Requiem for Nabua's Gabaldon by Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

By Gemma Cruz Araneta

March 10, 2009, 12:16am
Manila Bulletin

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/198353

THIS depressing letter was in my inbox: "The local government demolished Nabua's Gabaldon [schoolhouse] despite the official letter from the National Historical Institute. In January this year, the Mayor Fernando Simbulan surrounded the Gabaldon with a very high fence that prevented townsfolk from seeing the demolition.

"Today, nothing remains of the 100-year old Gabaldon building in Nabua. It is sad that one of the few remaining links to our history in probably one of the oldest towns in the entire province of Camarines Sur has been torn down. An iconic structure that withstood the test of time has been reduced to nothing but a memory.

"It saddens me and the members of the Nabua Forum that we could not save the Gabaldon schoolhouse from demolition. Mayor Simbulan, who has been deciding in behalf of the town for the last 9 years (3 terms) was unstoppable in implementing his "development" plans. For the past nine months, Nabua Forum (http://nabuaforum.kulturavolunteers.org/) fought a lonely battle trying to preserve the remaining link of the town to its colonial past. Our elders have only good memories of their years of education at the Gabaldon building, the very first schoolhouse built in the town.

"The Nabua Forum has raised the issue of saving the said Gabaldon schoolhouse because of its architectural significance. Heritage conservation specialist Architect Melvin Patawaran declared the importance of restoring Nabua's Gabaldon because of its unique five-room design.

"Through the efforts of the Nabua Forum's founder, Dada Docot, the organization was able to solicit the participation of the Heritage Conservation Society and Ms. Gemma Cruz-Araneta, who wholeheartedly supported last year's public seminar on heritage conservation that was attended by various personalities not only from Nabua but the rest of Camarines Sur.

"It is unfortunate that the municipal officials of Nabua, tasked to protect not only its people but its heritage as well, understand the concept of development and progress in terms of the construction of a shopping complex which will only kill local businesses while sacrificing the town's historical monument.

"Mayor Fernando Simbulan preferred to disrespect Nabuenos and erase their link to history, a classic example of a politician's arrogance. He rammed through the local legislative council his idea of 'legacy,' as he completes his ten years of mismanaging the town. His action to destroy the Gabaldon is an insult to the people of Nabua that can never be forgiven nor forgotten.

"We denounce Nabua's political leaders who put their selfish interests first rather than the good of the public they have sworn to serve. Farewell to Nabua's Gabaldon. We refuse to end the fight. The mayor may have succeeded in destroying the Gabaldon schoolhouse but he only made us more angry. The real deal behind the demolition and the construction of the shopping complex remains to be investigated." (gemma601@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

PHOTOS OF NABUA's Gabaldon (June 2008)

http://nabuaforum.kulturavolunteers.org/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,27/page,view/catid,69/PageNo,1/key,0/hit,1/

Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:

Lola Lina Guerrero, the Lumber Lady

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Filipinos inspire me.

Lola Lina Guerrero can neither read nor write and she never imagined that she would build one of Laong Laan (Manila)'s most successful businesses.

Lola Lina Guerrero's business is simple: she started with one small house scheduled for demolition and thought that she could make some money from it. She collected all the steel and whatever recyclable items from the torn-down structure and then re-sold them to those looking for cheap construction materials. The word about her business spread to the neighborhood, and then to rich subdivisions. Who doesn't want to save on construction costs?

Lola Lina hires mostly ex-convicts from the Manila Prison House.

Photo description:

Left: Lola Lina with her Outstanding Entrepreneur Award given by the mayor of Manila.

Middle: The flooring of Lola's house is made of old cement.

Right: Though Lola's house looks new, the doors, windows, balconies are all made of materials from demolished buildings.

Labels: proud to be filipino, travel

Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:

Farewell to Nabua's Gabaldon

Monday, March 09, 2009

Yesterday, we received final confirmation that nothing remains of the 100-year old Gabaldon building in Nabua. It is sad to hear that the few remaining links to our history in probably one of the oldest towns in the entire province of Camarines Sur had been torn down. An iconic structure that withstood the test of time had been reduced to nothing but a shred of a memory to the people who once roamed its august halls.

