The Rest is Still Unwritten.

indiohistorian:

A very sad news today. I heard from some friends that apparently, a Chinese businessman has authorized the demolition of the former Meralco Head Office Building, which is nothing short of a very important heritage site. The building is now being demolished as we speak. I’m spreading the word since this is in complete disregard for our past and a violation of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. This is a repeat of the tragedy of the Jai Alai building demolition in Manila years back…

Ivan Henares described the issue as follows:

It’s being described as a travesty as vicious as the demolition of the Jai Alai Building! We just lost the Meralco Head Office in San Marcelino, Manila, an Art Deco gem designed by Architect Juan Arellano in 1936. Its facade has relief sculptures by Francesco Ricardo Monti. The Arellano-Monti collaboration makes the building even more significant.

According to Architect Paulo Alcazaren, the Meralco Head Office is “one of the key urban edifices in burgeoning Manila, the headquarters of the power and transportation company Meralco (Manila Electric Rail and Light Company). It was one of the most modern commercial buildings in Manila before the war and was designed in the Art Deco-streamline style. It had the country’s first air-conditioned office spaces (Carrier). The building’s most distinctive feature was a tall (four-story) sculptural relief by Francesco Monti.”

On the Monti work, Architect Manolo Noche notes, “More than any other works by Monti, the ‘Furies’ is his one big commissioned bas relief that is not religious in nature. This should be declared a national work of art. If lost this is tantamount to artistic murder.”

What saddens me even more is our helpless response to try to stop the demolition. We found out yesterday that the property is now owned by a Chinese businessman. Sorry for the stereotypes but when that’s the case, we usually know what happens next.

Alcazaren asks, “Why lose another heritage building? Why don’t people see the value in conserving layers of history?” He adds, “[layers] without which we will eventually lose all ties to the past, all hope of a foundation for an urban future, a future that now seems destined to create placeless cites, soul-less buildings, devoid of history, culture or sense of identity, save those imposed by the gods of profit.”

The fact that it is happening now, with RA No. 10066 - National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 in place, is totally unacceptable. Maybe our legislators, especially the sponsors of the law, should start asking for answers. Have they given more teeth to an agency that doesn’t seem to know how (or want) to use it? We need answers fast! The NCCA needs to file cases now!

There are ways to preserve this building, like putting it to good use, making it a social housing of sorts, like what they’re doing in other countries. Instead, profit has become more important than preserving the priceless history of the building.

(Photos are from this forum).