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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2006 1:28:23 GMT 8
Just for everyone's info:
There's a lot of work being done on Middleside Barracks right now. The National Historic Institute of the Philippines has apparently commissioned someone to work on it, and it is very disturbing as to how it is being done.
From what I gathered during my visit to the island yesterday, there is a plan to construct walkways INSIDE the building. According to the architectural sketch that I saw, the idea is to clean up the inner portions of the building (thus creating an atrium-like space), and allowing people to walk alongside the walls.
I was extremely disturbed when I saw this. I'm not an architect, but I think that would mean knocking down a large part of the "innards" of the building. My position is that it is entirely possible to achieve walkthoughs (in fact, we have done this for several of our clients) without changing anything.
I observed workmen with acetylene torches cutting metal bars (protruding from the ruins). There are also men who seem to be indiscriminately cutting down trees in the surrounding area, and using the wood as scaffolding for the project. Bamboo trees were not spared, either. Trees that were many meters AWAY from the buildings had also been chopped down
The ruins, once a favorite picture-taking spot of tourists, now looks bald and bereft of any charm it had. The nice carpet of green grass that used to cover the base of the building's facade is now gone, and so is most of the lush vegetation around the building.
The tourists who were with me in the tour bus were also horrified by this alteration of this national treasure. One American tourist who stayed overnight, accompanied me the next morning to help me document all this.
I hear that topside is next -- and would that mean Mile Long Barracks? What's next?
I'm trying to drum up enough support so we can try to stop them from further harming this magnificent building. I believe that if work has to be done on the building, then this work must be done PROPERLY. Restoration is a highly-specialized field, and must not be taken lightly.
With your help, we can stop this before any more harm is done.
I shall be posting photos of this "project" shortly. Mr. Paul Whitman, and forum members, do you think you could help us save Middleside Barracks?
-aprilthunder - Dec. 8, 2006 april_thunder@yahoo.com
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Post by EXO on Dec 11, 2006 22:15:11 GMT 8
There's been a history of what might be kindly referred to as " grandiose failures" on Corregidor. This is a decades long saga, and the list is therefore long, and (unfortunately) not exhaustive - They put a control facility in the centre of Landing Zone B, and abandoned it, rendering the area ill suited for anything; they put a house in the corner near the Old Spanish Flagpole, and it's now a concession; they tried to build a casino in 92nd garage area, in the process destroying the water source which was the sole sustenance of 12,000+ POW's for weeks; when the casino concept failed, they turned it into a 'convention' center - and that died too; they bulldozed the battlefield at Watertower Hill, and put a stark monument there - plus a small concession; the so called "Peace Park" is more in the nature of a park concession than a true contemplative garden; the telephone towers ruin the historic precinct near the old lighthouse (but the rentals from them are very lucrative); the school - supported by the 4th Marines - was closed down so that the row houses could become an accommodation concession; feral cats kill off the birdlife, and nobody cares; and it's long been a wonder that the island doesn't sink under the weight of memorials. Each of these has reduced, in some way, the true charm of the Rock, and each of them has helped to REDUCE the true heritage of the island. I lobbied CFI directly with my objections to the closure of the school on the island - to no avail. Ditto the effect of the cats on the birdlife. Most of the others were before my time. Perhaps one day I will find a waterslide park and a ferris wheel! The point of this is that it's CFI's island, and that means the process of planning & governance there is not transparent - and not open to debate, submission, reason, logic, sense, altruism, good taste, foresight, (need I continue?..) It's entirely theirs to screw up. I am not against concessions - in my view, there's room for concessionaires, but not at the expense of a ruination of the visual landscape, or of the essential solemnity of the Island's continuing purpose. One of the best examples of officially induced cultural vandalism is Btty. Gillespie - which is on Caballo Island, immediately to the south of Corregidor. There, the ' powers that be' filled in Battery Gillespie with concrete, with the gun now partially buried there in solid cement! Access to Caballo Is. is highly regulated, but the lesson is there, and it is not a pretty one. I wonder how many of the members of the National Historic Institute would have seen what the National Park Service has done at Gettysburg, or Appamattox, or Harper's Ferry. So, I regret to conclude that there is very little we can do, except to publish our criticisms and be d amned. On a personal note, I will give you such support as the website can do, and will publish any article/photos/critique which is directed to your views. Don't be discouraged, one day the penny will drop and someone will realize how they have wasted the true potential of this unique resource. Assuring you of my desire to afford you every cooperation in matters of mutual interest, eXo
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 23:47:06 GMT 8
Dear eXo: Yes, I realize the frustration you feel regarding the furtherance of conservation efforts on Corregidor. I agree with you on all the points you mentioned. Be that as it may, recent developments on the island have made imperative our intervantion. Otherwise, Corregidor's remaining structures are doomed to crumble into oblivion in the near future - and along with them, these vestiges of our common history. To illustrate my point regarding the gravity of this matter, please refer to this webpage at: geocities.com/savecorregidor Here, you wil see the outrageous way they are "cleaning up" Mile Long Barracks. (I have a number of pictures that illustrate clearly the impropriety of methods being employed.) I have started an email campaign to bring local and international attention to this burning issue, and I hope to be able to enlist enough support to effect the stoppage of all work on this insane project. After that has been done, I will work for the creation of a private "watchdog" organization that can monitor the island on continuous basis, and raise funds for its upkeep. Thank you again, and I look forward to your assistance regarding this matter. Sincerely yours, aprilthunder
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2006 15:05:00 GMT 8
Very good points eXo ...
