Fire Hits Manila's Historic Central Post Office

courtesy CNN Philippines

The Manila Central Post Office, also known as the Post Office Building or the PhilPost headquarters, perished on Monday when a blazing fire that broke out at midnight destroyed the majority of the historic structure.

Before emails, messenger, SMS, and other mobile communication apps were created, the Manila Post Office near the Pasig River, which was founded in 1926 and rebuilt after the war in 1946, had a role in bringing people together, fostering communication, and preserving the written word. It functioned as a communication channel for companies, governments, and people to send and receive packages as well as a lifeline for families that were distant from one another. 

The structure is awe-inspiring in grandeur, with pillars and a recessed area crowning its main body. 

The Manila Post Office served as an extension of our shared past and served as a reminder of the heritage left by those who came before us.

 This will be my last view of the historic building at the Jones Bridge.

On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11:41 p.m., a fire broke out in the basement. The guard quickly shut off the circuit breaker. The fire was so huge that it reached the point of general alarm. There were roughly 80 firetrucks that attempted to put out the fire, which lasted for eight hours. However, because there were so many documents, files, and papers and the building's structures were primarily made of wood, the fire spread so quickly. However, they were powerless to stop it. From the basement to the fifth storey, the building was on fire.  

Approximately 100% of the Manila Central Post Office was damaged by the fire, according to Bureau of Fire Protection Chief Superintendent Nahum Tarroza. The fire caused serious damage or total devastation to the building. The collectable stamps, artworks, packages, and national IDs were also burned, according to their initial assessment of the fire damage, which came to P300 million.   People in Manila may also consider the national IDs, mail, and packages that have not yet reached their designated locations. Their wait for their National ID can be longer. 

The Manila Post Office's history continues even if the physical building was destroyed by flames.   There is a plea to protect our cultural legacy, to build inspiring locations, and to pay tribute to the histories that have shaped our country. 

We are sorry for the loss of an essential part of our cultural legacy in addition to a work of art in architecture.

                                        
We say goodbye to the Manila Post Office with heavy hearts; it is a work of art and a proud representation of the history of the city. 

We can only hope that the country's current president would look into what caused the accident and try his best to bring back the Post Office Building to its former splendor.