Now that tenants of El Hogar Filipino building in Binondo have been kicked out, we’re left scratching our heads and wondering who bought the 1917 Beaux-Arts building and what their plans for it are.
Is Megaworld the new owner?
“We got wind that photographers were being asked not to take pictures of this 100-year-old building, requested by the new owners, now revealed to be MegaWorld Developers,” writes Urban Sketchers Philippines in their blog. “They don’t really have a track record of turning cultural heritage building for adaptive reuse.”
The real estate company, however, denies this.
“Megaworld has not acquired or purchased the El Hogar property in Manila. The company fully supports efforts to preserve cultural heritage sites,” says Harold Geronimo, director for strategic marketing and communications.
A source close to the previous owners of El Hogar says the property was sold to one of the building’s former tenants, a businessman who plans to turn the building into a warehouse.
In the meantime, the Heritage Conservation Society will have a general board meeting on Feb 28 and of the issues to be discussed is El Hogar, says a board member.
“El Hogar is one of the most important architectural landmarks of the country. It survived the second World War and anyone proposing that it be demolished is doing a great disservice to the nation. The heritage building will make a perfect hotel especially when a pedestrian bridge is constructed connecting Binondo to Intramuros,” says Ivan Anthony Henares, president of the Heritage Conservation Society.
“We hope the new owner realizes the strong economic potential of conserving the building. But we received information that one of the conditions of the sale was that the building won’t be demolished and that the new owner understands that the building they just purchased is a priceless artistic treasure. And we hope to see the building restored to its full glory in the future,” he adds.
Photo: Anson Yu
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