SAVING SARIAYA

Official Logo of PAMANLAHI

To see one person fight for his heritage is admirable... to see a community do the same thing is so freakin' AWESOME!!! 

Ms Marquez receiving PAMANLAHI's position letter as board-members look on

Last Tuesday, 15, September, five members of AHP who concurrently serve as members of the board of DAKILA'NG PAMANA NG LAHI took the time to drive to Sariaya, Quezon to express support for the preservation of Sariaya's heritage zone and to take part in the mediation conference between the Department of Public Works and Highways, The Local Govenrment unit and the stakeholders of Sariaya.

Ka Lino and Mye Atienza, Ms Boots Mejia, Ms Febe Sevilla and myself with Ms Rina Marquez

This is actually, also the first official act undertaken by PAMANLAHI as a duly registered, fully functioning NGO. A letter of support for the work stoppage on the construction of loading bays along the heritage zone of Sariaya would have to be submitted to the municipal hall, the mayor's office, the NCCA, and Sariaya's stakeholders.

groupie at the Sala of the Enriquez house

Our effort was duly recognized and appreciated by one of the home-owners in Sariaya, Rina Marquez and her mother who live in the Natalio Enriquez heritage home right beside the Church. The owners graciously welcomed us into their well-appointed mansion. The imposing structure was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro and is prominently located across the town plaza, off tangent to the municipal hall (also by the same architect.) The Town Plaza was actually land owned by the church which was donated to the LGU for public use. The monument of Jose Rizal along with a bandstand flanked by caryatids has all but been obliterated from view by a sports center and by a playground. 

Plaza de Shalom is behind this beautiful heritage home 

By two p.m. an expected audience of 20+ had bloomed to 50 plus homeowners and stakeholders of the heritage zone of Sariaya, Quezon. Physical arrangements had to be augmented to accommodate everyone who wanted their two-cents worth to be heard. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts' Atty. Trixie Angeles was present as mediating officer between local government, DPWH and homeowners. The sole purpose of the meeting was to find a common ground at which everyone represented will be happy with the options presented. The cease and desist order for road widening had been issued. However, DPWH and local government were pushing for the construction of loading bays essentially to "alleviate traffic flow along the heritage zone.

The venue setting

As fate would have it, the stakeholders opposed the construction of loading bays in the area in convincing fashion. DPWH, represented by a certain Engr. Racelis has reiterated that all road widening projects along the heritage zone has been discontinued but DPWH is appealing for the construction of the loading bays at certain points along the highway. Rina Marquez presented the detrimental effects of loading bays along the heritage cluster in a study done by no less than Toti Villalon along with UP engineering and architectural stalwarts. And since it was a mediation conference, the stakeholders were enjoined to find ideal alternative areas where the loading bays could be constructed without endangering the homes, causing anxiety and distrust among home-owners, and avoiding misgivings towards the local government. 

Home-owners and Mye Atienza intently participating in the mediation

Another mediation conference to present these alternative sites is scheduled for the 26th of October, 2015. By then, it is hoped all parties would amicably settle the issue for good. Failure to find common ground among all parties concerned would result in the case reverting back to a trial in court. The home-owners were adamant in voicing their concern as they were often not informed by the LGU or are commonly left out in the dark as to public projects were concerned. This far into the issue, stakeholders claim no plans were publicly posted either in the municipal hall nor bulletin boards. An irate municipal administrator even went so far as lambasting a certain Mr De Luna who was a member of Sariaya's Heritage Preservation group. It would be worth noting that a mediation is not a trial, ergo nothing expressed in mediation can be used as evidence. So, trying to convince an already emotional group of homeowners by slinging mud at "one of their own" does not make for good governance. What was he thinking?