Post by EXO on Jun 10, 2019 8:50:30 GMT 8
I have never been particularly fond of "Master Plans" as they conjure up visions of Albert Speer's totalitarianism planning gone wrong. Though some planning is always better than none at all. Corregidor has had its master plans before, there are the remnants of one of the old plans hanging on the wall in the CFI Office. That was the master plan to divide the island into three zones, largely to prevent the entire island from being declared a historic precinct, and so that a commercial zone could be developed.
With that in mind, I caught the following "placement" article in the Manila Times of 11 April. It was also placed in some other outlets as well.
Corregidor Tourism Master Plan
BY ARCHITECT FELINO A. PALAFOX, JR.
APRIL 11, 2019
AROUND the world, heritage sites and tourism infrastructure commemorate significant events in the history of a people. Locals and tourists visit them for the educational and culturally enriching experience they offer. Some famous heritage sites preserve the memory of a town such as Jamestown, the first English settlement in North America, which is now a living museum with actual artifacts that archaeologists study. Adventurous folks travel to Machu Picchu in Peru, “The Lost City of the Incas,” hiking up the mountain for four days to reach the top. Many still are amazed to visit the 3,000-year-old pyramids of Giza, a marvel of human engineering. For those who are interested in tragic tourism, World War sites are popular destinations. Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Auschwitz in Germany, and the Nanking Massacre Memorial in China solemnly commemorate the stories of millions of people.
But many of these historical sites require a lot of maintenance and are prone to neglect and deterioration. Such is the case of the remaining Bataan Death March markers from the towns of Mariveles and Bagac in Bataan to Pampanga. The original markers were made of metal in the 1960s but were stolen and sold as scrap. Today, many are being uprooted, relocated and damaged by infrastructure projects. Even as they were replaced with white concrete markers in 2000, they were susceptible to heat, humidity, and the growth of mold and moss. Why are we treating our heritage as if it they are worthless? We can learn from the Japanese and their attitude toward their historical sites. Because of the citizens’ strong desire to preserve the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, the Architecture Department of Hiroshima University undertook a strength level survey in 1965 and the following year, the city council of Hiroshima adopted a resolution to officially preserve the dome. The resolution led to the fundraising campaign initiated by Japanese citizens who successfully initiated the dome’s preservation in 1967.
Here in the Philippines, Corregidor could be a treasure more precious than gold. Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), which we commemorated last Tuesday, marks the greatness of Filipino and American heroes in Bataan, Corregidor and Bessang during World War 2. Corregidor is a living memory of the Filipino and American veterans who heroically struggled in pursuit of the nation’s independence. Unfortunately, few are aware of our national heritage and fewer understand why the events of our history matter so much. I am speaking from the perspective of an architect and an urban planner who is interested in the unique culture and history of people living and working in an area. My colleagues and I at Palafox Associates and Architecture Group collaborate to design and plan emphatic communities and structures for people of all ages and backgrounds. Having recently been given the opportunity to conceptualize a comprehensive tourism master plan for Corregidor Island, to include a conceptual development plan for the surrounding islands, I am optimistic that we can transform the area into a world-class tourism destination that will make us proud of our country, our people and ourselves.
The tourism master plan, like many of our projects, values the voices of various stakeholders. As architects and urban planners, we know that their perspectives matter because they contain essential and valuable insights to the development of the plan. With the Corregidor project in particular, government and nongovernment organizations are beginning to express their interest in preserving the war memorials of the island while upgrading its facilities to provide an educational and comfortable experience for visitors.
How can we redevelop the island sustainably? Corregidor is fortified with artillery that was used even prior to the Second World War. The Americans built a town on the island and installed an electric trolley system for public transport, which they used to haul heavy equipment from the island’s bottom side. The soldiers’ barracks, Cine Corregidor, Corregidor High School, the baseball field and swimming pool, and tennis courts used by the Filipino and American servicemen are proof of the active community life they lived years ago. To maintain the spirit of community and to remember the legacy of the men, women and children who lived on the island, historic buildings and structures must be preserved. Alongside this, we can provide visitors the programs and infrastructure they need to enjoy their time there, learn about our country’s history, and share their experience with others back home. We can now implement the proper measures to ensure that the island is maintained by those who visit Corregidor. When planning and designing historical sites, I recommend studying the reasons people value them in the first place to gain a deeper understanding of the work that we do for our country. Through this project, we can educate everyone about the value of our national heritage and the importance of being responsible for it.
We must be aware that as professionals in the industry, we shape history when we plan and design buildings and communities for people to use. At Palafox Associates and Palafox Architecture Group, we consistently apply the integral ecology approach to development: people first or social equity, then planet earth or the environment, profit or economic growth, culture and history, and interfaith spirituality. We do so not only for the sake of applying an integrated approach to planning, but to place the citizens at the forefront of development, helping them to realize their role in nation-building.
Those familiar with Architects will understand that it is normal for them to toot their own horns as to how wonderful it will all be if we give them their control, and a humongous budget. On the positive side, I liked the outcome of the Army/Navy Club, though it was unfortunate that it could only be accomplished by turning it into a gambling hall.
On the negative side, I am a bit chagrined to be told our interest is now considered "tragic tourism." George Santayana would be most disappointed.
Also to be told that there will be planning which takes into account the "voices of the various stakeholders" - Well, your Corregidor Historic Society represents an active and international group of stakeholders who collectively know more about the history and heritage of Corregidor than a boiler room full of architects/town planners - and we haven't heard a thing from them.
