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Compañía Marítima Building

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Compania Maritima
Compania Maritima north-side view
Compania Maritima Building, Cebu City
Compania Maritima Building, Cebu City
Location in Philippines
Former names
  • Fernandez Building
  • Shamrock Hotel
General information
Architectural styleNeoclassical architecture
LocationCebu City, Philippines
AddressQuezon Boulevard, Cebu City
CountryPhilippines
Coordinates10°17′29.5″N 123°54′8.2″E / 10.291528°N 123.902278°E / 10.291528; 123.902278
OwnerDisputed between Cebu City Government and Cebu Port Authority

Compania Maritima Building is a neoclassical heritage building located along the South Road Properties of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines that was built in 1910. It was one of the first buildings constructed in the city's port area, and was known by different names throughout its history: Fernando Building and Shamrock Hotel before the war, and currently, Compania Maritima.

Location

The Compania Maritima is a three-story building located at the waterfront area[1] in the old district of Cebu City[2] near the east coast of the South Road Properties (SRP).[2][3] It is situated on a 42,000-square-meter[4] lot on Quezon Boulevard between P. Burgos and Lapu-lapu Streets[5] and accessible from the Cebu City Hall and Carbon Market.[1]

Design

Its architectural style is characterized as neoclassical, which was typical of structures constructed during the American colonization, that featured prominent arched windows, classical pilasters[2], "ornamental beams, and sculptured railings on its roof decks."[6] Architect Karl Cabilao wrote, "Its façade is at times reminiscent of beautiful Renaissance palazzos of Europe."[2]

History

Fernandez Building

The structure was built in 1910[2] on a reclaimed land where the then new port of Cebu was established.[7] Popularly known during that time as the Fernandez Building,[8] it was one of the first buildings constructed in the port area.[6] The company Fernandez Hermanos Inc., which was founded by brothers Jose and Ramon Fernandez,[9] owned it[6] but it was uncertain who the first occupants were.[5]

Shamrock Hotel

It is not clear too when the Manila Steamship Company's offices occupied the building's first floor and the Shamrock Hotel on the upper floors.[6] However, according to the author Lucy Urgello Miller, the hotel – whose proprietor was Mike Ryan as shown on the 1937 advertising postcard – occupied the entire building by the 1930s.[7] Because of its close proximity to the port, patrons could disembark from the shipping vessels and cross the street to check in for accommodation.[9]

Compania Maritima

Compania Maritima upper floor
Compania Maritima upper floor

Despite the damages from bombings in World War II, the building survived.[2] After repairs were made in the post-war era,[10] it became the location of Compania Martima,[11][12] one of the successful pre-war transportation companies[13] established in 1886[14] and the biggest shipping firm in the Philippines whose vessels navigated around western and southern Mindanao ports.[12] When the business filed for bankruptcy in 1980, the building was abandoned.[8]

Waterfront wall and view of the sea from Compania Maritima building.
Waterfront wall and view of the sea from Compania Maritima building.

It presently is in a state of disrepair, roofless, and missing interior walls.[2] Its company name used to be visible on its waterfront wall, and its roofs were destroyed during the tropical typhoon named Ruping in 1992.[9] On October 26, 2013, the city's Department of Engineering and Public Works declared it "off-limits" because of the structural damage it sustained during the earthquake that occurred on October 15.[15]

Devotee City

The property surrounding the building was designated as parking lot in 2015.[16] It has also served as Devotee City, a temporary holding area to host pilgrims from neighboring towns and provinces who had no place to stay during the Sinulog festivities every January since 2016.[17][18][19][20]

Property ownership

Compania Maritima south side view
Compania Maritima south side view

The land on which the building stands is the subject of an ownership dispute between the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) and the Cebu City government.[21] The port area near Compania Maritima was reclaimed to construct the viaduct that connected to the tunnel from SRP to McArthur Boulevard, and the resulting reclaimed lot was given by the Department of Public Works and Highways to the CPA through a memorandum of agreement. CPA's legal officer Yusop Uckung claimed that a land title as proof of ownership was not necessary as the government owned "foreshore areas."[22]

On July 4, 2013, during the term of Michael Rama, the city government issued a tax declaration as evidence of its possession of the property.[23] A case to stop the city government from ownership was filed by CPA representing the national government through the Office of the Solicitor General on July 7, 2015,[24] and Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras denied the plea on November 16, 2015, stating that the area no longer served as a shipping dock.[25] In January, 2016, CPA asked the Court of Appeals to overturn the local court's ruling.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b "About The Company". Shamrock Bakery and Restaurant Corporation. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g UAP, Archt Karl A. E. F. Cabilao (2017-07-22). "Thoughts on Maritima". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  3. ^ Bunachita, Jose Santino S. (April 18, 2015). "Rama still eyes Compania Maritima building". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  4. ^ Senados, Greggy P.; Public Information Office (March 27, 2017). "Aviary to rise in Compania Maritima". Republic of the Philippines: City of Cebu. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Fernandez Building". Digital Tourism. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  6. ^ a b c d "Cebu waterfront Heritage and Urban Conservation Study 2000". National Library of the Philippines. Cebu City: Cebu Waterfront Development Commission. 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Miller, Lucy Urgello (2010). Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era. University of San Carlos Press. ISBN 9789715390200.
  8. ^ a b Abad, Roderick. "Booming construction attracts business to locate to Visayas and Mindanao area". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  9. ^ a b c Bersales, Jobers. "The Maritime Museum once more". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  10. ^ Cerojano, Philip A. (2015-05-31). "Palambuon na ang Compania Maritima". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  11. ^ Padayhag, Michelle Joy L. (July 12, 2015). "CPA: No war with Cebu City". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Ramirez, Nelson P. (September 11, 2018). "Quo vadis, Philippine maritime industry?". Manila Times. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  13. ^ Figueroa, Antonio. "FAST BACKWARD: Compañia Maritima". Edge Davao. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  14. ^ Wernstedt, Frederick L.; Spencer, Joseph Earle (1967-01-01). The Philippine Island World: A Physical, Cultural, and Regional Geography. University of California Press. p. 271. ISBN 9780520035133. Compania Maritima Building cebu.
  15. ^ Bongcac, Doris C. "25 buildings in Cebu City declared 'hazardous' due to earthquake damage". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  16. ^ Mayol, Ador Vincent S. (July 18, 2015). "Compania Maritima case set for mediation". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  17. ^ Cosep, Marc Eric (January 5, 2016). "City Hall clears Compania Maritima lot for Devotee City". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  18. ^ Demecillo, Jean Marvette A. (January 13, 2017). "Devotee City opens today". Philippine Star. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  19. ^ Vestil, Lesley Caminade (January 14, 2018). "All systems go for Sinulog 2018". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  20. ^ Abatayo, Rosalie (January 10, 2019). "Modern rescue vans to be stationed in key areas for Sinulog 2019". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  21. ^ Omadlao, Rey (June 6, 2013). "Who Own the lots in Compania Maritima?". Metro Cebu. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  22. ^ Baquero, Elias O. (2013-06-17). "CPA asserts rights over Maritima lot, offers it to private property developers". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  23. ^ "CEBU CITY: WE HAVE TAX DECLARATION ON MARITIMA LOT". Republic of the Philippines: City of Cebu. July 4, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  24. ^ "Cebu City asks court to junk suit filed by CPA". Sun Star Cebu. August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  25. ^ Dalipe, Gerome M. (2015-11-16). "Court favors City Hall in case over Maritima". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  26. ^ Dalipe, Gerome M. (2016-01-26). "CPA asks CA to stop Cebu City from claiming ownership of Maritima". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
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