Conservation master plan to breathe life into Intramuros

Conservation master plan to breathe life into Intramuros


A MASTER plan to redevelop and conserve Manila's historical walled city of Intramuros will spawn a river promenade, theme parks, boutique hotels, museums, theatres and other attractions.



Though details are not yet known, TTG Asia e-Daily understands that the restoration project will be open to private investors. Meanwhile, Augusto Rustia, chief, Cultural Properties and Conservation Division of the Intramuros Administration, said some components of the master plan are already underway.
 Maestranza Park, facing Pasig River, will have a promenade, a dock for river cruises, cafes, restaurants, shops and exhibition areas, patterned after Singapore’s Clarke Quay. The reconstruction of San Ignacio Church also started this year to make way for an ecclesiastical museum, which will house 7,000 artifacts.



Other developments include the conversion of the former Ateneo Municipal School into a boutique hotel and the transformation of the space along Santa Lucia Gate into a small-scale theme park of Old Manila’s historical landmarks, similar to Madurodam in The Hague. The American Barracks will also house an American colonial period museum.



Rustia, whose department is being consulted for the master plan, said he would like Intramuros’ restoration to include more features, such as the revival of the Rajah Sulayman Theater and the art performances in Puerto Real.

However, he lamented that there was a lack of funds and conservation was not a priority in the country.

- Rosa Ocampo, TTG Asia

Urbanismo Filipino - Intramuros Photo Gallery Click Here

Philippines Call-Center Capital of the World

"The Philippines is emerging as a great outsourcing nation for cost efficiency, but are there limits to its success?" || Aljazeera

Real estate development along the Pasig River

Looking at aerial maps of Metro Manila, you find very few large open tracts of land, parks, or any green spaces at all. If there is green space, its privately owned and is closed of to the general public. One of the few open tracts of land in the heart of the urban metropolis sat the Santa Ana Race Track in Makati. It is now being developed into a new entertainment hub in Makati called The Circuit by AyalaLand - a mixed use district with parks, open space oriented towards the Pasig River with an entertainment mission behind it. The latest Proscenium by Rockwell, just down the river will also feature a cultural/arts venue as well and gleaming residential towers designed by world-renown architect, Carlos Ott.

Makati's horrific land-use decisions had locked in its Commercial Business District with single-family residential all around limiting the growth of the business district into one area. Redevelopment along the Pasig River has been the answer to the ever growing demand for office and residential space in the Philippines' National Capital Region. Here are some few examples along the river:

- former power plant became a master-planned community called Rockwell Center and Powerplant Mall
- former Colgate-Palmolive manufacturing center is now slated for the Proscenium Development
- former sugar refinery plant now Acqui Private Residences
- former Philippine Pipe and Foundry Corp. is now Tivoli Gardens Residences

Rockwell Center (Rockwell Group)


The Proscenium (Rockwell Group)


Rockwell & Proscenium Site Plan


Acqua Residences (Century Properties)


Tivoli Gardens (DMCI Corp.)


The Circuit (AyalaLand Corp.)



All this to say is that redevelopment of former industrial sites is happening all over the region. The highest and best uses for sites in urban centers is now mixed-use developments, catering to the growing demand for housing and retail. Industries and manufacturing centers left the center city and moved to provinces and eco-zones or tax-free incentives zones in the outskirts of major urban centers, as well as the rise of the services industries, have freed up some land in major urban centers, particularly former industrial sites along the the Marikina and Pasig Rivers.

There is a movement to revive the Pasig River with many non-profits and government groups wanting to rehabilitate the river. Once a center and source of life for Manila, the city in the last couple decades has turned its back on it, avoiding its polluted and murky waters. Now citizens and developers are realizing the potential of a waterfront and how important it is to have a healthy river for the eco-system of the city.

Real estate developments such as The Circuit, Proscenium or Acqua are now orienting their developments along the River. Its a positive sign that Manileños are taking notice of their river, and want to bring it back to life as the center of residential, commercial and social activity in the Metro Manila area.

Links:
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission | http://www.prrc.gov.ph/
Pasig River Ferry Service | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasig_River_Ferry_Service
Acqua Residences | http://www.aquaresidence.com/location/
Rockwell Center | http://www.e-rockwell.com/
The Proscenium | http://www.e-rockwell.com/proscenium/

- Jezreel Apelar

Heritage Watch: Compañia Maritima in Cebu City: Then and Now

Fernandez Building, more known by its locators Shamrock Hotel and Compañia Maritima,
was built on reclaimed land at waters’ edge. It was built in 1910 and was owned by
Fernandez Hermanos Inc.

Although at times spelled Compania or Compaña Maritima, archaeologist and
conservationist Jobers Bersales and sources at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation
Inc. said the actual spelling is Compañia Maritima.

The structure was printed in postcards published as advertisements by the
Shamrock Hotel. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will put up glass mosaics of historic sites
in Cebu on windows in the structure.

 http://photos.mycebu.ph/

Dancing traffic police in Manila - only in the Philippines!

What do Miss Philippines/Miss Universe and Real Estate have in common?

What do Miss Philippines/Miss Universe and Real Estate have in common?

The answer may be more obvious than you think: DONALD TRUMP.

The catapult of the Philippines in the top finals in the Miss Universe pageant recently is something of a curiosity for me. Miss Philippines has been on the rise at the Miss Universe pageant, placing as the top finalists in the last 3 consecutive years. The pageant-crazy nation takes these competitions seriously and these women who represent the Philippines are seen as national heroes. After the sport of boxing, beauty pageants are arguably the Philippines next favorite "sport." Miss Universe is a profitable world-wide presentation with a global reach and Donald Trump knew the value in it. So in 1996, he acquired it.