So maybe it's all moot to express any opinions, or suggestions, because as stakeholders, we aren't even on the map.
Like the Corregidor High School.
With that in mind, I caught the following "placement" article in the Manila Times of 11 April. It was also placed in some other outlets as well.
Corregidor Tourism Master Plan
BY ARCHITECT FELINO A. PALAFOX, JR.
APRIL 11, 2019
AROUND the world, heritage sites and tourism infrastructure commemorate significant events in the history of a people. Locals and tourists visit them for the educational and culturally enriching experience they offer. Some famous heritage sites preserve the memory of a town such as Jamestown, the first English settlement in North America, which is now a living museum with actual artifacts that archaeologists study. Adventurous folks travel to Machu Picchu in Peru, “The Lost City of the Incas,” hiking up the mountain for four days to reach the top. Many still are amazed to visit the 3,000-year-old pyramids of Giza, a marvel of human engineering. For those who are interested in tragic tourism, World War sites are popular destinations. Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Auschwitz in Germany, and the Nanking Massacre Memorial in China solemnly commemorate the stories of millions of people.
But many of these historical sites require a lot of maintenance and are prone to neglect and deterioration. Such is the case of the remaining Bataan Death March markers from the towns of Mariveles and Bagac in Bataan to Pampanga. The original markers were made of metal in the 1960s but were stolen and sold as scrap. Today, many are being uprooted, relocated and damaged by infrastructure projects. Even as they were replaced with white concrete markers in 2000, they were susceptible to heat, humidity, and the growth of mold and moss. Why are we treating our heritage as if it they are worthless? We can learn from the Japanese and their attitude toward their historical sites. Because of the citizens’ strong desire to preserve the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, the Architecture Department of Hiroshima University undertook a strength level survey in 1965 and the following year, the city council of Hiroshima adopted a resolution to officially preserve the dome. The resolution led to the fundraising campaign initiated by Japanese citizens who successfully initiated the dome’s preservation in 1967.
Here in the Philippines, Corregidor could be a treasure more precious than gold. Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), which we commemorated last Tuesday, marks the greatness of Filipino and American heroes in Bataan, Corregidor and Bessang during World War 2. Corregidor is a living memory of the Filipino and American veterans who heroically struggled in pursuit of the nation’s independence. Unfortunately, few are aware of our national heritage and fewer understand why the events of our history matter so much. I am speaking from the perspective of an architect and an urban planner who is interested in the unique culture and history of people living and working in an area. My colleagues and I at Palafox Associates and Architecture Group collaborate to design and plan emphatic communities and structures for people of all ages and backgrounds. Having recently been given the opportunity to conceptualize a comprehensive tourism master plan for Corregidor Island, to include a conceptual development plan for the surrounding islands, I am optimistic that we can transform the area into a world-class tourism destination that will make us proud of our country, our people and ourselves.
The tourism master plan, like many of our projects, values the voices of various stakeholders. As architects and urban planners, we know that their perspectives matter because they contain essential and valuable insights to the development of the plan. With the Corregidor project in particular, government and nongovernment organizations are beginning to express their interest in preserving the war memorials of the island while upgrading its facilities to provide an educational and comfortable experience for visitors.
How can we redevelop the island sustainably? Corregidor is fortified with artillery that was used even prior to the Second World War. The Americans built a town on the island and installed an electric trolley system for public transport, which they used to haul heavy equipment from the island’s bottom side. The soldiers’ barracks, Cine Corregidor, Corregidor High School, the baseball field and swimming pool, and tennis courts used by the Filipino and American servicemen are proof of the active community life they lived years ago. To maintain the spirit of community and to remember the legacy of the men, women and children who lived on the island, historic buildings and structures must be preserved. Alongside this, we can provide visitors the programs and infrastructure they need to enjoy their time there, learn about our country’s history, and share their experience with others back home. We can now implement the proper measures to ensure that the island is maintained by those who visit Corregidor. When planning and designing historical sites, I recommend studying the reasons people value them in the first place to gain a deeper understanding of the work that we do for our country. Through this project, we can educate everyone about the value of our national heritage and the importance of being responsible for it.
We must be aware that as professionals in the industry, we shape history when we plan and design buildings and communities for people to use. At Palafox Associates and Palafox Architecture Group, we consistently apply the integral ecology approach to development: people first or social equity, then planet earth or the environment, profit or economic growth, culture and history, and interfaith spirituality. We do so not only for the sake of applying an integrated approach to planning, but to place the citizens at the forefront of development, helping them to realize their role in nation-building.
Those familiar with Architects will understand that it is normal for them to toot their own horns as to how wonderful it will all be if we give them their control, and a humongous budget. On the positive side, I liked the outcome of the Army/Navy Club, though it was unfortunate that it could only be accomplished by turning it into a gambling hall.
On the negative side, I am a bit chagrined to be told our interest is now considered "tragic tourism." George Santayana would be most disappointed.
Also to be told that there will be planning which takes into account the "voices of the various stakeholders" - Well, your Corregidor Historic Society represents an active and international group of stakeholders who collectively know more about the history and heritage of Corregidor than a boiler room full of architects/town planners - and we haven't heard a thing from them.
So maybe it's all moot to express any opinions, or suggestions, because as stakeholders, we aren't even on the map.
Like the Corregidor High School.