NCCA stops demolition of Capitol Theater
MANILA, Philippines — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has issued a cease and desist order against the ongoing demolition of the Capitol Theater in Escolta, Manila.
The building, a heritage structure designed by National Artist for Architecture Juan Nakpil, is being demolished to give way to a property development by Ascott Resources and Development Corp. It was built in the 1930s and was damaged during the war.
In an Aug. 17 letter addressed to the corporation’s chief executive officer Bennie Cuanson, NCCA chairperson Rene Escalante said the order was issued because of reports that the building was being demolished despite an agreement to preserve the facade of the “tower relic.”
The corporation did not submit a new development plan or methodology that would explain the “total demolition” of the structure that already damaged the tower and facade, Escalante added.
“According to our source, your onsite contractor said that the ‘tower relic’ is included in the total demolition of the existing structures of the Capitol Theatre. Also, the pictures forwarded to us yesterday, Aug. 16, already show considerable damage done to the tower due to the demolition,” the letter read.
The NCCA was referring to the building’s iconic tower, which featured the bas relief sculptures designed by Severino Fabie. The sculpture featured two Filipino women in baro’t saya carrying the symbols of tragedy and comedy.
The corporation in 2020 turned over to the NCCA casts of the relief structures on the tower relic facade.
Escalante said the ongoing demolition violated Republic Act 10086 or the National Cultural Heritage Act.
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