Reclaiming our national soul

For too long, our nation has been trapped in a false dichotomy. We are told we must choose between the past and progress, between history and development. But review the figures. Manila, founded over 450 years ago on June 24, 1571, spans 897 barangays across 100 zones and 16 administrative districts clustered into six congressional districts. In the Sustainable Cities Index, Manila ranked a sobering 93rd out of 100 cities surveyed, placing 97th in People, 83rd in Planet and 89th in Profit. Too many invaluable architectural treasures have been demolished or left to decay, robbing future generations of the chance to discover their true Filipino identity and heritage. But today, we witness a profound and much needed shift. A renewed focus on restoring built heritage has taken center stage in our administration's legislative agenda. We are proving that heritage and development can work side by side, with our culture serving as the backbone of a vibrant economy. True progress does not require us to bulldoze our identity; instead, it demands a heritage-driven economy that breathes new life into historic structures while generating inclusive growth. Look to the heart of Manila to see physical dividends of this renaissance. The Goldenberg Mansion, restored 50 years ago by Leandro Locsin, has conservatively returned to its pristine stature. In its gardens stands the magnificent Glass House, featuring dark emeral bones, glass walls and checkered tile floors. Similarly, the iconic Coconut Palace, commissioned in 1978, underwent a massive P200-million, six-month restoration by the GSIS to repair salt air degradation. Formerly rented for P500,000 monthly in 2016, the palace reopened on Aug. 25, 2026, to host the 49th ASEAN Leaders' Summit in November. The long-term vision of the GSIS is to hire a professional property manager to maintain the structure and reopen it to the general public by early 2027. Intramuros represents a gold standard in adaptive reuse. Spanning five barangays, housing 8,000 residents and covering 160 hectares within three-kilometer walls, it has become a living center of Filipino heritage. The reopened Centro de Turismo and Museo de Intramuros, spearheaded by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, have revitalized the Walled City. Built on the former site of San Ignacio Church, destroyed in 1945, the Centro showcases Intramuros' past. Meanwhile, the Museo de Intramuros houses and showcases an extraordinary, priceless collection of about 500 religious artifacts. Through these thoughtful initiatives, the First Lady has made heritage preservation even more visible, meaningful and accessible to all, transforming these restorations from technical undertakings into national missions today. This momentum continues at the newly inaugurated Foro de Intramuros, built on the historic site where the Ateneo de Manila stood from 1859 to 1941. On June 5, 2025, the Foro hosted the opening ceremony of the 4th Likha Exhibit, a collaboration of the Intramuros Administration and the NCCA to showcase traditional crafts. These sites are connected by the beautifully restored Jones Bridge. Originally completed in 1920, this Beaux-Arts masterpiece underwent massive wear until a major P20-million rehabilitation in late 2019 restored it, reintroducing pre-war lampposts and returning the historic La Madre Filipina sculptures. Of the four original statues, three survived the war and were restored, while the fourth was replicated using archival references. However, we must face the structural roadblocks that still hinder preservation. A study of cultural casualties shows that a staggering 15 out of 19 built heritage sites were demolished during a single administration. This threat is exacerbated by a severe staffing crisis. The NHCP has only 12 architects and three engineers for the entire country, monitoring 33 structures nationwide. To incentivize private owners, we must look to the success of the First United Building in Escolta. Completed in 1928, its owners utilized Manila Ordinance 83885 of 2015 to secure a three-year tax holiday from 2018 to 2020, saving over P2 million in basic real property taxes. They poured that P2 million directly back into the structure, funding vital repainting, communications infrastructure and epoxy injections to repair deep cracks. This demonstrates that preservation incentives are not merely symbolic gestures. They can also become practical financing mechanisms that allow heritage properties to remain economically viable while retaining their historical character. Replicating this model across the country could transform tax relief into a tool for conservation. Why do these matter? Because as Dr. Eric Zerrudo famously says, ''Pag may kwento, may kwenta; 'pag may kwenta, may kita.' There is indeed big money in heritage. We are investing in a sustainable circular economy. Cultural heritage is widely recognized as the fourth pillar of sustainable development, connecting environmental protection, economic growth and social development. Harnessing it yields direct and indirect economic benefits. A heritage-driven economy generates a creative ecosystem that produces livelihood opportunities for local communities, which in turn benefits our traditional artisans, tour guides, transport operators and neighborhood vendors. It drives local tourism, pumps up economic activity, and raises both real estate and business values. By conserving historical spaces, we increas our nation's overall livability. To make this economy succeed, we must bridge the gap in our cultural education and align with frameworks like Target 11.4 of the UN Sustainable Developmetn Goals to protect cultural heritage. We must cultivate heritage consciousness among our youth, encouraging educational trips to historic sites so they understand our history as a living foundation. As legislators, we must strengthen our laws, close policy loopholes and provide concrete incentives for preservation. Our built heritage is a physical manifestation of our ancestors' highest aspirations. As Dr. Seuss wrote, 'Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.' Let us care, invest and build a future where our nation is driven by heritage and our national soul is preserved.