Now would be as good a time to look back (and to also take a long look forward) to see what the gains of the heritage conservation movement have been in the Philippines, and to take stock of where it has been and where it could be headed.
How wonderful it is to be back after a long absence! And at this auspicious time of the year, let me wish each one of you an overabundance of happiness and prosperity during the Year of the Rooster that has just begun.
“Philippine Heritage Homes: A Guidebook” is a welcome addition to the scant bibliography on heritage architecture.
Reuse, adapt, retrofit are the more common buzzwords conservationists use to encourage owners to retain their old structures.
Each civilization expresses itself through language, ideas, and cultural individuality, and architecture is one among the many expressions of diverse cultural realities.
Although the destruction of Bohol and Cebu churches is devastating, even more disastrous is the loss of lives and livelihood that takes precedence over the loss of heritage in the massive post-earthquake reconstruction effort.
Sad news. What I did not know while writing last week’s column on favorite bookshops was that the extraordinary Pilgrims Book House in Kathmandu is no more.
In Yangon, Burma, we found a bonus, a surprising two extra days without any official activities.
We’ve had to endure the summer heat long enough. Thank God summer is ending; the rains are insinuating the impending arrival of the wet season.
Once a year, museums and heritage places in Cebu City open their doors from 6 p.m. to midnight. A single ticket guarantees admission to all participating venues. Buses or tartanillas (horse-drawn carriages) are provided to transport visitors from one museum to another.