Solon wants House to probe demolition of historical sites

MANILA, Philippines–Party-list lawmaker is seeking a probe into the deterioration of historical and cultural sites around Metro Manila, many of which have been demolished or are about to be torn down as Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon asked the House committee on Metro Manila development to look into what he calls the “historical and cultural devaluation” of several old buildings or areas in the capital.

Under House Resolution 1566, Ridon cited the sorry state of the Army Navy Club, the old Meralco building, the Anda Circle, the Philippine Post Office, the Manila Metropolitan Theater and El Hogar Filipino, which he considered to be among the old properties in Manila suffering from

deterioration.

Anda Circle

He said the internal structure of the Army Navy Club on Roxas Boulevard, which was established in 1909 to serve as an exclusive social haven for US soldiers during their occupation, was demolished to pave the way for its redevelopment into a boutique hotel.

The demolition, which has been denounced by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), is a clear violation of the National Heritage and Cultural Act which provides for cultural preservation as a strategy of maintaining Filipino identity, Ridon added.

The club was designated as a national historical landmark by cultural agencies in 1991.

Ridon said the old Meralco building on San Marcelino Street—which dates back more than 50 years and is considered an important cultural property—was demolished in 2013 despite opposition from heritage activists batting for the adaptive reuse of the building.

“The building was designed by Juan Arellano and featured the art deco style. Aside from the architectural craftsmanship, the façade of this building used to house the bas relief ‘Furies’ sculpted by Italian artist expatriate Francesco Riccardo Monti,” Ridon said.

In the same vein, Ridon noted that the Department of Public Works and Highways was planning to demolish the Anda Circle located at the boundary of Intramuros and Port Area and transfer the monument there to ease up traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

The monument was constructed in the late 18th century upon the orders of then Governor General Maria de la Torre in honor of Simon de Anda y Salazar who served as the governor general of the Philippines from 1770 to 1776. Anda was said to have rebelled against British invaders and led a resistance movement when he fled to Bulacan and Pampanga. He likewise denounced the King of Spain for subjecting the Philippines to deplorable conditions.

As for the PhilPost Office in Lawton, there was a plan by a construction firm that built the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore to redevelop the building into a hotel under Public-Private Partnership or PPP, Ridon said.

“Fronted by the iconic structure of national hero Andres Bonifacio, the building served as the main administrative office PhilPost for 86 years. It boasts of a neoclassical style and was built in 1926 and survived World War II,” according to Ridon.

Ridon also cited the case of the Manila Metropolitan Theater, formerly known as the Grand Old Dame of Manila Theater, which was once the center of cultural arts in the country and etched its name in history as the home of zarzuelas in the 1930s.

As for El Hogar Filipino, the NHCP has been pushing since 2012 for the adaptive reuse of the building constructed in 1914 at the corner of Juan Luna and Muelle de Industria Streets in Binondo, Ridon said. The news about the demolition of El Hogar Filipino came out in February 2014 when tenants were asked to move out of the building.

“Loose preservation, conservation and restoration plans and actual work on national treasures and cultural properties make these vulnerable to deterioration. Congress must act as a steward for the protection and preservation of cultural properties by ensuring that laws intended for such purpose are enforced and violations and violators should be held liable,” Ridon said.