Manila to restore Botong mural

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Manila and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) have joined forces to restore a mural by National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco at the Manila city hall.

Francisco’s mural, “Filipino Struggle through History,” chronicles the history of Manila and has been the centerpiece of the Bulwagan Gat Antonio Villegas at the city hall since 1963.

The city’s engineering department discovered that water was seeping through a portion of the mural, a result of a plumbing problem at the upper floor of the Bulwagan.

Mayor Alfredo Lim, TIEZA general manager Mark Lapid and lawyer Rafaelito Garayblas signed a memorandum of agreement for the restoration of the mural, the cost of which will be covered by a P20 million donation from the Department of Tourism.

Lim had broached the idea of enlisting TIEZA’s assistance to Gemma Cruz Araneta, former tourism secretary and now vice chair of the Manila Historical and Heritage Committee.

With the use of scaffolding, the city engineering department will set up a working area for the artists taking part in the restoration to work right at the Bulwagan.