Manila documents architectural heritage

The Manila Historical and Heritage Commission (MHHC) and its private sector partner, the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) recently held a three-day workshop to launch the project Heritage Architectural Documentation 2008.

Held at the former Army and Navy Club building, now the Museo ng Maynila, the project aims to awaken interest in heritage conservation among architecture and engineering students from universities in Manila and the entire country. Thirty participants from UP-Diliman, UST, PUP, University of Nueva Caceres (Naga), as well as La Consolacion College in Bacolod participated in the recent workshop.

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim’s sent officials from the city engineer’s office to the MHHC workshop while architects of the Intramuros Administration came to review basic skills and share their experience with participants.

Gemma Cruz Araneta (HCS president and MHHC member) told the students that the Army and Navy Club is an important landmark of Manila that should be documented in detail. Arch. Augusto F. Villalon of the HCS gave a backgrounder on Filipino architecture and national identity. HCS treasurer Arch. Rene Luis Mata lectured on general aspects of documentation. HCS trustee, Arch. Melvin G. Patawaran, gave tips on architectural photography and manual documentation.

After the lectures and lunch, the participants were divided into groups by Arch. M. Patawaran and given specific areas of the Army and Navy Club to photograph, measure and document .

Materials used in the documentation exercises were donated by Stoneworks, Inc., Casa Elettrica and Kenneth & Mock; while Kape Isla served a variety of native coffees.