In fairness to CFI though, I must say that they've done a commendable job in making Corregidor the way it is now, which is a huge departure (from a sustainable tourist destination standpoint) from what it used to be when the island was under the administrative control of the Defense Department (DND). It was under the DND that large scale rape of Corregidor took place (from artifacts and relics to steel doors and tunnel gates to whole sections of the big guns).
I've taken a couple of those Sarkies tours in the old days when ferry service to the island was by hydrofoil and hovercraft. There was practically no infrastructure on the island yet save for a staff house on where the present Corregidor Inn stands. When I returned post 1986 after the CFI took over the development and maintenance of Corregidor, the changes were significant (including all the memorials that eXo said could sink the island). Bottomline is, Corregidor became more "tourist friendly" .... clean toilets with free toilet paper were unthinkable before then. It is apparent that "tourism for conservation" was and continues to be a strategy for Corregidor.
The contentious issue now is what appropriate conservation methods to employ (as the Rock ages year in year out) .... what should be preserved (as it was where it is) ... what can be or should be restored ... and how.
One other important factor I guess at the time CFI took control of Corregidor was its leader and figurehead. The late Col. Alfred Xerex Burgos was, by heart and blood, historically, morally and spiritually connected to Corregidor. Col. Burgos had only the memory of the valiant heroes (Filipino, American and Japanese) who perished on the island in his heart to honor. On hindsight, whatever "grandiose failures" the CFI may have committed under his watch (including his lieutenants running rings around him) can be forgiven and regarded as part of the learning process.
And I think that you will agree with me, april_thunder, that it was during the period 1996-2004 of his watch that we witnessed what can be considered the "hey days" of tourism on the Rock (of course, because we were part of that boom along with Sun Cruises!) And we take pride in having created successful, high-impact experiential programs around, within, above and below Corregidor's historic ruins without disturbing one piece of stone or iron bar, so to speak. And I can say with much pride that the Corregidor Experience as we had created then beats the Pearl Harbor Tour hands down, anytime.
But now, a couple of years after his death, I'm not sure if the same can be said about a profound interconnectedness that Col. Burgos had with Corregidor and its historic past in the case of the present leadership at CFI, if ever there is. Surely, it is not evident in the way that they seem to be treating the Middleside Barracks in this latest "clean up" project of the National Historical Institute.
It is comforting to know, however, that the son and namesake of Col. Alfred Xerex Burgos, and a few other descendants of veterans of the Corregidor siege are now seated in the board of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor foundation, have taken notice of this "massacre at Middleside" and have vowed to join the effort. And you, april_thunder should be there with them, don't you think, in honor of your father, Adjutant of all Filipino troops in Corregidor in 1942? After all, like the Philippine Scouts of old, it was you who have veritably "spotted the enemy."
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Post by EXO on Dec 13, 2006 20:27:04 GMT 8
Joey,
Certainly the salvaging of Corregidor at the hands of the Defense Department was the result of short term benefit to the Rock's guardians. That's been the problem with a public resource, - the "guardians" often do the most damage. It happens everywhere - running a "guardianship" or a "charity" is a good earner, and there's plenty of opportunities for private profit at public expense.
Then, even if one entirely goes beyond this factor, there are other pitfalls - developments have unintended consequences - many which make things worse!
There should be a consultative process - because decisions made behind closed doors are generally not good decisions.
If the CFI have all the authority, and there is an ongoing damage to a valuable public resource (eg unsympathetic development, ugly memorials, commercialisation of the Memorial Zone, loss of Heritage assets, destruction of birdlife, and an ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SCRAPPERS, then it is fair to say that the failures have occurred on CFI's watch, it is CFI's responsibility.
It's not too late to mitigate.
Incidentally, one of the problems which continues to beset Corregidor is the garbage in Manila Bay. For this, CFI is blameless. Deliver this stinking problem to the corruption of successive Governments.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 13:14:30 GMT 8
Paul,
the concessions doing business in Corregidor are the most logical "watchdogs" on CFI activities and projects in the island because they're there everyday. Sadly, they themselves are sometimes subject of whimsical or indirect pressures from the authorities and would rather remain quiet than risk losing their contracts.
