Bambi’s travails as IA

Being thoroughly conversant with our country’s socio-cultural and historical background, Anna Maria “Bambi” Harper makes for the ideal Intramuros Administrator. Since assuming the post in March, she has been confronted by extremely hazardous problems. Realizing these, some insiders predicted that she would last as IA for only three weeks or less. They don’t know Mrs. Harper. A determined woman with an iron will, she is not easily intimidated.

There is a cold war between IA Harper whose allies are the schools — Letran, Lyceum, Mapua, Pamantasan and Sta. Rosa — and vested interests aligned with certain barangay captains and squatters whose votes count during elections.

Having opened a Pandora’s box, Mrs. Harper received death threats after being only three weeks in office, threats which prove how grave the hazards are, how powerful and influential the people behind the hazards.

Mrs. Harper’s problems go back to Aug. 23, 1956 during which RA 1607 declared Intramuros a “residential, commercial and educational district” and authorized the City Engineer to “widen the streets” and “open the walls where necessary”. From Aug. 1956 until the creation of Intramuros Administration in April 1979, a span of 23 years, Intramuros was managed by the city government during which time at least 52 buildings were constructed with utter architectural disregard for Intramuros’ historical character. Little improvement was done on antiquated underground infrastructure and businesses detrimental to the physical environment were allowed to flourish.

The national government enacted PD 1616 to correct the defects of RA 1607’s management mechanisms. It vested on the Intramuros Administration, as a national government agency, the responsibility of undertaking the “orderly restoration, development and maintenance of Intramuros as a monument to the Hispanic period in Philippine history.”

Despite PD 1616, the IA has many technicalities to hurdle. For instance, the IA’s administrative policies, orders, resolutions have to pass City Council. At a meeting last May 8, IA’s position was not even given a hearing.

Parking is free in the area but barangay chairs charge motorists P50. The IA put signs that parking is free but unknown parties removed them. The police outpost disappeared and a riot ensued May 28 and 29 resulting in three deaths and one injury.

Rules and regulations governing Intramuros state that “harmful and annoying activities adversely affecting the health, morals, peace and order of the community shall not be permitted.”  There are prohibitions against lean-tos or barong-barongs. Yet a Lyceum official complains against squatters spreading dengue to the students, foul odor reaching the laboratory because of the dwellers’ unsanitary practices, the selling  of prohibited drugs to students, illegal wire-tapping. A Colegio de Sta. Rosa official brings up theft and robbery cases owing to the lack of security measures, improper waste disposal, and an ineffective drainage system. Illegal vendors operate on sidewalks; illegal pedicabs crowd out pedestrians.

Further, there are restaurants serving liquor to Letran minors; billiard halls, video and computer game houses waylaying students.

With the help of the Board of Administrators, Mrs. Harper plans to restore Intramuros as a National Heritage Site, as Nick Joaquin’s “ever loyal city”. Proposals include the re-landscaping of various parks and plazas, the reconstruction of San Ignacio Church for the establishment of an Ecclesiastical Museum, the establishment of a Maritime Museum.

Speaking of museums, incalculable art treasures in the Palacio del Gobernador — statues of saints by the hundreds, in wood or ivory, paintings (badly in need of cleaning and restoration) retablos, altars, all of which are faithfully guarded by Dave Ardonia, need to be housed in museums. A student, on seeing the treasures, told Mrs. Harper: “For the first time, I became aware of our historical legacy.”

The enormity of Mrs. Harper’s task and her intense desire to restore The Walled City to its former glory deserve unwavering official and public support.