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Comments to the Montenegro’s suggestion were positive and he was praised for his idea.

MANILA — The late Carlos Celdran, a cultural heritage advocate. made a futile attempt to stop the construction of a high-rise condominium along Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila just across the Rizal Park from 2012 and 2014. Celdran called the 46-story building a national photobomber because it mars the view of the iconic Rizal Monument by serving as the background of the shrine.

The Manila City Council suspended the construction of the building in November 2013 and the Supreme Court granted a petition of the Knights of Rizal for a temporary restraining order against the developer in June 2015. However, in April 2017, the High Court lifted the TRO allowing construction to continue.

One legal argument that worked in favor of the developer is the lack of a law forbidding construction that disrupts sightlines.

The building is now finished but a netizen is suggesting a solution or compromise that will not cause the building to spoil the view of the monument. Tata Montenegro posted a photo of the building painted to look like the Philippine flag so that when a picture of the shrine is taken, the tri-color instead of a building would be seen in the background.

Comments to the Montenegro’s suggestion were positive and he was praised for his idea.

Unfortunately, even if the developer is amenable to the suggestion, it may not be able to comply because of a law that prohibits the defacement or use of the national flag other than as an emblem. Specifically, the law does not allow the use of the national flag as a tablecloth, drapery or covering.