Sun Cruises, the long-standing operator of ferry services from Manila to Corregidor, has played a strong active role in the development of the island ... making recommendations anchored on market realities such as re-positioning the island from a veterans/memorial destination to a natural-historic-adventure travel destination in the light of a rapidly diminishing veterans and sentimental travelers market. Sun Cruises took the lead, going to the extent of investing in the development of "new market tourist products and services" and all the CFI had to do is to preserve the war relics/ruins, maintain the infrastructure and protect and enrich the forest and the natural environment.
And what do we see ... massacre at Middleside. And I'm sure you've shared stories with the island dwellers during your visits, Paul. The salvaging of scrap metal has been a persistent topic to this day. So is treasure hunting. I've also heard of one about a CFI security guard shooting a deer! Yes, there's deer on the island ... at first I only saw tracks, but one time a big one (as big as a small horse) darted across the road right infront of the tramvia bus as we were making our way to Battery Wheeler. And there seems to be a culture of a few vehicle drivers on the island of running over monitor lizards that happen to be crossing the roads.
Oh yes, the trash from Manila Bay is a perennial problem. And Corregidor Island is the strainer of sorts. In fact, we've christened a small cove on the North shore as "Chinelas Beach" meaning "Slippers Beach" because during one clean up operation, we gathered enough slippers washed ashore to fill up 5-55 US Gallon fuel drums. Until the metropolitan Manila area solves the problem of dumping of waste in tributaries leading to the bay, Corregidor will continue to bear the brunt.
An independent watchdog or oversight group is definitely in order.
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Post by EXO on Dec 14, 2006 20:32:13 GMT 8
Joey,
The concessionaires are in a very difficult situation when the law of the land changes with the size of the administrator's foot. I recall hearing that prior to Sun Cruises, the hotel operator's costs were increased by having them pay for all electricity on the island. It could be a rumour, this is the Philippines after all.
Sun Cruises are a very professional operation and aside from paying their captive prices, I consider them an asset to the island. A market repositioning is necessary, but I think that CFI needs to have some experience of how to do such things professionally - ie by having a look at how the US Parks Service deal with their assets.
Some years back, I tried to get a developer interested in upgrading the museum to a much more significant facility - again in the style of a US Parks Service Visitors Centre. The main concept was to place the museum INSIDE the reservoir, so as to bring the landscape back to it's purer state. CFI were interested and amenable but the fellow was an investor, not a benefactor.
Yes, there are still Philippine Deer. Some years ago, the military administrator had the idea that he would go into the venison business to supplement his income. He deserved to fail, abusing his position of trust in that way.
Is Enlisted Men's Beach "Chinelas Beach"? Gone are the days when I could find artillery shells on it, alas!
The Philippine Government does not have sufficient commitment to doing the right thing to allow for the existence of independent watchdogs or oversight groups - at least not before stacking them with compliant and pliable appointees. Their logic is "if you hold four aces, why agree to a fresh deal?" Nor do they have sufficient assets to properly research what constitutes world's best practice for military memorial management. So meanwhile, CFI still fills the tunnels and pits with garbage.
Waste in Manila Bay will not abate on Corregidor's shores until DuPont develops a plastic that degrades in salt water, and the Government bans the sale of all products which aren't made of it. Have they managed to get rid of the two stroke motorcycle yet? I won't hold my breath.
An independent watchdog or oversight group will be a good start.
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Post by victor on Dec 14, 2006 20:54:14 GMT 8
I can't think of anything that I can do on my part right now except to use technology to spread the word and raise awareness. I'll start with that.
Victor
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2006 20:44:57 GMT 8
I've got an add-on new web page that shows some close-up shots of Middleside Barracks. If you're curious as to why the ruins are deteriorating at an alarming rate, you'll see the reason here: www.geocities.com/savecorregidor/renovation_my_foot.htmThis photo shows the condition of Middleside when it was handed over to the Philippine Government (1947).
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Post by John Potter on Dec 19, 2006 3:24:44 GMT 8
I just found you guys on line. I toured the islands with the CDSG group in March-April 2001. Corregidor is such a complex place, with so many treasures. I think that part of the problem is that the Filipino people don't see the ruins and artifacts the way we history nuts do. They have regular paintball battles inside the hospital structure, for example. I have never understood how scrapping paid off, but they have managed to remove virtually all metal from Fort Frank via banca. The bigger building ruins should be stabilized. A big chunk will soon descend from the post cinema- if it hasn't fallen aready. If I could have my dream, I would clear more paths (ideally following the trolley rights-of-way) and put up many more interpretive signs. My single favorite day on the island was the trek up from the powerhouse, finding the gas and oil storage remains, the air compressor house and the ordanance storehouse foundations. These are really off the beaten path, and they should be made accessible. The walk to the mining casemate also still haunts me. I'd love to see more recent photos and see how things have fared over the past 6 years. I hope to return, some day, myself.
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