NCCA Releases Statement After Fire Razes Manila Post Office

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts has released a statement regarding the burning down of the Manila Post Office, a fire which reportedly lasted from 11 PM on Sunday, May 21, to the early morning of Monday, May 22.

“Ikinalulungkot po ng Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining (NCCA) na tinupok ng apoy ang Manila Central Post Office Building ngayong araw,” the NCCA wrote in an email to WhenInManila.com. “Bilang isang natalagang Malahagang Yamang Pangkalinangan (Important Cultural Property), tunay ngang masasabi na isa ang gusaling ito sa mga pinakamaganda sa ating lungsod at isang mahalagang bahagi ng ating pambansang pamana.”

 

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“Kasama ang mga sangay pang-kultura at iba pang tanggapan ng pamahalaan, handa pong tumulong ang NCCA sa abot ng aming kakayahan hindi lamang sa pag-ayos ng nasirang gusali, kundi maging sa pagbabalik ng normal na operasyon ng Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost). Hinihiling din namin ang pakikiisa ng lahat sa mahalagang gawaing ito,” the NCCA further said.

“Nawa ang pag-ayos ng mga nasira ay masimulan nang walang gaanong abala sa hanapbuhay at paglilingkod ng mga kawani ng PHLPost, na ating inaalaala dahil sa mga hamon na kanilang hinaharap ngayon.”

The Manila Post Office was built in 1925 and designed by Filipino architects Tomas Mapua and Juan Marcos de Guzman Arellano, as well as American architect Ralph Doane. The building was destroyed during World War II in 1945 but was rebuilt in 1946. In 2018, it was declared an Important Cultural Property. It also served as the headquarters of the Philippine Postal Corporation and handles the sorting and delivery of mail around the country.

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