Rational Insanity
Conserving the past
I haven't gone to Vigan yet; only to Tagbilaran, Bohol, Silay in Negros, and Intramuros in Manila . Despite my not being able to visit Vigan yet, I already have an idea of the sizeable number of heritage houses we have all over the country. In both Iloilo and Capiz there are also a large number of houses that we could consider heritage houses, however, in these two places, the houses are barely identified and reported to the National Historical Institute for appropriate conservatory actions. It saddens me to see these treasures defiled and indiscriminately converted into commercial areas or boarding houses. However, we cannot blame the private owners for not putting much attention into the heritage they have inherited from their ancestors because of the lack of government support for their heritage houses. There are a handful of conservation societies all over the country headed by the National Heritage and Conservations Society, chaired by Gemma Cruz Araneta.
Last year, I had the chance to communicate with Ms. Araneta, but that exchange was for the identification and restoration of Gabaldon buildings all over the country. Gabaldon buildings are old public school buildings built during the American Commonwealth Period through the initiative of then representative, Isauro Gabaldon. These school buildings look the same wherever in the country they are. While it is true that the NHCS is bent on preserving these remnants of the past, they cannot function properly to salvage various structures all over the country to include old houses if not for the initiative of local arts councils, heritage societies, and even private owners.
There is a misconception that once your house is presented to the NHI for identification as a heritage site; you can no longer utilize your house the way you would want to. The truth is, you can, but with the expert assistance of the NHI. In other words, every time you want to put up a restaurant or a store in your old house, you may do so, but NHI experts would help you during the construction in such a way that much of the original structure remains intact and only minor renovations will be needed. I have seen restaurants in Tagbilaran that used to be old houses – these restaurants have maintained the colonial charm that the houses are known for at the same time catering to the dining public. Because of the assistance of the NHI they have managed to throw in a few more fringe benefits, such as having a museum in the restaurant at the same time, and always having a stream of visitors to come and buy their specialties and souvenirs as their houses have already become an item in the tour itineraries of both private and public tour groups. Aside from these, they also have an official NHI Heritage Marker to flaunt.
Here in Roxas City I have seen the Belo House, a Spanish bahay na bato in Punta Tabuc, along the river turned into a boarding house and it breaks my heart to see real history go to waste. These houses are the only reminders we have of the pomp and ostentation of our ancestors. Although such traits may be misconstrued as being ‘pro-colonizer' we cannot really help but marvel at the architecture and the art that came out of this showiness of our ancestors, and hence, there is always a reason to preserve and conserve these gems from the past. I often wish to have a house as beautiful as the heritage houses, unfortunately, ours was burned during the Japanese occupation because of the burned earth movement when all of the city residents burned down their houses when they evacuated so that the Japanese would have nowhere to stay. The house that we are living in right now is already made in keeping with American Architecture; even then, the criteria for heritage status has already changed trimming down the number of years to twenty instead of the former fifty.
I truly hope that those who read my column would acquire a newfound appreciation for our heritage structures. If you are one of those who actually own an old house, do not hesitate to write the NHI and apply for heritage status. There is no other way we can preserve our past but to try and hold on to the tangible remainders of our history. While it is true that our past lives on in our hearts and our minds, it is always nice to have something to show our children and grandchildren, something that would remind them how glorious we actually are as a people.
Be rational; be insane…every once in a while! TTFN!
Byers! I love you all!!!