The restoration of the old Army Navy Club in Manila should push through amid criticisms and allegations of irregularities, a retired American pilot and Philippine history enthusiast said, saying criticism against the project was “unjustified.”
John Tewell, who moved to the country with his wife in 2007, said he is “fascinated” the historic Army Navy Club is being restored again, this time as a boutique hotel.
“I am totally fascinated. It is remarkable that it’s going back so beautifully. At the start, I was afraid it wasn’t going to, that it’s going to be something different, not really history oriented, but it is,” Tewell said while visiting the ruins of the iconic building at the Museo Pambata Complex in Roxas Boulevard.
Tewell considers himself a fan of Philippine history. He found an old album of 1930s antique Philippine portraits in Ermita when he visited the country, and owns some of the original photographs that were displayed at the Army Navy Club.
Completed in April 17, 1911, Army Navy was the first American social club to be established in the Philippines, and is presently being restored as a boutique hotel by Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp.
Tewell said he heard about the criticisms against the restoration project, mostly from politicians, but paid no attention to it.
“They’re unjustified. The criticisms are based on rumors,” he said, stressing the Army Navy Club restoration “is an important undertaking, being part of the Filipino history and heritage.”
“Even though this is American-oriented it is important to know its history. In fact, originally Army Navy Club was not designed for Filipinos, but even then, this is a part of Filipino history. It’s important to know, but you also got to think what a world at war was like then,” Tewell said.
“It is so important for people to know and understand their heritage, and have pride, and mostly it’s a lot of pride. It does make for a better country,” he added.
Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. has enlisted the services of renowned architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox to design the boutique hotel, which would preserve the building’s historical integrity.
Palafox said the design will give respect to the building’s historical significance, revitalize the surrounding area, and add value to the decades-long neglected area.
The Club is one of the country’s early examples of Neocolonial revival architecture style. Among the restoration plans involve retaining the original beams and columns by retrofitting them, while the floor slabs will either be pre-cast or reinforced concrete.
The Manila Army and Navy Club was originally designed as a rest and recreation area for the exclusive use of US military personnel and civilians, and later Filipinos. It was the site of many important events in Philippine-American relations.
The building was designed by William Parsons and has his characteristic trademark of the generous use of arches. It was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers and completed in April 17, 1911.
The Club’s first president was Col. Smith of California. Notable persons who became its presidents were Admiral George Dewey, Gen. Arthur MacArthur, Jr. and his son Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and Army Chief of Staff and later Governor General of the Philippines Leonard Wood.