For the past nine months, Nabua Forum (http://nabuaforum.kulturavolunteers.org/) has fought a lonely fight trying to preserve the remaining link of the town to its colonial past. Our elders would probably have nothing but good memories of their years of education at the said Gabaldon building, the very first schoolhouse built in the town. Nabua Forum has raised the issue of saving the said Gabaldon Building not only as a testament to the legacy of a free and universal education during the American period but because of its exceptional architectural significance, belonging to the iconic designs reminiscent of the grandeur of that colonial era. Heritage Specialist Architect Melvin Patawaran declared the importance of conserving Nabua's Gabaldon building because of its unique five-room design. Thru the efforts of the Nabua Forum's founder, Dada Docot, the organization was able to solicit the participation of the Heritage Conservation Society and Ms. Gemma Cruz-Araneta, who wholeheartedly supported last year's public seminar on heritage conservation that was attended by various personalities not only from Nabua but the rest of Camarines Sur. In October 2008, Dada Docot was also able to secure an official letter (http://nabuaforum.kulturavolunteers.org/components/com_fireboard/uploaded/files/NHI_letter_to_Mayor.pdf) from the National Historical Institute (NHI) restraining the Municipal Government of Nabua from conducting any activities that would be detrimental to the structure of the Gabaldon building. The NHI letter was given to the Mayor’s Office but sadly, the authority of the NHI has been ignored and completely disregarded by the town’s highest official. In January 2009, the local government constructed a fence around the Gabaldon Building, not to protect it, but to prevent Nabuenos from noticing the demolition of the historical building. This year, a shopping mall will rise on the site where the Gabaldon school once stood.

It is sad to realize that the municipal officials of Nabua, tasked to protect not only its people but safeguard its heritage as well, understand the concept of development and progress in terms of the construction of a shopping complex which not only will kill local businesses but which sacrificed the town's historical monument as well. While other political leadesr of such provinces like Tarlac and Ilocos Norte listened to the voice of their constituents and respected their clamor to preserve their Gabaldon schools, Mayor Fernando Simbulan preferred to disrespect Nabuenos and erase the remaining link to a glorious past they can be truly be proud of. Mayor Simbulan displayed a classic example of a small time politician’s arrogance by ramming through the local legislative council his idea of a “legacy” to the town as he completes his ten years of corrupt leadership. His tenure continues to be marred by irregularities and controversies and his action to destroy Gabaldon is not only an insult to the people of Nabua but a travesty of justice that should never be forgiven nor forgotten.

We grieve not for the Gabaldon but for Nabua's political leaders who put their selfish interests first rather than the good of the public they have sworn to serve.

Farewell to Nabua's Gabaldon.

Share your comments, go to: http://nabuaforum.kulturavolunteers.org/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,40/func,view/catid,42/id,1483/#1483

NABUA FORUM

Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:

Special Screening of my Short Film

Monday, March 02, 2009

Kilometer 64 Poetry Collective presents

sa 'yo, te

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

6:00pm - 9:00pm
Conspiracy cafe,
#59 Visayas Ave.
Quezon City, Philippines
09278313273

with performances by:

abet umil
pau hernando
ayn dela cruz
joel garduce
musicians for peace
sining bugkos
alex remollino
babes alejo
rustum casia
mau dela cruz

special screening
Performing Naturalness
a 3 minute film by dada docot

exhibit opening
BLOOM
works by women

Paintings. Photographs. Sculptures. Etc.
by
Daphne Aguilar
Scarlet Aguilar
Cynthia Alexander
Mency Atienza
Tina Basco
Carol Bello
Nana Buxani
Susan Corpuz
Ina Avellana-Cosio
Aba Lluch Dalena
Lai del Rosario
Rufina Fajardo
Nerisa del Carmen Guevara
Tala Hagart-Alexander
Jemina
Emmanwelga Lacaba
Mithi Lacaba
Tita Lacambra-Ayala
Julie Lluch
Vivian Limpin
Alma Quinto
Macrina Vicente

*Partial proceeds go to Project Brave Kids

Labels: japan, Phil-Jap relations, proud to be filipino, video clips

Author: Filipina Travels » Comments: