When I recently visited the Philippines for vacation, I noticed the dwindling character in Metro Manila’s skyline and architecture. I’m not simply talking about the aesthetics of its infrastructure, but rather its essence and soul. It’s as if global capitalism is its chief architect, with its buildings looking increasingly similar. This is why historic preservation is essential, as it prevents this one crucial effect of globalism: cities completely losing their identity.

While the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our architectural heritage, it currently lacks the influence to shape city planning and architecture. Its focus on conserving individual sites in key locations, operating independently from local government, is admirable but limited. By working more closely with local leaders, the NHCP can play a more significant role in shaping the future of Metro Manila.

This starkly contrasts with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in New York City, which has greater power. It conserves historic and culturally relevant landmarks and has the authority to dictate what renovations can be done within these landmark buildings. The LPC can shoot down a renovation project if it sees that a building’s facade or character will be compromised, even if it’s as minor as an air handling unit being visible from the sidewalk. Because of this, many historic buildings’ architecture has been preserved throughout time while evolving their usage and occupancy to today’s needs. This is amiss in the Philippines, where significant landmark architecture is demolished yearly.

However, there are successful examples of historic preservation in other cities that Metro Manila can learn from, such as the brownstone townhouses in New York City. These brownstone townhouses have been featured in many television and movie shows, such as Sex and the City and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The preservation of these century-old houses is evident through LPC’s work as it has the jurisdiction to designate large intertwining neighborhoods to be historic. Historic neighborhoods retain much of the city’s olden and vibrant streetscapes. If new construction were to be built in these areas, they would have to adhere to the LPC guidelines for each historic neighborhood. Because of this, you won’t find a building sticking out of place and looking weird in these neighborhoods.

The NHCP can adapt this to create more cohesive-looking neighborhoods in Metro Manila. Granted, we do have the world-famous Intramuros as an example, but in the future, what other neighborhoods can we designate as historically relevant?

Living on a street filled with these iconic brownstones, I see many tourists taking pictures in front of them, which shows just how much of a tourist attraction they are. This is just one example of the economic benefits that heritage tourism can bring. With their high density and foot traffic, historic neighborhoods are a boon for local businesses, creating more job opportunities. These are just a fraction of the benefits of historic preservation. Preserving our landmarks and districts not only makes it more vibrant and economically robust, but can also protect our city’s soul and character.