In my December 4 Manila Bulletin column “Erap, the Heritage Conservator”, I suggested that Mayor Joseph E. Estrada, with his background and proven support for the Arts, is cut out for the role. My column was about recapturing Manila’s former glory, amid the reported conversion of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) into a mall. It elicited several reactions from historians, heritage conservationists and netizens. Some are critical, others helpful.
One of those who sent quite detailed constructive suggestions was Dr. Augusto de Viana, chairperson of the Department of History at the University of Santo Tomas and former head of the Research and Publications Division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
“…Mayor Estrada was reported to have planned to build a shopping mall to replace the Rizal Coliseum. Though Manila already has a lot of malls, it needs the revenue and jobs for its citizens. One does not have to oppose such a mall, as long as the historic structure is preserved.
“Many historic buildings were actually reborn while keeping their old historic structures. In New York the old Chelsea Pier, which is no longer used for its original purpose like the loading and unloading of cargo, is now an upscale shopping and dining facility. The old shop houses along the Singapore River are now restaurants for tourists. The old warehouses used to store spices in Malacca and Penang in Malaysia are now shops and restaurants.
“We do not have to go very far, the old dungeons at Fort Santiago are now tourist shops and the Old Tutuban train terminal is now a bustling mecca for consumer goods.
“Mayor Estrada can do a lot in preserving heritage and at the same time making the city conducive to business by undertaking adoptive reuse of the old historic sites. At the same time, he can do a lot by improving the peace and order condition of the city.
“There are many sites in Manila that can be revived through adoptive reuse. These sites are the Port Area, which can be revived like New York’s Chelsea Pier, the old Central Market, and various buildings and city blocks in Manila which [have] gone to seed. The good mayor should compel the property owners to renovate their properties according to the city master plan or lose them.”
Professor Emilio Ozaeta of the UP College of Architecture underscored the importance of public awareness. “The academe must educate and remind people of the extreme importance of remembering our past through our heritage architecture.” The UP faculty is prepared to hold such public awareness workshops.
Paulo Alcazaren, a noted Heritage Conservationist, is ready to help Manila draft a master plan for preservation and conservation.
Urban Planner Nathaniel “Dinky” von Einsiedel, a pioneer Urban Planner in Asia, heads a top-notch list of experts on all forms of heritage—built, natural and intangible.
As mentioned in the column that sparked this enlightening public debate, there are many persons and philanthropists ready to rally behind making Manila glorious again.
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