CULTURAL advocates and lawmakers have expressed their support for the restoration of the historic Manila Central Post Office building after it was gutted by a massive fire that began late Sunday and lasted until Monday morning.
Filipinos woke up to the news on Monday that one of Manila’s iconic structures, which has been declared an Important Cultural Property, was ablaze.
Photos and videos on social media showed fire and thick smoke engulfing the upper part of the neoclassical building.
The fire was declared under control past 7 a.m., leaving the “whole building” burned down, Philippine Postal Corporation Postmaster Luis Carlos told Saksi Sa Dobol B.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
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Magnum opus
Several netizens and heritage advocates expressed sadness over the fate of the post office building, one of Manila’s most recognizable landmarks.
Built in 1926 and situated at Liwasang Bonifacio, along the banks of the Pasig River, the neoclassical building was designed by Filipino architects Juan Arellano and Tomás Mapúa.
The building is considered as Arellano’s “magnum opus.”
Among the features of the Manila Central Post Office are the 16 Ionic pillars along its facade. A recessed rectangular attic storey sits at the top of the main building, while both sides are flanked with two semi-circular wings. Subsidiary halls, meanwhile, can be found at each end of the main lobby.
World War II did not spare the Manila Central Post Office. It had to undergo repairs in 1946 after it was damaged in the 1945 Battle of Manila during World War II.
The building has retained its original structure.
The neoclassical building was recognized by the National Museum of the Philippines as an “Important Cultural Property” (ICP) in November 2018.
ICPs possess “exceptional cultural, artistic and/or historical significance.”
Under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 or Republic Act No. 10066, “national cultural treasures and national historical landmarks, sites or monuments” are entitled to “priority government funding for protections, conservation and restoration” in times of “armed conflict, natural disasters and other exceptional events that endanger the cultural heritage.”
Save the post office
Cultural advocates and officials said they don’t want the country to lose one of its important landmarks and said they are willing to help in its restoration.
One of these is the National Museum of the Philippines.
“The NMP vows to give its full support to the considerable effort that will be required to address and recover from the devastation wrought by this calamity to such an iconic landmark of Manila and the entire nation,” it said in a Facebook post.
Cultural organization Renacimiento Manila said this tragic fire should serve as a reminder for people to appreciate more of Manila’s heritage and cultural treasures.
The post office could rise again, it said.
“May this event provide the city an opportunity to restore this monumental structure and its environs for the better,” it said. “Manila Central Post Office building has survived the month-long 1945 Battle of Manila, and with our continuous support, she will thrive again.”
Manila Mayor Maria Sheila “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan assured the public that no other building but the Manila Central Post Office could rise on its site as the whole area has been declared a heritage zone.
“Kapag ganito po, hindi na po maari pang patayuan ng kahit anumang gusali maliban sa naturang post office doon sa lugar na ito,” Lacuna-Pangan said in a five-minute Facebook video.
“Po-proteksyunan ng ating zoning ordinance na kahit po ang pamahalaan ng lungsod ng Maynila o kahit ang national government ay hindi maaaring magpatayo ng kahit anumang imprastraktura sa lugar na iyon,” she added.
Lawmakers have also taken action to see to it that the post office would rise again.
Senator Sonny Angara said the Senate would coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management to also look for funds for the national treasure’s restoration. This was upon the directive of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said the government can get funds for the rebuilding from the P13 billion national emergency fund and from the P19.03 billion calamity fund under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Powerful business people can also lend a hand to Philpost through their donations, which, under the National Cultural Heritage Act, will be exempted from the donor’s tax and will be considered as “allowable deduction from the gross income” in the computation of their income tax.
Senators Loren Legarda and Robin Padilla have also called for an inquiry into the Sunday fire incident.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 627, Padilla said that the goal of the investigation is to revisit and strengthen “policies for the preservation and protection of cultural properties against fire and other hazards.”
The Manila Central Post Office has also been serving as headquarters for the PhilPost. The local government of Manila also said that it is in communication with the agency for any assistance that it may need.
