"When Interest-driven Threats trumps 'cultural renaissance'"
(A note after the demolition of Capitol theatre a month ago
and the recent demolition threat over Philamlife building)
Despite the passage of the "National Cultural Heritage Law" (Republic Act No. 10066) some years ago seeking to protect structures over 50 years old as well as those designed by National Artists, it seems that heritage structures seem to have a habit of biting the dust especially in Metro Manila.
Be it the demolition of the old Capitol theatre, former American Chamber of Commerce Building and Uy Su Bin in Binondo, or the already demolished Philippine National Bank in Escolta, the former Philbanking in Port Area, the Mandarin Oriental and the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati, and now seeing the former Philam Life building in Ermita under the death knell of the demolition ball, these edifices, no matter how it was made by a well-known national artist or done decades past and contributed to a country's socioeconomic and cultural developments, these altogether are rather treated as disposable structures that is, to be replaced by some forsaken structures driven by markets with growing demands.
It is unsurprising, for as yours truly seeing those structures in the past, these would say has contributed to a district's, what more of a city's, and even the country's development. That it stood the test of time and thus needs a new lease in life with retrofitting and some adaptive resuse; but as expected, interest seekers especially those with known names rather chose to destroy and replace with something "that appeals to the market", of high-rise condominiums with malls on ground floor, replacing culture with consumerism- that nonetheless worse than the ones who did 9-11 in New York.
“Despite the local government’s reassured support for our heritage sites,
owners continue to replace these structures with new buildings
for better investments,”
for better investments,”
- from a statement made Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista
over the demolition of a heritage house in Quiapo.
And in seeing some pages in Facebook expressing neoliberal "optimism" in a form of high-rise structures over Metro Manila such as those in Manila to Makati, is this the "development" being preached about? And as for government officials who promised to preserve heritage, did they address the problems of those who own buildings of decades past? Most owners even wanted incentives in making their old communities appealing, and some officials do respond including some suggestions from concerned architects and urban planners whose view on heritage conservation and development as down to earth as opposed to so-called "developers"; even Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso had vowed to preserve Manila's cultural and historical landmarks like in the case of Manila Metropolitan Theatre.
Yet the promises brought about by some government officials can be dismissed as empty rhetorics what more of seeing them blindfolded or outright aloof as they fail to see the ever-present state of heritage that's threatened.
“We cannot prohibit somebody to utilize his or her property
as long as they follow the rules.
as long as they follow the rules.
Walang opposition, walang nag-lobby sa amin na heritage site 'yan,”
(There's no opposition, no one did even lobby to us that the place is an heritage site)
- Isko Moreno Domagoso defending the demolition of a heritage house in Quiapo
(which opposed by Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista)
And this person wouldn't be surprised that they are also same as those who "willing to destroy heritage" since "it is not necessary to keep it" if not a "necessary sacrifice for 'development'"- and mayor Domagoso's statement shows its contrary to the promise of renaissance that has shown in the Metropolitan theatre and his Jones Bridge.
But to think that threats over heritage continues to be ongoing, if that's the case, then no wonder why there are those who are sick and tired of a decadent setting, if not willing to revolt against that kind of world such as this Manila has facing. Heritage isn't about churches with adobe brick walls, the antiquated bahay na bato, or even the Torogan. It can also be an art-deco structure, a post-war bungalow, or even the international style building that once made Manila having a showcase of modernity.
Yet these structures, sadly to say, are becoming irrelevant and forgotten in favour of high-rise boxes, substituting culture with consumerism, unless these are to be moved somewhere else such as a theme park where these edifices are rather treated as hotspots at the expense of being removed from its community of origin.
Sources:
https://www.spot.ph/arts-culture/the-latest-arts-culture/82596/demolition-capitol-theater-escolta-a833-20200622
https://www.spot.ph/arts-culture/the-latest-arts-culture/83135/demolition-of-philam-life-auditorium-continues-in-august-2020-a833-20200806
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/354915/heritage-issues-continue-to-hound-manila-despite-renaissance-program/
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/heritage-house-mania-demolition-a00293-20200107