International call to tear down ‘Torre de Manila’

Order of Knights of Rizal officers led by Filipino American Council of Chicago president, Dr. Rufino Crisostomo (middle) show off the “Terror de Manila” signs in protest of the construction of a 46-story high-rise condo that will block the sight line from the Rizal Monument in Manila. PINOY photo

CHICAGO, Illinois–The call to tear down “Torre de Manila,” the proposed 46-story condominium complex that will eventually block the iconic sight line of the monument and burial ground of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park in Manila, has become louder with the members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) leading an international campaign.

Resolutions “calling for the Philippine government to stop and tear down the structure” being built along Taft Avenue in Manila was passed in two recently concluded OKOR regional conferences in Florence, Italy and in Cleveland, Ohio.

The fraternity’s Supreme Commander, Jeremias Singson, in his keynote addresses in both gatherings, explained the issues behind the controversy and called on his fraternity brothers to actively work against the “Terror de Manila” which “constitutes a desecration of the memory of our National Hero.”

Further, the OKOR resolution strongly urged its hundreds of members in the United States and Canada regions to “call upon all Filipinos wherever they are– to rise up in protest and protect this national shrine, a symbol of our freedom and nationhood.”

In Rosemont, Illinois during the 40th anniversary dinner-ball of the Filipino American Council of Chicago (FACC), Mariano A. Santos, the Deputy Commander of the OKOR Central USA made an appeal to all the guests to support the campaign to compel the developer/builder, DMCI Homes, to immediately stop the construction .

As of early September, the “Torre” has been built up to its 19th floor despite the on-going Philippine Senate committee on education, arts and culture investigation being conducted by Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Sen. Cayetano earlier said it was the Senate’s duty to conserve, promote and popularize the nation’s cultural and historical heritage as constitutionally mandated and that there were several laws such as the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act, National Cultural Heritage Act and the Local Government Code that mandate to protect national and cultural heritage sites and zones.

Leading Chicago Community leaders like Dr. Ramon Lopez, incoming president of the Philippine Medical Association and Anita Rosa, the 2014 Philippine Independence Week Chairperson expressed their disgust on why such structures got a building permit.

They, among many, affixed their signatures and addresses on the resolution that calls for the demolition of the DMCI Homes’ “Torre de Manila.” Dr. Lopez is a great grand nephew of Dr. Rizal’s brother, Paciano.

It was pointed out in Chicago, that as part of Daniel Burnham’s “1909 Plan of Chicago,” no tall structure is allowed to be built along the Chicago’s lakefront so that the public will not be deprived of Lake Michigan’s beautiful view. This covenant remains in place and honored by both private and public sectors in the Windy City.

It was also noted that architect and urban planner, Daniel Burnham also designed the “1905 Plan of Manila” which also incorporated the Bagumbayan where the martyrdom of Rizal took place. Yet, this plan is virtually ignored back home. In the 1960s, the Bagumbayan was renamed “Rizal Park.”

It was also mentioned during the Chicago event that the Rizal Monument is actually the “Ground Zero” in the Philippines or where the national land coordinates are established. “Rizal Monument is that important,” Santos told the FACC guests.

OKOR officials in Europe, Canada, Honolulu, California, Arizona and New Jersey also reported on-line the enthusiasm of Filipinos in their respective communities in their support for this international campaign.

“This will highlight the need for citizens’ input on real estate developments back home which oftentimes disregard their impact on the environment,” said Santos who is a Philippine registered architect and an urban planning graduate from University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC).

“Rich developers in collusion with corrupt bureaucrats do not take into consideration the congestion and pollution that uncontrolled development causes. In the end, it is all counter-productive. The “Torre de Manila” must go!” Santos added.