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Stories of town explorations.
"...it is happening to towns like Sariaya and new buildings do not conform with the baseline old architectural harmony. They disrupt the beauty and with the mushrooming growth of new buildings, tangling power lines keep appearing in an inevitable manner."

I learned about the town of Sariaya in Quezon when it has been featured by Korina Sanchez once in her show Rated K and it highlighted the old structures in the town and also dubbed it as the little Vigan of Quezon. 

Towns with Vigan-ish appeal always interest me and I am always looking forward of seeing an old non-commercialized village. In Sariaya, there is a war cry and struggle inside because modernization is a threat in bringing back the old charm of the town as I was able to see the town face to face.

An ancestral house in Sariaya, Quezon is trying to stand out in spite of the destructive view of these power-lines.

Maps by Wikipedia
Location Highlighted in Red
I must say I love heritage structures and it is also a part of my advocacies to preserve and protect their presence.

I am somewhat impressed with the town and Korina did not kill my expectations. Along the national highway, rows of old houses are standing with the clamor to survive the threats of modernization and commercialization. Well, they still survive. Some are modified. Some are restored. Some remain to be as it is. But the town of Sariaya being the second most populated municipality of Quezon province with Lucena City being the most populated is growing fast economically.

The presence of modern structures are now grabbing a space in between the heritage houses altering the unison and architectural harmony and the most eye-catchy addition that diverts the old beauty of the town is the presence of the power lines.

Well, this is somehow inevitable for a country like the Philippines because we do not have exceptional urban planning and at times, we don't have proper urban zoning and worse, we don't care at all. This is not a focus of our government because there are still other grave problems that our society needs to solve first like unemployment and poverty.

But as a person who loves our history and heritage, I am deeply affected with what is happening in our towns with heritage treasures to preseve.

I am not blaming someone or anyone for these struggles because as I have said the priorities of our government is focused on a different direction buy hey! Just a wake up call, we can always shape our future but we can never reshape our past. Once gone, it is always gone. It is like an extinct animal that can only be appreciated through documents but will be impossible for an actual encounter.

In Vigan, it has been inscribed as a world heritage city so international organizations with the cooperation of the local government unit have done a massive effort of preserving the structures. But I think without such recognition, the eyes of conservationists won't know about Vigan and will just turn to be a dilapidated remains of an extinct old beauty. My point here is that, it is happening to towns like Sariaya and new buildings do not conform to the baseline old architectural harmony. They disrupt the beauty and with the mushrooming growth of new buildings, tangling power lines keep appearing in an inevitable manner.

I think, it is now time for the town of Sariaya to create proper zoning and diversion road to keep unfriendly vehicles away from the old structures and at the same time, zoning to get rid of the multicolored modern structures that is annoying considering they are established in between the old structures. 

This is just an opinion, a suggestion. The final blow of course will fall under the initiative of those who have been entrusted for such jurisdiction. No hurt feelings. I am entitled to my own opinion and no one can take me that away. I travel. I observe, I comment, I suggest and I blog. This is my advocacy and expect me to tell this. I am looking forward for a vibrant conservation effort in the future not just in Sariaya but all over the Philippines because this is our culture, our heritage, our pride, our country, the Philippines.


Tags: Ancestral Houses in Sariaya, Quezon | Old Houses in Sariaya Quezon | Heritage of Sariaya, Quezon |
NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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Stories of town explorations.
"Some old houses were demolished and now their real color is popping out. The color of greed is now slowly glowing in the old houses transforming them as attractive it could be for business."

NOTE: This article is a personal opinion and insight of the author. The author has no sole intention to defame or in any other means destroy the image and credibility of a group, corporation, person or any entity whatsoever.

The sounds of the past is echoing. The old houses bring an unusual connection to what is not considered as contemporary. The Vigan old houses stand still amidst the span of time, storms and politics. They remain to be an emblem of Vigan's glorious past. But hey, where are those houses with exposed bricks gone? I can not see the old charm. What I see are new houses painted in different colors mimicking the architectural grandeur of the Vigan ancestral houses.


Maps by Wikipedia
Location Highlighted in Red
Suddenly, I realized, I am at the heritage district of Vigan and what I saw was totally different. The houses are all charming and gorgeous but the touch of the past is starting to break the connection I once felt while seeing the old houses. Some houses are now colored with green. There are also some with orange, light blue, pink and yellow.

As you look at those houses for the first time, they really look so fancy and attractive with the colors. However at the back of my mind, being a person who frequently sees these old structures, I always long for the harmony of the houses. Their architectural uniformity, unity and similarity should be preserved and with this, the color of every house should also be in line with the harmony.

