RUINS PA MORE

More ruination is happening now to the right-side old Spanish-era building ruins in barangay San Francisco, Naga City that were declared by the Naga City Government (NCG) as an Important Cultural Property (ICP) in June 2024.  During the September 2024 Penafrancia Fiesta period, the physical integrity of the the two Spanish-era building ruins there declared ICPs were threatened by the temporary use of their immediate surrounding grounds in the lot owned now by Nagaland Development Corporation for a perya of carnival rides. At present, while the DPWH is reconstructing the drainage on the Penafrancia Avenue roadside fronting that same lot, the right-side building ruins has been used as shelter by its construction workers and for storage of some equipment. However, it appears that at least the old front entrance, if not also other old openings, of the building has/ have been altered as to its/ their width and height, presumably for the easier entry and egress of construction workers and equipment. This appears to be a gross violation of the very physical integrity as well as historical appearance of the building, contrary to its status as a declared ICP.  Both the NCG and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) should look into and address this current building situation as well as the next steps for the best possible conservation of the two Spanish-era building ruins as ICPs and their immediate surrounding grounds. -- Photos and caption conributed by Judge Soliman M. Santos, Jr (Retd.)