Putting great value on a devalued piece of history

The district of San Nicolas has great historical value. The interaction between Spanish and Chinese influences that largely contributed to Filipino identity took place at Chinatown, which San Nicolas is part of. Here, you can find buildings from the 19th century, some even date back to 150 years ago. These are vestiges of a previous era, of which not many people know about. Unfortunately, not much value has been placed in this area, which has resulted in the loss of its heritage value.
As a first step towards raising awareness about the historical and heritage value of San Nicolas, Instituto Cervantes de Manila organized a round table discussion for historians, architects, urban planners, businessmen, residents of the area, and the general public to reflect on the value of the San Nicolas district, explore its potential as an historical site, and brainstorm ideas on how to conserve it. This encounter, titled “San Nicolas (Manila): The Forgotten Treasure” was held on May 26, at Instituto Cervantes’ Intramuros branch (Calle Real, Plaza San Luis, Intramuros, Manila). The event was followed by a hybrid format where people could view the discussion and participate online, via Zoom.