Cebu's Iconic

 Lately I’ve been asking people around me to tell me a building that best represents Cebu City. I always get the same reply: Magellan’s Cross. Does this mean that our contemporary architects are not capable of building an iconic building? Or is it necessary to do so in the first place? 

Most buildings in the classical and medieval period can be considered iconic, especially those that were built like monuments. Heritage buildings are also iconic in the Philippines. People can easily associate a place when shown a picture of an old church or old structure. My concern, however, is the local contemporary architecture. 

What does it need for a building to be iconic anyway? First, as mentioned in my previous blog, the building has to be unique enough to catch the attention of media. Second, I think that the form should be simple enough to be drawn or described by anyone from memory. Third, the building should be situated in a place where it can easily be viewed in totality in at least two sides. Finally, the building should have a deep connection with the people in the locality. 

In Cebu, I am yet to find a building that meets all these criteria. Other than the Magellan’s Cross, the structures that would find its way to post cards are the Provincial Capitol and the Mactan Bridge. The Provincial Capitol, however, is not really contemporary and its neoclassical style is not so unique. The Mactan Bridge, on the other hand, is not a building in the first place. Because a second bridge was constructed, the Mactan Bridge started to lose its significance. 

The tallest building in the city is probably the Club Ultima. The building, however is complicated in form and is not viewable from good vantage points, especially because only one side faces the street. The Terraces in Ayala has been attracting a lot of people but a picture of this can easily be mistaken for the Greenbelt in Makati. Even the controversial Cebu International Convention Center, failed to meet the criteria of an iconic building because its form is not unique enough. 

For me, the best candidate for an iconic building in Cebu would have been the original design of the Megadome which won in the Design Competition. It enjoyed good media coverage, its form is unique yet simple enough to be retained in memory, it is also easily seen from many vantage points because of its site (it can even be seen from the Mactan Bridge), and most of all, everyone felt that it was a fitting design for Cebu. 

Unfortunately, it will never be realized for now the CICC stands on the site allotted for the Megadome. 

It is not easy to find a building that can be considered iconic. Cebu had its chance but lost it. For now, we will content ourselves with the Magellan’s Cross.