WITH THE WIND?

Last year, the Department of Philosophy of the University of San Carlos asked me to give a lecture about postmodernism in philosophy and architecture. They promptly stated that we do not have any postmodern buildings here in Cebu . Oh so? Please, look behind the huge billboard in front of the USC-Main Campus! There is a building, covered and long forgotten, that speaks the design language of that movement.

All styles, all fashions of worldwide architecture seem to visit Cebu .  They stay around, leave their stamps, and in a moment they are gone with the winds of changing trends. Although their stamps still remain today, only experts can recognize the once so beautiful Spanish “plaza” around our Cebu Cathedral. I believe this is also true to all other monuments of the past. Walking on the sidewalks along Jones Avenue (now: Osmena Boulevard), would you realize that these walkways along which vendor’s boxes stand were created by the great American architect, Daniel Burnham, for relaxed walking?  In front of the Casino Espanol, a regular haunt of Cebu intelligence and prominence, a beautiful ancestral house would like to teach us of high design quality. A chain, however, closes its entrance. Its substance deteriorates. Gone.

What about the monuments of the last decades in Cebu ? Robinson Place in Fuente  easily recalls a mighty architectural movement – again from over there, beyond the Ocean. Once celebrated, this building is now dwarfed by the towers of Crown Regency Hotel. Will be those skyscrapers also overshadowed by the dizzy height of even bigger, even newer incarnations of trends brought here from far?

Architecture is truly swayed by powerful winds of a fast changing universe. The peaceful architectural breezes of  the Spanish are now architectural Undoys and Pepengs that sweep through the world. Will the overwhelming icons of today stand the ravages of time?  

Architectural quality is deeper than the celebrity of icons. In this sense, Cebu can still send a refreshing message to future generations. There are genuine values in so many buildings. May we respect this local culture and refrain from imposing any process of assimilation that would result in erosion of the local flavour!

From this vantage point (“LANTAWAN”), we first visit the Plaza Independencia in Cebu Downtown. This neglected historical site will soon change its face. Passing by truly old and relatively new heritage, the pages of this magazine present celebrated (rightly or not) buildings of the contemporary period. The snapshot of Metro Cebu rather represents “ Cebu taste” more tan just a mere attempt at “Cebuano architecture”. This is because Cebu is so unique!

“ I prefer Cebu to Manila ”, an American expat who fell in love first with a Cebuana and then with Cebu once told me. “ Manila is already overgrown. Cebu can still be governed. Cebu can still be managed.”
This chance is more than aesthetics. We have to overcome professional challenges such as designing for PWDs, sustainability, environmental consciousness, and durability. The future generation of architects must be well prepared. Therefore, as the official magazine of USC-CAFA, a learning institution, Lantawan proudly reports about our vibrant school life where students are shaped to become architects and artists. Architecture is not a closed discipline. It is changing, giving way to new generations.   

We blow the winds.     

Bro. Bela Lanyi, SVD
Editor in Chief

Copies are available at the following:

• USC-CAFA Dean's Office
• Cagnaan Bookstore (all branches)
• Catholic Trade (P. Del Rosario St.)
• USC-Textbook Shop (USC Main Campus)

We intend to open in this page a discussion forum. Please check back soon.