What is a heritage or historical site?

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY -- What is a heritage or historical site? This is the question hounding “rehabilitation/repair/improvement’ of city hall grounds here by the city government particularly the “historical marker” in front of the flag police at city hall.

Oppositionists to the “revision” of the marker led by concerned groups here headed by Dr. Francisco Paraan said the marker should be retained along with the mini-park below it “to preserve the historical site.”  They wanted work stopped.

The issue had caused a ruckus such that officials of National Commission on Culture and Arts and its attached agency National Historical Commission of the Philippines came up to this summer resort to air their views. 

Here, Mayor Mauricio Domogan told NCCA and NHCP officers they could work together, despite “opposing views.”

In a letter dated May 8 to concerned offices, Domogansaid the city government was one with the NCCA/NHCP in  “preservation and protection of heritage/landmark sites which are legally declared as such under the law.”

The issue stemmed from the NCCA/NHCP’s statement of “apparent disregard” by the city government of heritage sites and structures, “due to construction at city hall marked heritage building without prior written approval from the NHCP,” a report of Julie G. Fianza, of the city government information office said.

The mayor in his letter pointed out that only Mansion House was marked by the National Historical Institute in 2009, later declared a “National Historical Landmark” through a resolution.

“Clearly, city hall building is not yet declared as a historical site or historical landmark,” as information from NHCP’s website lists its status as “Level II-With Marker,” the mayor’s letter stated.

“City hall,” Fianza’s report said, “was first constructed in 1910 under the administration of E.W. Reynolds, withstood the ravages of time, destroyed during World War II in 1945, re-constructed in 1949-50; and again massively renovated in 1997-1999.”A testimonial plaque on its frontage states that the “original aesthetic design” was “kept intact for posterity” and its “prominence and overall architectural integrity,” maintained.  

According to the mayor, “ongoing fencing and improvement of the city hall grounds are obviously outside the said five-meter security or buffer zone,” thus not a violation of Republic Act 10066 or National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 which mandates marking, prioritized protection, maintenance of the cultural heritage and integrity.”

Domogan also cited construction of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Baguio-Benguet Chapter building beside the Justice Hall, both within city hall compound, approved by council resolution in 2014.   

The mayor said, “declared or not as a Historical Site, we will do our part to maintain the prominence and the architectural integrity of the Baguio City Hall Compound.”

As to Burnham Park, whose title is with Department of Tourism  and the TIEZA, the Baguio Heritage Foundation in June 2014 reportedly informed the city government of a filed petition to NHCP to declare the park and 12 cluster areas as heritage/historical sites.

“There was no copy furnished, no notice and no order was received by the city on mandatory requirements for the declaration,” the mayor stated in this letter. “A letter from NHCP for Burnham Park’s recognition for National Historical significance was received April 2015.”     

Meanwhile, Domogan said the proposed parking area at Melvin Jones, Burnham Park was the subject of a feasibility study and evaluated by a technical working group.

Oppositionists to the project said the area was also a historical site and one of few pen areas of the city which should be preserved as is.

The proposal is subject to council evaluation, for consultation and public hearing, a resolution and public bidding. If the area is declared as national historic site, plans are submitted to the NHCP for appropriate action, according to the mayor.   

In a media forum, Domogan said boundaries for developments within city hall grounds should be set through a survey, and that approved or disallowed improvements should be known based from NHCP or NCCA standards. An institutionalized committee should also be formed including a city representative for the purpose, the mayor said.

The issue is as clear as mud, a pundit said during council deliberation.  

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(Here are two stories which found their way to our mailbox that being first may not necessarily be better):

In a certain place in Africa, there is a road that runs north to south. At the bottom of a steep valley is a river. At the river the road narrows into one lane. The bridge over the river is only one car wide. 

One day a farmer was driving the north-bound road. He arrived at the bridge at the same time as another farmer who had come from the opposite direction.

Both thought they could get there first and beat the other to the crossing. Both were in their pick-up trucks. Both screeched to a halt within inches of each other in the middle of the bridge.

I will return to the end of the story later. For now, let me tell you story number two, about what I saw in a restaurant recently.

Story No.2

Story number two happened in a fast food joint that I was in. The lunchtime rush was on. Things were busy. Tables were scarce.

A man walked in with his two daughters. The children skipped into the restaurant each holding one of their father's hands.

There was one remaining table. They spotted it and gratefully occupied it, smiling at their fortune. They dumped their bag on the table and then collectively took their place in the ordering queue.

Almost immediately after them, three girls entered -- a few steps behind. They saw the father and daughters pip them at the post. The last table was gone.

They watched the family take its place in the queue. A short hushed discussion. Stares in the man's direction.Surreptitiously, two of them eased themselves into the table the family had "booked".

With a subtle hand movement one of them displaced the man's bag into the no man's land between another table. The third member of the posse was dispatched to the order line, just as if nothing had happened.

When the father returned he was initially puzzled. He stood there holding the tray piled with food and drinks. You could tell he felt slightly silly for a moment. An unexpected pang of self-doubt masked his face.

Then he noticed his bag - conveniently offset from its original position. This was no accident of nature, no slippage by gravity, no earth tremor. In the words of American law firm TV dramas—this was "pre-meditated"!

The penny dropped. Puzzlement became annoyance. The children hid behind his back."Excuse me," he said firmly, "but I think you are in our place."The two girls stared back blankly. Silence. Their look said: "What are you going to do about it? Didn't you know that possession is ninth tenths of the law?"

It is a classic question. What are the rights and entitlements of the First Arriver? Is the world really about first-come-first-served? Is it really about first-past-the-post takes all?

Back to story number one.

As you recall, both drivers arrived at the same time on the bridge that could only take one car at a time.Driver number one rolled down his window and yelled at the other man:"I don't back up for fools!"

Driver number two paused, creased his brow and then calmly said: "Well, I do!"

Driver number two shifted his pick up into reverse gear and backed off the bridge, allowing the angry other to pass by.

Back to story number two.

"Let's go, girls," the father said, as he calmly put his family into reverse and backed away from the table.

We live in a world of people who are simultaneously threatened and self-entitled. The need to be first explains so much of the world.

"I don't back up for fools!""Well, I do!"

Sometimes it is less foolish to be second than to be first.

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You see incidents like these everyday – like what is happening in the West Philippine Sea or China Sea where a bully is aggressively using its size and might.

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On the 15th year anniversary of the Northern Philippine Times, we would like to thank our readers, advertisers, writers, those in circulation and advertising, friends and all who in one way or the other, helped the NPT achieve its 15th year. There are still a lot of things to be hurdled as the NPT enters its 16th year, but then, the challenges are what keep us going. Thank you so much!