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http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.php?index=2&story_id=62349
By Augusto Villalon

THE START OF THE YEAR IS the time to take stock of the heritage situation, to see where our heritage journey has reached, and to see whether it is arriving at its destination.

Not many thought of heritage conservation in the far-off 1980s when people believed that cultural heritage shackled us to a dark past. Old architecture held neighborhoods and towns from progress, they believed.

Progress demanded replacing the old with the new, building anew over the debris of the old. The cycle of destruction took away many outdated cultural practices that were rapidly abandoned and replaced with the new.

Progress and embracing new ideas are essential to the growth of a society. However, respecting the past is vital in keeping the thread of national continuity alive no matter the march of modernization.

There has been a change of attitudes since then. Conservation issues, the Jai Alai and Arroceros Forest Park demolitions, have become rallying points, making more people aware of their heritage. Now in many agendas is the preservation and revival of Philippine culture-from architecture to festivals, dances, literature, and so much more.

Student correspondence

Letters received recently from students at the University of Santo Tomas prove that the youth is moving into the front lines of conservation.

Mary Shella Senga comments on the revival of the traditional Misa de Gallo procession in the Parian of Cebu that ushered in the city's Christmas season last month.

"The Parian of Cebu is the symbol of change or modernization, but at the same time, (of) saving the culture and traditions that were once experienced by many... Kaguikan sa Parian shows that Cebuanos will always be proud of their heritage and they would always keep in their hearts and minds what they had before (while) coping with the 21st century."

Quennie Chiu says that since she has become aware of conservation, she has "learned more about our culture and (the) heritage of our country."

Jomar Bautista writes that "your column opened our eyes to one of the vital reasons why we (students) should continue to strive to be architects: to reestablish and revive structures that pay homage to Philippine culture and the arts. You also made us see places we failed to recognize as part of our heritage, allowing us to think that these places are part of our culture... "

Jansen Alias writes, "You have reminded me of some of the things that we sometimes are forgetting to consider in architecture, such as environment and heritage, which directly affect us... neglecting them could be detrimental (to) designing an efficient building that would hinder the growth and lives of people in it."

He continues, "Our country is facing different types of challenges today in different fields, including architecture. Really, there is much to be done in order to make more Filipinos realize the unique pride of place in different regions of the archipelago. I believe that as Filipinos, each of us have our own duty to serve our nation that is rich in heritage and treasures. You have featured how each province boasts of a natural or architectural wonder, which is great and really something to be proud of.

"Just as you wrote in some of your articles (Carcar, Cebu), I found out that nothing is impossible if only all of us, i.e. government, citizens, church, NGOs, etc., would get our act together toward one common goal."

Everyone's duty

From Johnus Mirazol come these observations, "I have become an enthusiast of architectural conservation and preservation. I think it is good that even though we are in a period of constructing smart, grand and high-rise structures, we still give importance to the glorious past and history that we have."

Mirazol continues: "Buildings and historic places are non-living entities, but these are mirrors expressing a rich culture and history... but (they) will definitely stand in time, even for centuries, and these witnesses will tell us of the affluent culture and patrimony that was handed to us by our forefathers."

"I hope that there will come a time that architectural heritage conservation and preservation will be the duty (not only) of the few, but of all. It's not yet too late to start rebuilding what we have lost, for that is the only way that we would be able to start the foundation of our future."

Another UST Architecture student, Julius Marzan, writes that articles published on this column provide readers the "information on what's going on in different places in and out of the country," the "historical significance" of structures, and the "need for (their) conservation."

"I am also glad that the cultural importance is pointed out in your articles, which hopefully would boost the enthusiasm of Filipinos (so that they could) improve and beautify the wealth of our culture, especially in places which we can be proud of."

Marzan expresses the hope to develop the "heart for our nation and the motivation in conserving and preserving important structures and places which signify the past; (this would) help shape a better future for the Filipinos."

As the student letters show, we have come quite a way since the 1980s in the quest to preserve our heritage. With the growing involvement of the youth, rediscovering and protecting our heritage will become a national priority sooner than we expect.

E-mail the author at afv@hotmail.com