READER response has been high regarding the proposed conversion of the American-colonial structure Laoag Central Elementary School into a shopping mall, and the planned demolition of the Spanish-colonial church façade in Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

Ilocos Norte board member Kristian Ablan says a public hearing was conducted on the proposed Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-02-083, “An Ordinance Imposing a Moratorium on the Conversion, Use and Demolition of Buildings, Edifices, Relics, and Other Structures Deemed as Part of the Cultural and Historical Heritage Found and Situated within Ilocos Norte.” It was conducted with the provincial board’s committees on laws and tourism on Feb. 6.

Ivan Henares of the Heritage Conservation Society and Icomos Philippines wrote to Ablan: “Congratulations on a very successful public hearing! I was elated by the news that the attendance was astounding—the session hall was packed to the brim and could not accommodate all those who came, so another room had to be opened to allow people to listen. It’s heartwarming to learn this issue has generated so much interest among the local community of Laoag. Heritage is, indeed, in the mainstream!”

It was argued the building was not a heritage building because it did not appear in the DepEd’s roster of Gabaldon-type schools dating from the American colonial period.

But architect Reynaldo Inovero of the National Historical Institute debunked the argument, stating the structure was clearly of the Gabaldon type and definitely a heritage structure built during the American colonial period.

Moreover, generations of graduates, numbering in the thousands, share the school’s heritage, adding a wealth of intangible value to the structure and its surroundings.

It was also argued that since the school stood on church property, due to church-state separation, its future use was immune from civil and citizen intervention, a view overturned by the voice of the citizens who demanded that their school remain.

The National Historical Institute’s certification that the historic value of the school merited conservation gave strong substantiation to the preservation demands of local citizens.

Gov. Michael Keon held a press conference later and announced the passage of “the ordinance that will precipitate the NHI [National Historical Institute] and National Museum in declaring the Laoag Central Elementary School a historical landmark which will block the demolition of the school and block the mall.”

Now passed and enacted, Ordinance 2009-02-083, which recognizes the value of heritage within the province, defining what structures are considered heritage structures despite their status of being publicly or privately (or Church-) owned, and providing for the preservation of these structures to the benefit of future generations, is a landmark heritage legislation in the Philippines.

That citizens supported the ordinance by attending the public hearings showed public concern for heritage. Thank you to the people of Ilocos Norte and all the provincial officials of Ilocos Norte.

Dingras

The planned demolition of the Dingras Church façade has also elicited high reader feedback.

“Can I use the article to raise the awareness of the people?” a reader wrote. “My roots are from Piddig, Ilocos Norte, and I don’t wish Dingras Church to suffer what was done to St. Anne Church in Piddig, where the old façade was destroyed and a new one built.”

Another respondent e-mailed: “I am saddened . . . Whatever it takes, this façade must be preserved and restored.

“I saw the leaning façade of St. Peter and Paul in Macau and it was truly breathtaking,” the letter writer continued. “San José de Dingras has the same magnificence. I visited the church early ’70s as a young student, during a travel that enriched my knowledge of our beloved country.

“The people of Ilocos must bond together to preserve this iconic structure. It will be a crime to remove this façade. Our architects in the 17th century put this church together and it is shameful if our current architects and engineers cannot put this structure back and shore it structurally for the coming generations to enjoy.”

The writer asked authorities: “Please, do not touch this structure. Please study all options.”

“I am shocked,” wrote another reader who hails from Dingras.

“Thank you for your alert. What is our heritage society going to do about it? What is Ambeth [Ocampo, NHI chair] going to do? Somebody should file a TRO! This is what we did when Bayani (Fernando) wanted to remove the trees on the island fronting Cravings along Katipunan Avenue [Quezon City]. Until now the acacias are still there.

“I am writing our parish priest and the bishops of Ilocos Norte today.”

Stolen icon

The 19th-century wooden head of Sto. Santiago Matamoros was stolen from the museum of San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. The theft occurred Sept. 10, 2008, but was only reported to the Intramuros Administration in January 2009.

The head measures 20 x 25 cm in its original polychrome. Anyone with information about this antique piece can call Amie Guillermo (5274084) or Armando Arionday (5273102).

E-mail pride.place@gmail.com