"Steel Pylons over a Concrete Shell"

"Steel Pylons over a Concrete Shell"

Recently, this writer saw new steel foundations towering over the shell of a once familiar edifice. 

Became a shell of once was few years ago, its current owners this time setting up new foundations with a billboard showing its possible look: that of a glass structure that's towering over the once dominant concrete edifice. 
To some would say it is an improvement of an existing structure, especially that it meets modern demands and at the same time respecting its decades-old beauty; but to those truly concerned, this somewhat makes one say a mockery especially for a place that should meant to be preserved for posterity- especially those who remember for its ice cream churned in its halls.


A familiar sight now gone to the dogs

Made in 1926 after San Miguel brought Magnolia from
a former US Army cook, the plant was originally a two-
Story building. It added a third floor during San Miguel's
reconstruction period after the war. 

Originally made during the American period and rebuilt after the war, the Magnolia Ice Cream Plant (or its actual name "Magnolia Dairy Products Plant") was a familiar sight in Echague, Manila. Given its stripped classicist architecture to that of being the ice cream plant complete with a bar waiting for those who want a good dessert of Magnolia's favourites. 

That, according to Rene Escalante of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the plant, inaugurated on October 1, 1926 (a year after Magnolia was founded in 1925), “incorporated the most advanced dairy processing facilities of the time, and is also dubbed as one of the great ice creams in Asia.” Therefore, the place itself was part of Filipino gastronomic history and of course, culture. 

However, despite concerns from heritage conservationists, the edifice was demolished by its new owners, that of Lucio Tan's Tanduay Distillery. Initially the structure was meant to be completely gone until being compelled by the authorities at least to leave the shell of the entire structure and instead incorporate to a new one, in a manner of preserving the fronts of buildings that have elegant architectural designs while constructing a modern building behind its old or original front.


"least it saved the structure"!?

"Towering over Gumbert's edifice: 
Steel Pylons set up on the former
ice cream plant's façade"

To some would say "least it saved the structure" by letting the shell remain, but to the truly concerned would say that the owners mocked heritage that instead of preserving for posterity they opted to destroy it. Worse, approved by a former mayor several years ago despite considered as an important cultural property! Isn't it that bullshit? Wouldn't be surprised that there are old structures that are being threatened by the wrecking ball- all thanks to those who care about that distorted interpretation of "progress" that is, at the expense of heritage in districts known for its roots. "Progress" in a sense that they don't consider the folk, much more using them as cheap labour for numerous projects to brag over. Meanwhile those assuming to be "concerned" would claim that these as for the good of the district even it requires sacrifices especially those affected by the fire and hence weaken its foundations- this made this writer wonder: since they're trying to be concerned then how come they failed to stem the destruction of heritage? Quite considering tho the idea of facadism, but as developers seemingly adopt this as part of their destruction spree in old yet intact structures, then this becomes ridiculous. 

For the Tans behind Tanduay would say that they had no choice but to make compromises with the authorities, if not feigning ignorance as they disregard the cultural value for a "prime lot" especially in a busy district of Manila. Hence, they had to adopt facadism instead of its earlier outright destruction. Worse, to see a mayor who, before his exit years had to approve those demolition permits as if those edifices, no matter how significant decades ago were deemed irrelevant in a time condominiums prevail over the metro.
But with "facadism" would say that it created an alibi for these developers to "justify" their actions by telling they're making the structure relevant with modern demands while demolishing the structure's integrity from the inside! It did happen at the former Life theatre at Quezon boulevard, Uy Su Bin and the former American Chamber of Commerce building in Binondo- whose shells as meant to compliment the proposed condominiums that worse, may affect the community as it distorts heritage and identity.

Ironically, the Tans even told the folk that the old Tanduay Distillery in Quiapo district, Manila will be renovated as a museum to showcase Tanduay's products and distillery production methods. It was decommissioned last 2013, but "will serve as a backup plant" hence it remains intact as opposed to the 1926-era edifice.


A legacy of bridging industrial need and classical beauty

The edifices made/inspired by Gabler-Gumbert:

Manila Glass Plant, Farola Tondo; the former 

Coca Cola bottling plant at Otis; the former San
Miguel main office, originally part of the brewery
 and now as a government building in

Malacanang complex, and the now-demolished 
Magnolia Dairy Products Plant in Echague

Perhaps, as construction workers continue to set new foundations over the shell of once was, this writer would say that the building that once stood did bridge modern industrial need and the classical beauty of its design. Its architect, Arthur Gabler-Gumbert, who started his architectural practise in the Philippines in 1912, stresses a less ornamental form of classical architecture as well as the use of concrete as a building material, and most of his buildings were that of edifices meant for San Miguel in its early years as a brewery: the former brewery buildings in Malacañang, the glass plant in Farola, Tondo, Coca Cola in Otis, and of course- the Magnolia Dairy Products Plant.

Quite palatial in its appearance, yet happened to be built as a factory that produces beer, softdrink, milk, and ice cream.

Nowadays, only the former main office in Malacañang (now as a government building), the glass plant (still under San Miguel making bottles), and the former Coca Cola plant in Otis (now as a restaurant) remains. 

And as for Magnolia itself, the former division moved to Aurora Boulevard in 1970. A new plant, designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin, was promoted as the "largest semi-automated dairy and ice cream plant in the far east". But for many it became a place for field trips, showcasing ice cream making and of course, its ice cream parlor bigger than in Echague. Sadly, that iconic edifice made by a national artist was also demolished despite protestations by heritage conservationists and architects, and in its place, a mixed residential-commercial complex known as "Robinsons Magnolia" was built. But despite its iconic name trying to invoke memories of its place once stood, it has nothing to do with the iconic brand, let alone a name of a flower.