Donald Trump is a highly visible personality in the show, but we all know Mr. Trump as the real estate developer and his pretentious skyscrapers that have sprouted in cities all over the United States. But the most recent venture that Donald Trump has in real estate are his international projects and one in particular...the TRUMP Tower in Manila, Philippines.

Destined to be one of the most luxurious towers in Asia and the first to carry the TRUMP brand in the world's fastest growing region, Donald Trump must be strategic in which countries he wants to place in his international pageant. Placing the Philippines as the top finalist is strategic marketing for the Philippines as a nation, but more importantly for him where his shiny glass tower is located. Trump also has real ventures in Brazil, Panama and many other places all over the world.

Starting with Venus Raj in 2010, she received a lot of media attention even before the preliminaries. She rose to popularity after her inclusion in special photo ops with Donald Trump. She along with handful of selected contestants were selected to be muses for many ad campaigns as well. Miss Philippines 2011, Shamcey Supsup also received much praise last year and was invited to come back as a web host for this year's Miss Universe 2012 show. And now 2012's Janine Tugonon also received a handful attention, if not more than the previous year's contestants. This year she was featured in TV interview on Fox 5 with Miss USA- (http://youtu.be/3bAuW9ZSIEg) , a commercial for Australian Gold brand with only a handful of Miss Universe girls (http://tinyurl.com/bqklo3q) and the usual special photo ops with Donald Trump.

This post is not to say that Miss Philippines did not make it to the top finals in Miss Universe in her own right but we all know pageants are never political or biased right? There is always "luck", but the Q & A portion of show and the preliminaries really do reveal that Miss Philippines is not just beauty and brains, but also athletic, poised, and undeniably deserving of the Miss Universe crown. She truly a world-class woman.

But the next time we see these beautiful women again on stage before the world, let us remember that like beauty, we can't take anything at face value.

AFP Photo/Joe Klamar, AFP

New CBD in North Metro Manila - Valenzuela City

Watch out Metro Manila, a new business district will be rising in the northern Metro Manila!

It's about time northern Metro Manila gets its share of new developments. For a long time much of the development of mixed-use environments in this area has been small scale. The western and southern parts of Metro Manila have taken the lion's share in growth in past couple of decades - Eastwood, Bonifacio Global City, Muntinlupa/Alabang, Pasig/Ortigas and of course, Makati.

One of the country's largest conglomerates and most prominent property developers, the Ayala Corporation has sealed the deal with the political dynasty in the north - the Gatchalians, who want to develop just a small portion of their estate...to date about 17 hectares. The market demographics for the northern Metro Manila call for more affordable housing developments and a variety of retail shops. This 17 hectares is only part of the 60+ hectare manufacturing hub of the Gatchalian family.

The Gatchalian’s Plastic City Industrial Corp. (PCIC) has sized down its operations and have leased out many of its existing real estate. This new partnership with the Ayala group will be huge draw for many who desire a "destination" in this part of the metropolitan area. With real estate on the boom in the Philippines, both parties hope to capitalize on the momentum of rising incomes and keen interest from foreign investors. Taking advantage of the BPO industry's strength will also help catapult this neighborhood as the nation continues to add more call center seats.

This is a great opportunity to create a more urban center with modern facilities and amenities for northern Metro Manila such as new schools, new hospitals and overall, a destination for all Filipinos. I believe this a great partnership between the Ayalas and the Gatchalians and I know it will spur a lot of economic development in the area. Another great leap for the Urbanismo Filipino!

 

Photo by wellex.com.ph

Manila Green City Index - One of Asia's LEAST Greenest Cities

Manila is the Philippines’ capital, the largest city and political center of the country. Metro Manila comprises 16 different cities and some 11.6 million people. The city has a per capita GDP of about US$5,400. Manila ranks below average overall in the Index, but its best performance is in the air quality category with low levels of air pollutants. Compared to the other cities in the low income range, Manila has the second-lowest rate of energy consumption per unit of GDP and per capita CO2 emissions that are well below average.

http://www.siemens.com/press/en/presspicture/?press=%2Fen%2Fpresspicture%2F2011%2Fcorporate_communication%2F2011-02-asia%2Fsoaxx201106-12.htm

Full Report: http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/events/2011/corporate/2011-02-asia/asian-gci-report-e.pdf

BCDA Masterplan for Camp Aguinaldo Privatization

I have always thought that Camp Aguinaldo, sitting on prime real estate could do more for Metro Manila and become an anchor and congregating point with its strategic location and proximity to many parts of the metropolis.

The first step is to obviously create a masterplan and an eventual privatization of the property. The government can raise funds to modernize its military by selling off parcels to private developers but carefuly urban planning and design is imperative here. What's important is the opportunity to create a more permeable urban space and breakdown physical barriers. Currently its hideous fortress surrounded by giant walls, blocked away from the rest of the urban fabric. It really has left a void in the community and Metro Manila can really benefit if we unlock this low density/open space.

One thing critical that should be developed is a visible and vibrant public space. No, not the pitiful Bonifacio High Street type of public space, but let's make it into a true public park, one that Metro Manila desperately needs. Think Central Park.

I would NOT like to see another BGC/Taguig development, but a more intimate mid-rise/garden-style development a la Washington DC to complement its neighboring residential enclaves. And definitely would NOT want the same drastic land use NO NO like Makati Business District & its Bel-Air/Forbes/Dasma/Urdaneta around it. High rise building typologies adjacent to to single family low-rises on the same street is preposterous. Human scale must be kept in mind. Of course we're there yet and there is still time before this begins to happen.

I'm just glad BCDA is starting to see Camp Aguinaldo's potential and is doing something about it.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2012/12/18/887160/bcda-craft-master-plan-camp-aguinaldo-privatization