- and sometimes using words like "necessary sacrifice" in the case of the former Jai Alai some years ago for a supposed Hall of Justice. It was a macabre moment then when former Manila mayor Atienza demolished that prewar structure despite protests from concerned groups, but did the construction of his "hall of justice" proceed? Nope.
Thus, these structures depend on concerned private agencies like the "Heritage Conservation Society" and "Advocates for Heritage Preservation" to support the preservation efforts aside from stopping those who wanted its demise. There are also owners who actively supported preservation efforts in their buildings like the Sylantieng couple, whose Perez-Samanillo building continues to remain an iconic symbol of Escolta and a place for its cultural venues.
Why are these buildings under threat?
Since late 80s up to present, there are buildings in Manila, as well as other cities in Metro Manila that have been torn down and although the pace of that has stopped, it has by no means halted.
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| Ramona Apartments (then and after demolished) |
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| Locsin's Mandarin Oriental and Hotel Intercontinental (now long gone) |
Even Escolta itself and the Binondo-Sta Cruz-San Miguel Districts aren't even escaped from the threat as the former Philippine National Bank and its neighbouring prewar Hamilton Fashion building and the much-known Capitol theatre were demolished. Even the 1925-era original location of the Magnolia Ice Cream Plant in Echague wasn't even escaped from the wrecking ball regardless of numerous concerns related to its age-old structure. But come to think that these edifices stood the test of time if not made by artists whose coveted National Artist Prize has made these buildings well-known and therefore be retained for posterity. But with an interest-seeking order preferring profit over heritage, these rather end under the wrecking ball and making others old under threat.
Truly quite concerning regarding these past reports, especially that with all these incidents, as well as these structures continue to be in a state of threat by so-called developers and all then again that issue becomes an object of discussion and concern amongst heritage and other cultural groups. Thankfully there are good people within the legislature, city government, as well as in the private sector in showing concern on the state of heritage. But does it mean should get contented to these people? These people come and go while those next in line be either serious in preserving heritage or having their principles compromised. Perhaps the bigger issue lies in a stubborn need to tie everything in red tape, while simultaneously confusing basic jurisdictional issues.
Seeing hope from those truly concerned
Luckily there are concerned individuals and groups alike trying to preserve and make relevance the buildings with all its age-old charm. As more and more buildings being demolished for some "modern" ones, these rather affects the districts integrity, like what Arts Serrano of One/Zero Design Collective in BluPrint magazine said:
"Paving way for super-tall buildings maximising floor plates instead of preserving what makes Escolta who she is,"
Quite hopeful isn't it? For as designers, planners, architects, even writers alike expressed concern and showing something a glimpse of future that respects the roots, its identity. As cities like Singapore, HongKong, Taipei, Indonesia trying their "bests" to preserve their heritage by making closer to their futuristic hopes, the idea of applying new ideas in old designs makes a healthy, robust, sustainable community.
And hopefully this doesn't limit to Escolta alone. For sure there are other districts within Metro Manila as well as in the provinces that wished to have a rooted future rather than a rootless one. This rooted future isn't just about creating radical structures or redesigning alone, driven by hope to revive also meant addressing social issues that makes one would think "for whom are they doing" and that is for their fellow folk. The dream of a sustainable but reinvigourated district coincides with the idea of taking back future from those who ought to exploit from time and again as in this ever-continuing past.
However, most these are rather remained as designs, some of which were first experimented on at school or proposed in their design studios, but left archived. But these creations would say provided something that's alternative to an ever-exploitative one what everyone seen nowadays in their districts, in their cities, some even near their homes.
Worse, to see sustainability hijacked by those who are wanting to exploit, treating the idea as an alibi the way using the word "facade" for the sake of retaining the front structure while a new one built inside it- even it negates the integrity of the structure itself as opposed to the much-agreed adaptive reuse of old buildings.
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The fate of these surviving buildings continues to run parallel to that of Manila's fate. Subjected to contradictory forces resulting to mixed results of blessings and curses.
That in the case of Perez-Samanillo, Regina, and Edificio Calvo, these remained intact thanks to the good stewardship of its owners, all driven both by a desire to upheld timeless elegance and the idea of making Escolta, no matter how old its buildings, remains relevant. On the other hand, El Hogar Filipino seemed lucky enough to survive despite threats of demolition like what happned in Capitol theatre or the former PNB main building.
It is not surprising about this matter- especially as newcomers trying to dislodge its former inhabitants from every district, so are the buildings. Expect these be demolished while trying to justify ranging from "keeping its facade" to those of shutting critics down alongside callous handling, and willful caprice of its appointed guardians and developers, who often seem bent on destroying the little that's left of a district's remaining architectural legacy.
But no matter what, cities, specifically its districts tell their stories through their buildings. And Metro Manila (not just Manila alone), being a meltingpot of East and West, shows how its influences enriched through centuries- but more tragic than a calamity is the self-destructing ignorance what most people shown nowadays, of "moving on" as it dismisses heritage as an irrelevant matter, with this dismissing somehow becomes an "opportunity" for these exploiters-to-be to justify their motives, regardless of the protests from a concerned community.
Perhaps, as a concerned folk, it becomes a duty for a guardian of national heritage to ensure its survival and relevance. Is it because of "seeing old as beautiful?" "Sentimentality?" Not really, but come to think that these structures no matter how old it was built these stood the test of time and therefore remain contributing to a district's growth and sustainability. Expect numerous risks and problems as cities are slowly being homogenized with a largely commercial perspective when it comes to planning and application, worse, making its own age-old identity eroding as its timeless-built heritage gets torn down piece-by-piece if not block-by-block. But it is up to every concerned to keep memories alive as these timeless edifices standing not just to keep itself "relevant" so to speak, but to be part of a future that's more than just the delusions shown in each and everyone.