An open letter to the developer of the controversial Torre de Manila

For months now, the Torre de Manila-Rizal Monument controversy has raged. As a matter of fact, the dispute has reached the Supreme Court.

However this controversy is not an ordinary construction dispute but one of paramount importance as it involves our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. May we therefore urge you to take a personal hand in the settlement of the problem. Without regard to legalities, please stop the construction. This great act of statesmanship may involve financial loss on your part but in return you will earn the awe and gratitude of the Filipino people. And definitely this financial loss will not cause a dent in your standing as among the 10 richest men of the Philippines, as recognized by Forbes magazine. Indeed, David Consunji will be remembered as a friend of Crisostomo Ibarra, and not in the group of Father Damaso and Father Salvi.

In his Last Farewell, Dr. Rizal asked for sacrifices:

On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight

Others give you their lives without pain or hesitancy

The place does not matter; cypress, laurel, lily white

Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom site,

It is the same if asked by home and country.

—SAMSON S. ALCANTARA,

president, Social Justice Society,

[email protected]