Vigan's flourishing industry has grown dramatically - thanks to the the ancestral houses which serve as the main attraction of this World UNESCO Heritage City, the only one in the Philippines and truly a pride.

As a product of high tourists arrival, industries and commerce also flare up in this old city. The houses which are the main attractions are now turned in to shops, restaurants, hotels, and even fully-enclosed shopping center and disco bars. Commercialization is taking place. The solemnity of the old streets are now disturbed by the sounds of modern world and even the color is trying to cope up with the flow.

There's nothing bluer than blue while scrutinizing the renovation of the old houses. Some houses have been renovated improperly because the original context of the old houses weren't preserved and worse, some  re-builders of the ancestral houses have almost demolished the original walls and bricks just to give way for a better location for business to deal with the growing urge for commercialization.

The old streets are now disturbed by annoying sounds, live wires or powerlines, traffic jams and people on the rush. Business establishments open at every old house and the noise and activity just get worse.

I know, this is a part of a growing economy and I am happy for it. Vigan is now becoming a commercial hub secondary to the vibrant tourism industry - thanks again to the old houses. But I am really afraid that the real tourists especially those returning ones will come to be disappointed with the changes and see another face of Vigan they never expected. I am not concluding a fact, I am just thinking about the possibility that will happen and worse, Vigan might turn less attractive to them because of the massive changes and alteration of the real Vigan essence.

Honestly, I am not affected with the colors of the old houses which might be contrary to my commentary and stand in this article but what is annoying is the glaring color of greed and politics that people of personal interest sacrificed the living and existing heritage they have just to benefit them. Some old houses were demolished and now their real color is popping out. The color of greed is now slowly glowing in the old houses transforming them as attractive it could be for business.

The colors of the house are not bad at all if done with caution. But the question that lingers at the back of my mind is the reason behind the colors and why? Why demolish and why alter the living treasures that has put the Philippines at heritage map of the world? As I roam Vigan's streets, the answer is now clear. It is part of development and it is a reality. However, I still believe, progress and heritage conservation can still go hand in hand.

Note: The city government of Vigan has now passed an ordinance regulating the alteration, reconstruction and building of any houses within the heritage area so as to conserve and preserve these world heritage structures.

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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Stories of town explorations.
"I am not against selling these wild orchids per se, but of course the community and our society must be aware that it may face extinction if the demand grows which is already happening."

 These wild orchids really look so charming and inviting. Their appearance is very unusual, a very different presentation of a wild orchid. It has brown spots in the light greenish petals. It also has an amusing and refreshing sweet fresh wild smell. However, beware for those with allergy for pollen, it might still trigger you.

Maps Courtesy of Wikipedia
Location Highlighted in Red
I met a mid-30 woman in souvenir shop inside the premises of the Cagsawa ruins in Daraga, Albay of Bicol Region in the Philippines selling different products and goods.

There are also a lot of flowers usually are orchids displayed in her store. The woman looks just like an ordinary vendor, nothing so special. She has been living her whole life selling these products for the tourists.

I asked here, "Why are you staying here in this place? The volcano may erupt anytime. How about these things you are selling?"

"This place is where we earn for a living." She replied. "The moment the volcano erupts, we will be evacuating," she added.

Suddenly I noticed the very beautiful flower in the flowers section. I asked what it was and the woman told me it was an orchid. I was surprised! I asked here where it is coming from and she answered me it is from the forests of Mayon Volcano.

I didn't know what to say. As a nature lover and an environmental advocate, I am not in favor of the selling of wild animals or flowers because most are endangered. But, how can I balance the situation? The woman needs something to earn for a living and this wild orchid is very much inviting for buyers. One thing more, the selling of these kind of things from the wildlife is prohibited by law most especially if they are endangered.

The beauty of Mayon is really eternal. Although it might be destroyed due to a  tragic natural phenomenon (hope it'll not happen), the beauty will still remain in our hearts.

But it's natural beauty is also a home for other natural beauties such as these wild orchids.

According to the woman, it is not easy to find it everywhere because it is somewhat endemic in Mayon (this needs confirmation). So this means that the Mayon Volcano is a home for flora and fauna, more wild species of organisms and the like. So it is the responsibility of the community to take care of its beauty because its beauty comes in package which includes the symmetrical cone, the vegetation, and these wild organisms living in its slopes.

I am not against selling these wild orchids per se, but of course the community and our society must be aware that it may face extinction if the demand grows which is already happening. It has also happened to the sea turtles' high demand for their eggs.This is an issue that shouldn't be ignored. It is of national interest for our natural heritage.

Now, this will leave a puzzle for us. Should we buy it for all the vendor's profit or boycott them to preserve their existence? As of now, I already have my stand but everyone is entitled with their own idea.

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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