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Heritage consciousness grips Ilonggos

Here's a very timely article written by Perla Lena of the Iloilo City Tourism office and Philippines News Agency as published on Panay News dated August 25, 2012
Heritage buildings in Iloilo City have stories to tell and the Iloilo Cultural Heritage Foundation, Inc. will see to it that they stay long enough for more generations to share their stories. “Iloilo City can once become the Premier City of the South” said Manny Villa, Jr., president of ICHFI. He gathered enthusiasts who share his passion for rehabilitating and restoring the city’s cultural heritage.

The southern metropolis boasts of heritage buildings – structures which are 75 years or older, as defined in a city ordinance. First to be restored are the facade of 40 old buildings downtown, the Central Business District popularly known as Calle Real, which includes JM Basa, Iznart, Aldeguer, Guanco, and Mapa streets.

“This is very significant. This is the only way to restore our heritage for people to know what we had before, what we are today, and what we are in the future,” Villa said. “We aspire to bring Iloilo back to its old glory.”
 Eight months since its inception, the foundation finished the restoration of two Villanueva buildings. The third one – the old International Hotel – is almost complete.These three buildings were built sometime in the 1920s. Art-deco design is evident in the first two buildings, and their eclectic ornaments and motifs influenced the crafts and architectures of pre-war Iloilo.

The imposing International Hotel (top most photo), which takes pride of neoclassical design that sprawls at the center of Calle Real, was restored through the assistance of generous Ilonggos who shelled out millions of pesos for the project.

Sidewalks will also be restored. They have already been paved with old concrete materials along with the installation of Spanish style lamp posts.With sufficient funds, the foundation targets to restore 10-15 more heritage buildings by the end of 2015.

Restoring the buildings would cost about Php 1 billion, Villa said, “and raising the amount is no easy task.” The foundation president appealed to the public to support the project.

Helen Catalbas, officer-in-charge of the Department of Tourism Region 6, commended the private sector for undertaking the restoration project.“This is another tourism cultural product for Iloilo,” she said. “It will further boost Iloilo as an international hub and a tourism destination.”
Catalbas said the development has strengthened Iloilo’s position as a cultural heritage destination in the country. She shared that she used to dream about Iloilo having a semblance of heritage sites she visited in Vigan and Europe.

While the Tourism department does not have money for the restoration project, its attached agency, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, has the funds, Catalbas said.

“This is a big leap, a big plus for Iloilo. What else can we ask” she said. And she promised to do everything she can to help because she knows that the project will help the Aquino administration achieve its 10-million tourist arrival target (in 2016).
“I hope everyone will do [his] share, no matter how big, no matter how small, to the achievement of this project,” Catalbas said.She revealed that they plan to help sidewalk vendors by giving them permanent kiosks for their livelihood for training them as Ambassadors of Peace.

She also expressed his optimism that Ilonggo traders who left would come back and once again provide livelihood and invigorate the economic structure of Iloilo.

Those who are lending hands to the project include Architect Antonio C. Sangrador, Susan C. Florete, Manuel Joseph Barredo, Marilou L. Arcelo, Jose Mari Chan, Maria Rosa A. Cacho, Sebastian B. Jardiolin, Pedro Ortigas, Yolanda B. Pajaro, Sarah Salcedo, Kristin G. Trenas, Josemarie Trenas, Victoria B. Villa, and Felipe A. Uygongco.

Article written by Perla Lena, Philippines News Agency, 
Published by Panay News dated August 25, 2012. 
Photo credits to ICHFI and Lew Dls of Skyscrapercity.com

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