The spirit of freedom lives on in history, but what if Pinoys neglect their heritage?

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror

WHEN the Manila Central Post Office in Lawton went up in flames last May 22, it riled up netizens and heritage advocates, who mourned the loss of the historical structure, bawling over the seeming neglect of many of the vestiges of our glorious past. And expectedly, on cue, lawmakers and various politicians, wanted to set off yet another hearing to probe the cause of the fire, bring possible culprits to justice, and then perhaps push legislation to protect the country’s important heritage structures.

As a tourist destination, however, the Manila Central Post Office rates very low in a traveler’s itineraries. “There’s nothing to see there,” said a veteran tour operator, when asked why he never brought foreign tourists to visit the landmark, constructed between 1926 and 1928, as part of architect Daniel Burnham’s master plan for Manila. (In contrast, the Saigon Post Office, which was completed in 1891, is a major attraction in Vietnam, with droves of international visitors touring inside the still working snail-mail service.) Elsewhere in Manila or in many parts of the country, heritage buildings, ancestral homes, and other iconic historical landmarks are being torn down, replaced with supermarkets and other modern structures. This seeming lack of reverence for glorious reminders of the past is so evident, such that even foreign tourists rate the country very poorly for history and culture, and visit mostly for nature’s offerings (which is not necessarily a bad thing). In Frost & Sullivan’s 2022 Consumer Insight Survey of Target Markets commissioned by the Department of Tourism (DOT), international respondents felt the Philippines wasn’t an ideal destination for historical landmarks (51 percent); cultural/art activities (29 percent); and museums and religious/places of worship (11 percent). (See, “They won’t visit PHL for history, culture,” in the BusinessMirror, May 26, 2023.)

Building vital infrastructure Government appropriations, for one, are focused mostly on building vital infrastructure to attract foreign investments that will keep supporting economic growth. As such, the preservation and protection of historical edifices and cultural landmarks ranks far below in the national budget. The Intramuros Administration, which oversees major heritage structures in the walled city such as Fort Santiago, the Museo de Intramuros, the Maestranza Curtain Wall and Chambers, is receiving just P97.3 million this year, of which P47.2 million will go to conserve and preserve the properties within. The Department of Budget and Management also refuses to include an appropriation to insure the cultural artifacts and artwork in IA’s possession.

Promotion of these celebrated landmarks are also at a minimum. Because the Philippines continuously rates highly as a sun and beach, nature and mountain trekking, and diving and water sports destination, most of government’s tourism marketing efforts are geared toward these.

But there may be a bright spot. There is a growing number of tours available online and via established tour operators to ancestral homes in Taal, Batangas; to Vigan, for its Spanish colonial architecture; to Bohol’s heritage churches; as well as so-called Old Manila tours to Intramuros, Binondo, and Luneta. Demand for these tours are picking up, especially from domestic travelers, who are quite engaged, asking questions about the history in these destinations. Foreign tourists, on the other hand, enjoy walking tours and “experiential” activities like riding the bamboo bikes and visiting the museums in Intramuros.

According to the IA, visitors to the walled city already reached 2.8 million as of June 8, exceeding the 1.9 million target for the year, and most likely on track to surpass the 3.3-million total arrivals in pre-pandemic 2019. IA Administrator lawyer Joan M. Padilla said, “We are focused on making Intramuros a hub of cleanliness, heritage, culture, and tourism. By organizing more activities, we can generate greater awareness among Filipinos and increase the influx of domestic and international tourists flocking to our beloved Intramuros.” (In celebration of Independence Day this year, IA will provide a free guided tour at Fort Santiago and a free tranvia Ride going to Fort Santiago and Museo de Intramuros.)

Visitor space

Meanwhile, there were 2.7 million visitors to Luneta and Paco Park as of June 8 this year, just 33 percent of the 8.1 million visitors in 2019. National Parks Development Committee Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana Romero explained that visitor space at the Rizal Park has decreased due to the ongoing construction at the National Museum area, and the still unrehabilitated Quirino Grandstand, which used to host the drive-thru vaccination site of the Manila City Hall.

