Manila Bulletin
Lifestyle
Arts and Culture
Manila Central Post Office gutted by fire: 4 facts about the building
Lifestyle
Arts and Culture
Manila Central Post Office gutted by fire: 4 facts about the building
Manila Central Post Office gutted by fire: 4 facts about the building
Manila's beloved Post Office building razed by fire from the ground up to the fifth floor
Published May 22, 2023 06:54 am
On May 22, 2023, a massive fire broke out at the Manila Central Post Office. The fire, which started at around 11:45 p.m., quickly spread through the building and was not brought under control until more than seven hours later. The fire caused extensive damage to the building, destroying much of its interior and leaving the exterior heavily damaged.
It is lamentable indeed that one of our important heritage structures was gutted by fire, in May, during National Heritage Month no less.
Here are some facts about the Manila Central Post Office:
1\. The Manila Central Post Office was designed by Juan Arellano\, a renowned Filipino architect\, and completed in 1926\. It served as the central hub for the country's postal services\.
2\. The building follows a neoclassical architectural style also known as classical revival architecture\, characterized by its grand façade and intricate details\. It features a large central dome and two wings adorned with columns and sculptures\.
3\. Within the Manila Post Office building\, there was a Philatelic Museum that showcases a vast collection of stamps and postal artifacts\. It provides visitors with insights into the rich history of Philippine philately\.
4\. During the construction of the building\, a time capsule was buried beneath the main entrance\. It contains various historical documents and artifacts from the 1920s\. It is scheduled to be opened in 2026\, on the building's centennial anniversary\.
The fire at the Manila Central Post Office is a major loss for the Philippines. The building was a national historical landmark and a symbol of the country's progress. Now, regrettably, it is a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need to take steps to protect our heritage.
"I am deeply saddened by the news that the Manila Central Post Office, one of the historic buildings in the country and declared an Important Cultural Property (ICP), was engulfed by a massive fire that started late night Sunday.  . . . It is indeed a tragic and heartbreaking incident. I call on our authorities to investigate the cause of the fire so that this occurrence will never happen again. We must protect our historical sites such as this significant architectural heritage," said Senator Loren Legarda, a well-known advocate and patron of culture and the arts, in an official statement to the press.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI)
Here are some facts about the Manila Central Post Office:
1\. The Manila Central Post Office was designed by Juan Arellano\, a renowned Filipino architect\, and completed in 1926\. It served as the central hub for the country's postal services\.
2\. The building follows a neoclassical architectural style also known as classical revival architecture\, characterized by its grand façade and intricate details\. It features a large central dome and two wings adorned with columns and sculptures\.
3\. Within the Manila Post Office building\, there was a Philatelic Museum that showcases a vast collection of stamps and postal artifacts\. It provides visitors with insights into the rich history of Philippine philately\.
4\. During the construction of the building\, a time capsule was buried beneath the main entrance\. It contains various historical documents and artifacts from the 1920s\. It is scheduled to be opened in 2026\, on the building's centennial anniversary\.
The fire at the Manila Central Post Office is a major loss for the Philippines. The building was a national historical landmark and a symbol of the country's progress. Now, regrettably, it is a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need to take steps to protect our heritage.
"I am deeply saddened by the news that the Manila Central Post Office, one of the historic buildings in the country and declared an Important Cultural Property (ICP), was engulfed by a massive fire that started late night Sunday.  . . . It is indeed a tragic and heartbreaking incident. I call on our authorities to investigate the cause of the fire so that this occurrence will never happen again. We must protect our historical sites such as this significant architectural heritage," said Senator Loren Legarda, a well-known advocate and patron of culture and the arts, in an official statement to the press.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI)