NAKAKAIN BA ANG HERITAGE?

Jose Benigno Salvador distributing leaflets
*photo by Giovanni Roan, leaflet design by Jhon Gorme

When an "honorable mayor asks a question like the title above, you kinda get the idea the he has no qualms about destroying heritage... Obviously, it means little or absolutely nothing to him the the word "heritage" covers a wide scope: both tangible and intangible.

AHP and Pamanlahi with Mesdames Ching de las Alas Montinola, Menchu de las Alas Concepcion
*published in Manila Bulletin, 12 -February, 2017; courtesy of Alice de Vera Vasquez

The idea that heritage equates to being able to feed a hungry constituency has absolutely no bearing in preserving what shapes and molds our identity. It is simply non sequitur! The Dakila'ng Pamana ng Lahi hand in hand with the Advocates for Heritage Preservation just this past weekend (11-February-2017) staged another silent protest on the demolition of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. This is the second one which again was covered by media and attended by no less than the family of the Antonio de las Alas (whom President Manuel L. Quezon put to the task of building the sports Complex); Ching de las Alas Montinola and Menchu de las Alas Concepcion. Former Senator Freddie Webb was also on hand as a show of support for our cause.

Sports analyst Chino Trinidad interviewing the Freddie Webb
*photo by Giovanni Roan

I could go on and on re. the important role the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex has played ever since it was built in 1938. From the time it was erected, it has hosted the Far East Games, The Asian Games, local leagues like the NCCA, UAAP, MICAA, PALARO'NG PAMBANSA. In its hallowed diamond, baseball great Babe Ruth played. Philippine Olympians honed their skill in its gyms and athletes' quarters. There's just too many brilliant Philippine sportsmen and women who have literally carved a niche in international arenas to achieve sports immortality. The latest of which is Hidilyn Diaz; Silver Medalist in the recent Rio Olympics. At the tender age of eleven, Hidilyn honed her skill in weight lifting until she achieved what no other man has in weight lifting - and Hidilyn in a WOMAN!

Ernie Manio of ABS CBN interviewing Olympian and basketball great Fredie Webb
*photo by Giovanni Roan

In a situation where the destruction of a heritage building not just affects a community around it but tugs at the heart strings of the men and women who moved heaven and earth to build it; of the athletes who have sacrificed moving out of hearth and home to train endlessly in its facilities (limited and out moded as it may be); of Aling Marga, a side-walk vendor who has spent decades eking out a living by selling soda and snacks to sports fans who have shrieked and shouted for their teams in every game for years; shouldn't the local government at least consult them?

Freddie Webb greets Aling Marga, softdrink vendor forever and Mr. Webb's fan since his YCO playing days

I balk at the proposal that another mall be built at this 10+ hectare site! Personally, I'm affected by its proposed demolition! Every summer when I was a kid, my uncle would take me and my cousins to learn to play tennis there. The all-time tennis great Felicisimo Ampon gave me lessons at the clay courts. I learned to swim in the pool. I watched the asian volleyball powerhouses spike their way to victory there. I began weight training with Jojo Lastimosa, Harmon and Gerry Codinera, Tatang and Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros while they were housed in RMSC.  I even competed in high school volleyball in the PAVA games in RMSC. So for me, forget about whether heritage is edible! I may not be a sports luminary, but I sure as heck watched, whistled, worked out, and wheedled my may out of my personal issues in that complex!!! I TOO, THEREFORE, HAVE A STAKE IN WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DO WITH IT!

RMSC Baseball stadium
*photo by Ma. Lilibeth Benosa

This time, however, I am not alone. The AHP and PAMANLAHI, (at the risk of being tagged as a yellow faction  by another ersatz heritage conservation group) have taken up the cudgels for the countless individuals who have found no voice or have been cowered into submission by puppet councilors who have approved without opposition the sale of the RMSC. Some members have continued to do silent protests to block the demolition. Members of AHP from all walks of life and all ages have showed up to drum up support for this cause.  

Here's a lot of good reasons to stop the demolition

As of this writing, the sale of RMSC to the Razon group has been suspended. But I wouldn't rest just yet. Who knows what the LGU can do under cover of darkness? The list just goes on and on: Torre de Manila, Admiral Hotel, Army-Navy Club... This issue hasn't been settled yet and the honorable mayor has recently approved a project to reclaim Manila Bay for an entertainment complex. Does the DENR know about this? Paging DENR Sec. GINA LOPEZ!!!!

AHP Members passionate about heritage preservation
*photo by Lloyd Anthony Nuestro Rafols