“Pride of Place” revived by Mayor Alfredo S. Lim

Since Mayor Alfredo S. Lim revived and added the “heritage” component to the Manila Historical (and Heritage) Commission (MHHC), the City has become a center of cultural activities and historical commemorations, awakening a certain “pride of place” among Manileños.

Saved by Mayor Lim from demolition, the former Army & Navy Club building, circa 1911, landmark of the Burnham’s “City Beautiful” plan for Manila, is now open to those who want to visit the Museo ng Maynila. This was established by Mayor Lim during his first tenure but was closed during the past administration. Last July 2007, it reopened with the inimitable Curt Teich collection of old Manila postcards..

As restoration and development plans are being completed, the Army & Navy Club cum Museo ng Maynila has become the veritable center of Mayor Lim’s “historical and cultural awakening” program, included in his 11-point agenda.

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim has standing instructions for to the city government’s departments to cooperate with each other and work in unison and harmony for the good of the city and its inhabitants. In accordance with the Mayor’s policy, the MHHC is working jointly with the following departments: Office of Chief of Staff, City Administrator, Legal Office, City Engineer, City Planning Office, Museo ng Maynila, Manila Tourism, Parks Development, Manila Social Welfare, Barangay Bureau, NGOs Office, Division of City Schools, and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

The following are the programs implemented by the MHHC.

A Filipino tradition, the “tertulia” was a social get-together of friends and like-minded individuals to converse about current issues enhanced with musical presentations, usually extemporaneous. The “Tertulia sa Museo” are held at the elegant atrium of the Army & Navy Club, now Museo ng Maynila. Date: monthly, usually on the first Monday. Time: 3-6pm. Usual topics: Mnila studies, identification of heritage and historical landmarks of the city, how best to commemorate heroes and historical events, and turning points in Philippine history.

In the 2007 “tertulias”, history professors from UP Manila and Diliman, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the City Colleges of Manila and their students have attended. The Division of City Schools often sends student rondallas to show odd their musical talent. During the December 2007 tertulia Prof. Jaime Veneracion launched his latest history book. (MHHC partners-: Museo ng Maynila, Manila Tourism, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila)

 This is an art appreciation program specially designed for senior citizens although not restricted to them. Barangay officials and members, youth councils and Manila civil servants are also included. The MHHC, Museo ng Maynila NGOs Office are jointly implementing this program with the collaboration of Filipino painters. These painters give on site appreciation lectures at the art galleries of the GSIS, Metropolitan Museum, National Museum of the Filipino People and other institutions in Manila. This is a monthly activity. (MHHC partners- Museo ng Maynila, Pamantasan ng Maynila, Manila Social Welfare department, senior citizen’s office, private sector- “Agos Kulay” watercolor painters.)

Manila is the country’s leading heritage city with influences from different cultures- native, Spanish, American and Latin. However, its built heritage resources- architectural, historical and cultural- have not been given the proper care and attention. The identification and documentation of these should be done, for the benefit of future generations. There are several schools in Manila with faculties of architecture, engineering, urban planning and fine arts and these workshops are designed for them. These workshops give basic training on architectural documentation using Manila’s built heritage resources as objects of study. This is a quarterly activity of the MHHC.

The MHHC has invited the City of Manila Engineering Office, City Planning Office, Intramuros Administration and the National Historical institute to participate in these workshops. The Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), the private sector partners, is represented by Arch. M.G. Patawaran, directors/ trustee who prepares and supervises the workshop program.

During the first series of 3-day workshops held in April, architecture students and veteran government bureaucrats made technical drawings of the Army & Navy Club building. Civil servants felt energized by the youthful enthusiasm of architecture students while the latter deepened their knowledge about heritage conservation.

Participants came from UST, UP, and from schools in Bacolod and Nueva Caceres. The architects and engineers from Intramuros Administration and City Engineers Office architects participated Archs. Manuel Noche and Rene Mata (HCS director/ treasurer HCS) of UST and UP respectively also participated. (MHHC partners—Museo ng Maynila, City Engineers Office, City Planning Office, private sector – Heritage Conservation Society. )

 This is another quarterly activity held at the Museo ng Maynila ( Army & Navy Club). Due to successful networking with other agencies both local and foreign, the MHHC receives requests for lecturers who want to share their knowledge and experience with heritage advocates in the Philippines.

The first in the series (February 2008) featured Ms. Tina Paterno a leading conservationists in New York. Her lecture was most appropriate because she spoke about the problems of and solutions for heritage buildings made of adobe, coral stones and bricks, and the proper use of the “paletada”.

A monsignor from Santa Rita, Pampanga, who came because he was worried about the state of the church there. The day after the lecture, he took Ms. Tina Paterno to Pampanga to assess the church. The second lecture ( April 2008) was given by Arch. Bruce Dawbin who talked about heritage conservation in Australia. (MHHC partners- Museo ng Maynila, City Engineers Office, City Planning Office, private sector- Heritage Conservation Society )

 This MHHC project is done in cooperation with the Manila City Planning Office, Parks and development and the Pamantasan ng Maynila. There are seventy-five parks and plazas in Manila so there are three tours in all. The first tour took place last 19 April, 35 people joined, the PLM lent the MHHC an air-conditioned coaster, Head of City Planning Office, Mr. Robert Amores, set the itinerary and gave the historical background of the parks and plazas, in Districts 1 and 2, included in the first tour.

Arch. Manuel Noche (UST) and Prof. Fernando Zialcita ( Ateneo U.) gladly volunteered more architectural and historical tidbits which made the tour even more interesting. This is a monthly activity, held on Saturdays from 8-11:30 pm. The meeting place is the Freedom Triangle of Manila City Hall ( Arroceros St.) Snacks are served on board. (MHHC partners- Museo ng Maynila, City Planning Office, Pamantasan ng Maynila)

 The MHHC and the Manila Tourism Office plan these commemorations in honor of national heroes and those born in Manila. Mayor Alfredo S. Lim leads these commemorations and his messages, he stresses that these events are conducted for the benefit of the younger generations whose interest in history should be awakened and deepened. ( MHHC partners- Manila Tourism, Museo ng Maynila, Division of City Schools, City Engineers Office.)

For more info, you may contact the:

MANILA HISTORICAL & HERITAGE COMMISION

Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta - Secretariat

Museo ng Maynila (Former Army & Navy Club Bldg.) Ground Floor, South Blvd. Ermita, Manila. 1000.

Telefax: (0632) 524-54-91 | 405-01-35

Email Add: gemma601@yahoo.com

Top