From Manila Central Post Office to Metropolitan Theater — saving history one building at a time
When the Manila Central Post Office caught fire on Monday, a piece of Philippine history went up in flames with it.
The blaze began late Sunday night, and it took 30 hours before the fire was declared to be out—not until the flames traveled from the basement to the top floors.
As seen in an episode of "Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho," both wings of the building have been turned to ash with debris scattered inside.
The Manila Central Post Office was built in 1926. Designed by architects Mapúa, Ralph Doane, and National Artist Juan M. Arellano, it has a neo-classical design. It was bombed during World War II and eventually restored.
It is estimated that it suffered P300 million worth of damages—and this is not counting the priceless stamp collection that may or may not have been spared.
"Mainit pa kasi ang loob ng building so hindi pa nila nache-check," said Ino Manalo, head of National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (NCCA) to Jessica Soho. "So there's a slight possibility na 'yung mga stamps, natago sa metal filing cabinets or sa vault din ng Post Office baka ang iba nito ay nag-survive."
["They're not yet able to check the things inside, but there's a slight possibility that the stamps that were stored in metal filing cabinets or vaults weren't destroyed.]
Despite the debilitating incident, the Manila Central Post Office continues its operations. It has already resumed sending out letters.
The building is also insured, the report added.
"We would like to assure everybody that we will restore it," said PHLPost's Acting Postmaster General Luis Carlos.
Regardless, around 13,000 employees have been affected by the fire.
One of them is Mang Constancio, the oldest postman at the Manila Central Post Office. He has been working there for 33 years.
"Labis po ang aming kalungkutan dahil po sa nangyaring ito kasi po ito na po ang pangalawang buhay namin," he told host Jessica Soho. "S'yempre naiiyak po kami sa isang iglap lang sunog na sunog na po itong Manila Central Post Office."
"Parang panaginip po na hindi namin sukat akalain na ganito ang mangyayari," he added.
["This Post Office was our second home. It's so sad to think that everything's gone in a blink of an eye. It was like a nightmare."]
He said that there was nothing left of their office, and a lot of their belongings were destroyed. To make things worse, a portion of his bonus went up in flames as well.
"Dahil kakukuha lang namin 'yung bonus namin nung Friday na 'yun, s'yempre nagtira rin po kami ng konting pera sa mga locker namin," he said, adding that the money he lost amounted to P6,000.
["We just got our bonuses last Friday. Some of us left the money in our lockers."]
While Constancio is used to delivering people's letters for them, in this instance, he took the chance to pen a letter of his own, dedicated to the Manila Central Post Office.
"Sa mahal naming Manila Central Post Office, labis po ang aking kalungkutan sa nangyari pong ito dahil mahal po namin kayo," he wrote. "Dito po nakapag-aral ang aming mga anak. At ang aming kinakain araw-araw, dito po nanggagaling. Sana po maaga nating maibangon ang ating mahal na Central Post Office. Babangon muli kami at dito pa kami magkita-kita ng aking mga kaopisinahan. Nagmamahal, Constancio."
["Our beloved Manila Central Post Office—it's so sad to see what happened. Because of this building, we were able to send our children to school. We could only hope that the Post Office will be restored to its former glory. Sincerely, Constancio."]
A part of the tragedy of the Manila Central Post Office fire is that it happened during National Heritage Month.
It is just one historical building out of many that the country should maintain and protect. However, some of these structures have been abandoned.
In Manila, there's the El Hogar—the first skyscraper built in the city in 1914 — and the Panciteria Macanista de Buen Gusto mentioned in Dr. Jose Rizal's "El Filibusterismo," which now simply looks like an old house sandwiched between two modern buildings.
"Ngayon kasi, may mga batas na nagpoproteksyon ng mga ganun," Manolo said. "'Yung cultural mapping para ma-identify talaga ano 'yung mga local community treasures. Nagsimula na po ang ating mga inventory sa mga ganitong klaseng heritage structures."
["There are laws that protect these historical buildings. We've been identifying local community treasures and creating an inventory for them."]
In Urbiztondo, Binondo, there is a marker that can be found in an informal settlement.
The house is where General Antonio Luna, an army general during the Philippine-American war, was born.
One of his descendants, Chito, said that although they want to restore the house, it is now owned by a private individual.
"Sa palagay ko, hindi talaga pag-aari ng mga Luna 'yun, baka inupahan lang nila at that time kaya hindi napunta sa mga Luna," Chito said.
["Perhaps, the house wasn't really owned by the Luna family. Maybe they just rented the place."]
According to the caretaker, nobody lives in the house, and there is no trace of Luna inside.
Reportedly, the owner is selling the property to the government, but neither party could agree on a price.
"If the government can acquire 'yung bahay na yun, mabalik sa old glory niya kasi nagigiba na," Chito said. "Sayang. A lot of our national heroes, their homes or their birthplaces have been acquired by the government at ginawang museo. 'Yung heritage na 'yan will never be replaced. You can only do so much and this is the time na habang nandiyan pa habulin na natin bago mawala pa."
["It would be nice if the government would be able to acquire the old house and restore it to its former glory. Homes of our national heroes have been transformed into museums. This is part of our heritage that could never be replaced. We can only do so much. We should start moving before it's too late."]
Another historical building in Manila is the Metropolitan Theater (MET), which was once hailed as the Pambansang Teatro. It was also bombed during World War II.
Eventually, it was restored and opened to the public, only to close down again in 1996. The building was abandoned and vandalized, until it was reopened in 2021.
Jessica Soho visited the MET, which has become beautiful again after restoration.
Still, it held traces of its original design, including the marble tiles that were the same ones that have been there since 1931.
As Historian Xiao Chua puts it, "Kailangang bigyan ng halaga [ang mga historical buildings] kasi bahagi siya ng pagkataong Pilipino. Tulad ng Manila Central Post Office, nakikita ko 'yun bilang larawan ng isang Pilipino na matatag. Kasi dalawang beses nang nasunog 'yun, pero hindi siya nagigiba. Patuloy siyang testamento ng galing, kasaysayan, husay at katapangan ng ating bayan."
["We have to take care of these buildings because they are part of our identity as Filipinos. The Manila Central Post Office, for example, paints a picture of a strong, resilient Filipino. It's been gutted by fire twice, but it remains standing– continuing to serve as a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of our country."]
—JCB, GMA Integrated News