The word “photobomber” is the term used for the heavily criticized 49-storey Torre de Manila in Ermita. Today, it is now the backdrop of the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park as, in 2017, the Supreme Court lifted the temporary restraining order on the construction as there was no law or local ordinance that prohibits the construction of the condominium “due to its effect on the background ‘view, vista, sightline, or setting’ of the Rizal Monument.” Recently, the word has again been resurrected and, in the crosshairs this time, is the 31-storey University Homes Recto condominium being built just 75 meters away from the historic Minor Basilica of San Sebastian in Quiapo, Manila.
We should have learned from the outcome of the complaint that failed to stop the construction of the Torre de Manila as the same may happen in the case of the San Sebastian Street high-rise. Since plans for its construction were announced three years ago, the project has been opposed, with residents pointing out the immense traffic it will cause to the single-lane, one-way motorist barangay road.
There is also an issue larger than a photobomber—public safety. Aside from the basilica (which is already undergoing a massive restoration), what’s at risk are the community – the people and their homes. The excavations will weaken the foundation of old houses in the area and the dust, dirt and toxic waste discharges from the construction can jeopardize the health of the residents.
This was before a building permit for the said project was issued.
However, authorities approved the project in 2018 and interest over its adverse effect on the church’s structure was only recently revived after reports that construction of the said high rise has been underway amid the pandemic. However, there’s a conundrum for this conservation-versus-development dispute. Last July 16, 2019, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the National Museum of the Philippines, long time guardians of the country’s culture and heritage, issued a clearance to Summithome Realty Corp., the condominium developer.
On September 28, 2020, the San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation sent individual letters to the Chairpersons of NCCA and NHCP, and the Director General of the National Museum to get urgent clarifications, hoping to find out “how [the agencies] assessed the possible effects of the building’s design and construction activities on the architectural and structural integrity of San Sebastian Basilica and the surrounding houses.”
Meanwhile, the foundation turned to social media to seek public support, launching an online petition to stop the construction and seeking to raise 400,000 signatures by August 2021 (the 400th anniversary of the very first San Sebastian Church). According to Samantha Pacardo, Fundraising and Communications Manager, as of this writing, they were able to collect 31,742 signatures. They are also actively doing interviews with the media to better explain the seriousness of the issue. The Manila Cathedral, in Intramuros, also backed the online campaign.
Why is it so important to protect the basilica? Well, for one, it is unique. The present earthquake-proof, Neo-Gothic-style church holds the distinction of being the first and only one of its kind in the Philippines, being the only all-steel church in Asia, the only prefabricated steel church in the world, the second prefabricated structure in the world after the Eiffel Tower of Paris (French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel himself is also rumored to have been involved in the basilica’s construction) and probably the first prefabricated building in the world.
Completed in 1891, the structure was designed by Don Genaro Palacios y Guerra, a Spanish engineer. Palacios’ design, a variation of Earthquake-Baroque, was said to have been inspired by the 14th century Gothic Cathedral of Burgos in Spain. The 52 tons of prefabricated steel sections from Belgium were imported, piece by piece, in eight separate shipments (total load: 50,000 tons) and erected by Belgian engineers.
The basilica has central nave 12 meters from the floor to the springing dome and 32 meters to the tip of the spires, two openwork towers, steel vaulting and beautiful stained glass windows. The interiors, hand painted to look like faux marble, has paintings and statues of saints done by the Academia de Dibujo, Pintura y Arte, headed by multi-awarded painter Lorenzo Rocha. The basilica’s walls and ceiling also feature the works of turn-of-the-century artists Isabelo Tampinco and Felix Martinez.
The basilica also carries with it a lot of prestige and significance. On June 24, 1890, Pope Leo XIII granted it basilica status. This engineering marvel was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and a National Cultural Treasure in 2011. In 2000 and 2010, it was listed as “endangered” in the Watch list of Cultural Heritage at Risk by the World Monuments Watch. The construction of a high rise behind it will also ruin the basilica’s chances of being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Now that the condominium’s construction has begun, heritage conservationists warn that, aside from the “photobombing” issue, it is also looming threat as well for the basilicas structural integrity and the safety of the community there.
However, there is hope on the horizon as there is now a bill that sets to put into law banning of structures that obstruct or disrupt views of our national cultural properties that is nearing approval. Last, March 9, 2021, the House of Representatives, spurred on by the controversial Torre de Manila “photobombing” issue, approved, on second reading, House Bill No. 8829 (also known as the Cultural Property Sightline Act) that aims to amend Republic Act No. 10066 (the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009).
However, per the standard lawmaking process, the bill will still have to go through three readings both in the House and in the Senate before a conference committee settles the bill. Should the measure be approved, the bill will then be transmitted to the President for approval. Once signed into law, the shrines, landmarks and monuments, as declared by the NHCP, will be covered and protected and obstructive buildings or structures will be “condemned, demolished, and abated by the appropriate LGU (local government unit) at the expense of the violator.” Those looking to save San Sebastian can only hope that it will not be too late to turn things around for one of the country’s most important architectural treasures.
The foundation truly believes in the power of a community and they are inviting everyone to help in saving San Sebastian Basilica by signing over at http://bit.ly/SaveSanSebastian. They are also asking people for help by extending their call for help by sharing their posts and tagging their friends so others can be aware about what’s going on in San Sebastian. To help this campaign grow, they are open to new partnerships, welcoming people and organizations who’d like to do more to collaborate with them.
Photos published with permission from San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation
