We need to bring back the lost glory
Last week, I had an opportunity to write about Arroceros, which I call the last lung of
Another historic landmark is the National Press Club (NPC). Recently, the removal and sale of a mural by Manansala that has highlighted the building interior for half a century has met violent protests by many of its lifetime members. A report stated that the unannounced P10-million sale depicts, to some members, the sellout of the very soul of Philippine journalism — the same transactional evil portrayed in the Manansala mural. It had always served as a reminder that true journalism is not for sale. But the heirloom was sold to pay for some bills. The GSIS, which owns the property, has since filed a case against the NPC.
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has almost been privatized because of the huge losses it had been incurring. Like other government-owned corporations, it has its ups and downs. It is heavily indebted and is mulling the sale of some of its properties in order to pay its huge debt to GSIS. The PNR has lost many properties during its long period of financial distraught, including the Manila Hotel and the Pines Hotel in
Manila Hotel is another national heritage that has lost its glory. It owes the GSIS in unpaid loans amounting to P8.7 billion including interests and surcharges. Aside from this, it has unpaid rentals that has now reached the amount of P286 million. Many commentators and foreign correspondents, who had been hotel guests in the past are of the opinion that Manila Hotel has lost its grandeur and magnificence. Its glorious past is still evident in the interiors, with walls and balusters made only of the finest indigenous materials with the best Filipino craftsmanship, decorated with archaic furniture only of the best quality. The overall ambiance, though, reeks of commercialism rather than history; of cheap skate rather than pride. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, known for the saying “I shall return”, literally returned to what he considers his home in the
The glory of the world passes away, but what should remain are the stories from the past. When we tell beautiful stories to our children, the glory is re-lived. The past becomes more valuable in present times. When we take care of history, we take care of our soul.
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