2 commission members resign to fight for Patria

CEBU, Philippines — Moves to preserve the decades-old Patria de Cebu continue.

At least two members of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Cultural Property of the Church have signified to leave the commission in protest of the church’s decision to demolish the Patria de Cebu and convert it into a modern commercial edifice.

The Patria de Cebu sits right across the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

In separate letters to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Architect Melva Rodriguez Java and Eileen Mangubat tendered their resignation on January 15 and 16, respectively.

Java wrote, "One of the issues crying for attention is the protection of the Patria de Cebu, a most significant property of the Church, and one that is very precious to the people of Cebu. Articulating the need to save it from destruction and demolition, I have in many forums, including those during which His Excellency (Palma) and members of the Administration Board were present, reasoned strongly for Archdiocesan patronage."

"Unhappily these efforts were always in diametrical opposition to the stand articulated by the Chair of the ACCPC, Fr. Brian Brigoli, in support of the design of a mall that involved the total destruction of this valuable heritage property. I have patiently listened to the counter arguments, but cannot find any justification to demolish Patria when it can sit side by side with a new development. The final blow came with your decision to also take the side of the developer," her letter reads further.

Mangubat, meanwhile, said:

“The past few months have been strained by the controversy over the Patria de Cebu redevelopment plan. You have been most kind in listening to the objections of lay members of the Commission, including me, who oppose the total demolition of the Patria administration building that occupies the front of the block.  This piece of heritage in downtown Cebu City needs protection.”

“Your decision in the third dialog last Jan. 9, 2019 to proceed with the design plan of Cebu Landmasters Inc. – and to demolish the whole pastoral center – filled me with regret.  The Commission, if it had been asked early on, could have provided you with deep research about the Patria’s historic value to Cebu and the expert opinion of heritage conservation architects before approval of the Administrative Board was given for the developer’s grand concept of a commercial center with “connectivity” to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral,” she said.

“My role as a Cebuana, taxpayer and a daughter of faith compels me to continue advocating to spare the Patria de Cebu from total demolition.  I have not given up hope that this heritage building can coexist with new commercial buildings rising in a redeveloped Patria block,” Mangubat said further.

Not a Heritage Site

Palma, in an interview with reporters on Wednesday, admitted being saddened by the resignations.

While he is yet to decide on the letters, Palma maintained that the Patria de Cebu is not categorized as a cultural heritage site. He described it as a mere building.

He also explained that it was the collective decision of the administration board to push through with the development project.

Developers had argued that keeping the front portion of Patria might affect the design and the stability of the proposed project.

Palma said in one of the meetings with the commission, the developers and the administration board, among others, voted to push through with the redevelopment plan.

“As chairman, I decided to go for a votation… The vote was unanimous. 100 percent said, ‘we have heard the plea of the Cultural Heritage (commission and) we could not accept now their arguments’… I told the architect to continue with the plan because that is the mind of the body’,” Palma said.

Under the heritage law, any structure that is more than 50 years old is presumed an important cultural property. JMO (FREEMAN)