Still, Luneta continues to be on the list of tour operators’ itineraries for foreign tourists, with a stop at the

Rizal monument a must. Lorenzana Romero also said the agency continues to “offer events and activities such as concerts, film showings, exhibits, walking tours, food, arts and crafts bazaars,” including the award-winning Concert at the Park and Paco Park Presents series. (On June 12, the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal monument by government officials will be followed by Alab ng Puso, a grand military and civic parade at the Quirino Grandstand.)

According to the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, while the Department of Tourism will continue to promote the Philippines’ key strengths in nature destinations, “the country’s long-term growth as a global destination requires that we invest in and build deeper cultural experiences and communicate the stories of our peoples and communities. Through our heritage sites and cultural centers, our food, farms, and festivals, our arts and crafts, our traditions and faiths, we can properly anchor the tourism experience as being distinctly Filipino.” Amen to that. Indeed, that “being distinctly Filipino” is precisely the kind of spirit that should infuse celebrations marking the 125th anniversary of our independence. The Philippines as Asia’s first republic, after all, should count for something.

Anchoring tourism on our rich history and heritage is a worthy goal; we can only hope the funds needed to fire up the needed strategies and projects to accomplish just that, will be appropriated.

Mmda Bares Traffic Rerouting Scheme For Independence Day

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement a traffic rerouting scheme to give way to ceremonies in celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day today.

In an advisory, the MMDA said temporary road closures will be implemented from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Monday along Roxas Boulevard (Blvd.) from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos, TM Kalaw from Taft to Roxas Blvd, Maria Orosa St. from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos, including Katigbak Drive, Independence Road, and South Road for the flag raising and wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument and Civic-Military Parade to be held at the Quirino Grandstand.

Plan your travels, follow traffic laws, and drive carefully,” the MMDA said.

It advised affected motorists to take the following alternate routes: nVehicles headed southbound from the three bridges (Jones, Mc Arthur, Quezon) shall use Taft Avenue to their destination; nThose coming from U.N. Ave. westbound lane shall turn left to Roxas Blvd their destination; nAll vehicles coming from Roxas Blvd northbound lane shall turn right to U.N. Ave. to their destination; nVehicles coming from Mel Lopez Blvd. to Roxas Blvd. shall turn left at A. Soriano Ave. or straight to Bonifacio Drive, left to P. Burgos Ave. to Finance Rd. and to their destination; nAll vehicles coming from Gen. Luna inside Intramuros shall turn left to the Eastbound lane of P. Burgos or Finance Rd. to their destination; nAll trailer trucks/heavy vehicles coming from Roxas Blvd. northbound shall turn right to Pres. Quirino Ave. to their destination; nSimilar large vehicles coming from Delpan Bridge shall turn around at Anda Circle to the northbound lane of Mel Lopez Blvd. to C-3 and to their destination. nOn the other hand, vehicles going to Quiapo from Roxas Blvd. shall turn right to UN Ave, and take a left to Taft Ave to their destination. nThose going to the PICC area may take Taft Ave, turn right to UN Ave, and left turn to Roxas Blvd. to their destination.

MMDA traffic enforcers will also be deployed to assist in traffic management; as well as tow trucks, ambulances, and vacuum trucks. Concrete and plastic barriers as well as traffic cones will be placed in key areas,” it said.

Meanwhile, trucks going to North Harbor from SLEX may go straight to Osmeña Highway, turn right to Quirino Ave., straight to Nagtahan St., go to Lacson Ave., left turn to Yuseco St., straight ahead to Capulong St., then turn left or right to R-10 Road to their destination.

Trucks coming from Parañaque and headed south are advised to turn right at Quirino Avenue to Nagtahan then Lacson Ave. to their destination.

The number coding scheme is also lifted on Monday, which was declared a regular holiday under Proclamation No. 90 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in November last year. (PNA)