When heritage issues still continue to rock "Old Manila" despite promises of conservation and revival

When heritage issues still continue to rock "Old Manila"

despite promises of conservation and revival

(or: "all after seeing demolished prewar structures over Binondo")

As more and more heritage structures be it pre or post war, are being demolished by scrupulous developers for supertall buuldings, of maximising floor plates all for the sake of accommodating new clients, all these are at the expense of preserving what makes old Manila who she is. 

These are the thoughts brought about by this writer especially after reading reports on Old Manila's heritage as well as those of traversing the streets after a glass of ice-cold Cafe Latte in "The Den" at Perez-Samanillo. Upon walking on those streets and saw once grand old structures undergone demolition, it seems that despite the local government's assuance to preserve those old sites, developers rather chose either to replace those altogether, if not assuming "they will preserve" by keeping its facade and becoming part of its proposed high-rise structure.

The former "American Chamber of Commerce"
Headquarters at Dasmarinas St. in Binondo, 
Demolished save for its Façade as part of a 
"high-rise building"

What a mockery isn't it? For knowing that as Old Manila's old structures as quite few why on earth to destroy it and be replaced by another very tall building? Does that district really need another high-rise in an already crowded area? For sure since 2013 or even earlier Manila has seen the demolition of various structures, be it the Old Meralco building in San Marcelino, Admiral Apartments, the former Philippine National Bank at Escolta, the former building of the Philippine Free Press at Avenida, and others all gave way to "new developments" which are rather high-rise residential buildings mostly catering to Mainlanders.

And because of this kind of mockery this also quite lamenting. That as this writer saw once-stood structures like the former Capitol theatre and its neighbour the Olsen Building at Escolta, the former main office of the American Chamber of Commerce at Dasmarinas, and the original site of the Hospicio de San Jose in Binondo, these structures, no matter it was prewar or made by a national artist, rather end destroyed by the wrecking ball all thanks to those scrupulous developers and government officials who gave the "go signal" for its outright demolition. 

Also to think that with those edifices were also at least 50 years old or even older, these are meant not to destroy it. For as National Historical Commission of the Philippines chair Rene Escalante once reminded that:

"Preserving the building's aesthetic character can be the owner’s contribution to the cultural heritage not only of their community but also of our country, through the conservation of built examples of significant design styles,”

Above: the former Land Management Bureau 
at Plaza Cervantes, now abandoned while its
neighbour, the former office of the Bank of the 
Philippine Islands, now demolished. 
Below: The former Capitol theatre and
Olsen Building, both demolished Save for its façade
and its "iconic" tower to be part of a high-rise building

But despite this message this doesn't matter for those scrupulous developers in connivance with some interest-seekers in government. And with that recent demolition of those edifices shows that these greedy developers doesn't mind about its priceless value as they demolish it altogether along with some "concerned" authorities who able to salvage some "priceless artifacts" and be treated as objects of curiosity in a museum, if not feigning concern that they would least keep a façade of that old structure and be integrated in a new one such as their envisioned skyscraper, or let someone like Acuzar to remove it piece by piece, chunk by chunk to be "rebuilt" at his pseudo-Manila in Bagac, Bataan.

And to think that as opposed to the former HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation that's been rehabilitated and given new life, as well as those of the former Citibank main office that's also given a new lease, and other remaining structures which continues to remain prominent as in the past, that to see some demolished regardless of its timeless beauty would say why on earth had to demolish those especially despite opposition by some agencies concerned? Or is it that there are institutions who supposed to be proactive in preserving heritage as rather "reactive" on those events? For sure there are good planners who tries to invigourate old communities, then why was it rather not taken seriously by authorities such as those who promised revival? Should everyone wait for another to be demolished-El Hogar's even threatened by those wanting to demolish it, no matter how lucky it was saved by some restraining orders and from agencies trying to preserve it. 

Also not surprising that Manila mayor Isko Moreno who once had vowed to preserve those structures the way he tried to revive the underpass and putting fountains in the Anda Monument (yet didn't even stop from demolishing the former PhilBanking main office designed by Zaragoza); but since he's the same mayor who seemingly becoming aloof on what goes on with those structures, would say that controversies surrounding heritage will continue to hound the capital, what more seeing those truly concerned expressing disappointment from those demolitions two and fro over Manila. What more that in this ever-present pandemic it becomes an opportunity to do a dirty job of destroying for no one dare to protest against their move. 

Sadly, despite all these concerns, not all people got that grasp of thought about preserving or reviving heritage. There are times that "commoners" especially those commenting in social media sites would say it's okay with demolishing those old structures, given that these as "fugly" and "irrelevant" as opposed to what they perceived as modern and "new"; but ironically, they're the ones who did amaze at the familiar structures of Intramuros or Vigan because it is "postcardish" as opposed to the 'fugly' ones they saw in Old Manila downtown.
But at the same time it is also unsurprising that there are those who also wanted to keep the spirit of Old Manila alive prefer to keep it in its intended place, what more to rehabilitate, given a fresh coat of paint or varnish, and make it relevant with the signs of the times, as architects and urban planners concerned have that best practises in redesigning the district or even Manila in general all for a glimpse of a future setting- and these are driven by the thought of making Manila as a healthy and robust neighbourhood. Right was Architect Arts Serrano of One/Zero Design Collective for that thought, especially that from his office located at Luna de San Pedro's Perez-Samanillo, he, his group, and others concerned has that yearning of making that Old Manila feel being invigourated and progressive even it doesn't need to destroy its architectural gems for that sake of goddamn progress.