The 91-year-old Manila Clock Tower atop Manila City Hall in Ermita, which is currently being renovated, is set to become a tourist hotspot once completed, says Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso during a visit to the tower on Wednesday, Dec. 22.
Unveiled in 1930 as the largest clock tower in the Philippines and rebuilt post-World War II in 1946, the Manila Clock Tower is now being refurbished once more by the Manila city government in an attempt to turn it into a tourist attraction.
“‘Di komo gobyerno eh nagtitipid kasi magiging tourist attraction ito sa mga foreigners (We will not be frugal with this project as we want this to become a tourist attraction to foreigners),” said Domagoso.
Ongoing renovations include an overhaul of the viewing deck and the installation of comfort rooms in the tower.
Meanwhile, Domagoso also instructed that information boards detailing Manila’s history, an area to exhibit the works of local artists and creatives, and even a coffee shop be added to the Clock Tower’s list of amenities further on in the renovation.
“Pwede silang mag meryenda ‘yung mga piskal, mga judges, mga empleyado, mga abogado. Pwede rin sila mag meeting doon ... Dapat dito ang history ng Maynila. Ang Battle of Manila, panahon ng mga Muslim, Kastila, Amerikano, Hapon tapos bagong maglalagay tayo. So kapag pupunta ang tao, mamamasyal sa view deck, kasi pasyalan na to (Judges, employees, lawyers can have their merienda or have meetings in the coffee shop... The history of Manila should be displayed here like the battle of Manila, the time of Muslims, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese sp that tourists can learn when they visit),” said Domagoso to city engineers overseeing the renovation.
Domagoso also suggested that the tower be included as part of a Manila tourism package alongside attractions such as the Jones Bridge in Binondo, the newly-refurbished Manila Zoo in Malate, the Lagusnilad underpass connecting Intramuros to Manila City Hall, the Bonifacio Shrine also known as Kartila ng Katipunan in Ermita, the Mehan Garden in Ermita, and the walled city of Intramuros.