Race on to save Philippine-Japan friendship symbol

Old buildings are being knocked down on a regular basis in the name of development in the nation's capital. But one proposed project has led to protests, attempted intervention by a foreign president, and might even bring Yoko Ono into the fray.

Resident Filipinos here submitted a letter of protest to the Philippine Embassy in Minato Ward on Tuesday, calling on Manila to rescind a public bid to lease and redevelop a 4,500-square-meter plot in the Kudanshita district of Chiyoda Ward that houses an early 20th-century mansion.

The group argues that Manila's plan would desecrate a historic monument and destroy a symbol of the history of Japan-Philippine friendship.

The two-story, Iberian-style building with its arched portico was built in 1935 as the residence of Iwajiro Yasuda, grandson of Zenjiro Yasuda, the founder of the Yasuda zaibatsu (conglomerate).

In 1944, it was sold to then Philippine President Jose Laurel.

Laurel bought the building on behalf of the Philippine government, which was under Japanese military rule at the time.

The building holds another special meaning: Ono, the New York-based contemporary artist and widow of John Lennon, is the niece of Iwajiro Yasuda, the original tenant. She is said to have frequently visited the mansion as a child.

The Philippine Department of Finance in September announced it would lease the land for 50 years, with the winning bidder selected on Nov. 11.

According to estimates, the Philippine government could gain at least 3 billion pesos (about 5.68 billion yen) through the deal.

"The obvious reason for the project is money," said Francis Laurel, president of Philippine-Japan Society Inc., an organization of resident Filipinos. "But from our point of view, (the mansion) is the most beautiful house among (ambassador's residences) of the Philippines."

Sources said the problem stems from a proposal to dismantle the mansion and construct a 21-story building in its place, with the ambassador's residence moved to a penthouse on the top floor.

Although the site is in a residential area with strict building regulations that, in principle, restrict structures to four stories, the planned structure will include a helicopter pad, making the building of use in emergencies, and thus circumventing the regulations, the sources said.

After learning of the plan, the Philippine-Japan Society sent a letter of protest to Manila, noting that the National Historical Institute of Philippines had erected a bronze marker near the entrance in 1952, and thus the structure is a national heritage site that should not be demolished or rebuilt.

The matter caught the attention of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who once put the plan on hold.

However, the Department of Finance went ahead and announced the public bid for the lease and redevelopment rights on Sept. 15.

Although Ono has not voiced her opinion in this matter, during a trip here six years ago, she was touched to learn that the residence where she visited and viewed cherry blossoms many times as a child had been preserved for so many years, according to her representative in Japan.

The representative said Ono even wrote a letter to Arroyo expressing her gratitude.

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo declined to comment on the issue.(IHT/Asahi: November 7,2009)