If we allow ‘Torre’ to be completed …

Rina Jimenez-David’s June 23 column, titled “Original sins,” has exceptionally and powerfully brought out the core issues in the Torre de Manila controversy. Her haunting questions—“Have we no pride? Or more correctly, have our officials no shame?”—should strike the hearts of any self-respecting Filipino who loves this country to do everything necessary not to allow the desecration of a national monument.

If we allow the construction of Torre de Manila to be completed, Rizal Park will no longer be the hallowed ground that fostered the seeds of Philippine independence with the blood of our heroes. Rather, Rizal Park, with Torre de Manila towering over it like a monster, will be seen by the next generation of Filipinos as a National Monument of Shame. Shame on us present generation of Filipinos who disregarded our heritage, swallowed our national pride, cut off the roots of our nationhood and sold the soul of our nation—all on the altar of crass commercialism.

The next generation of Filipinos will still print postcards, send and post pictures of Rizal Park not because it represents everything that is Manila and the Philippines, but to remind the world how our generation failed to protect our heritage and national soul because of apathy and greed.

We should not allow our descendants to blame us for making them the laughing stock of the world.

I, therefore, enjoin DMCI to have a heart and to show love for this country by voluntarily dismantling Torre de Manila. The Philippines has been very good to DMCI, making it one of the biggest corporations in the country. Dismantling Torre de Manila is the least DMCI can do to show its gratitude to the Filipino people.

—REP. RODEL M. BATOCABE, Ako Bicol Party list