Towns and Plazas

In places occupied or influenced by European powers- most especially the Spanish, towns and plazas are two  inseparable elements much like bread and butter or pancake and syrup. This post would go beyond those two things as it ventures on to a reflection of the Royal Ordinance set by the Spanish Crown on the formation of towns in the Philippines.

What is a Plaza?

Merriam-Webster defines it in at least two ways:

1: a public square in a city or town

2: an open area usually located near urban buildings and often featuring walkways, trees and shrubs, places to sit, and sometimes shops

The dictionary nailed the meaning right in the bull's eye. In a Spanish town, the Plaza would not only function as the square but it would also provide a form or organization for the people, their life and daily concerns. Additionally, the Plaza serves as a form of citizen control for its administrators- in the Philippine case, the Spanish colonial government.

Vigan's Plazas 

From my experience, Vigan has two plazas: Plaza Burgos and Plaza Salcedo. Unlike the common notion of a town having only one plaza, Vigan accomodates two.  

Plaza Salcedo is named after Juan de Salcedo, conqusitador, descendant of the famed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and founder of "Villa Fernandina" which is now Vigan. Plaza Burgos is named after Padre Jose Burgos, a Filpino priest who was executed in 1872 for charges of rebellion in connection with the Cavite Mutiny of that same year. Additionally, Padre Burgos was born in Vigan thus making this plaza a memory of him by his townspeople.

Plaza Salcedo is surrounded by important landmarks such as the Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol, the Vigan Cathedral and the Archbishop's place. Plaza Burgos is situated a bit farther from Plaza Salcedo but still close in terms of walking distance. It is surrounded by certain landmarks such as the Vigan Cathedral, Leona Florentino's Monument and nearby, the so-called Heritage street which is popular for being lined up with Spanish-era houses converted into shops for tourists.

How are these two plazas connected to the Royal Ordinance?

After reading up on this ordinance, I'd say that the town builders did a fine job of creating Vigan. The town has the church property standing on it's own piece of land and the Government property which now has the Capitol of Ilocos Sur having it's own as well. The streets of Vigan were mostly narrow with only the main roads having a wide area. The other buildings in the plazas were dedicated to businesses much like they were before in the time of the Spanish. The plazas are big enough to have a "common" for the residents to do recreational activities. There are no more pastures for grazing animals however because the only animal that goes around vigan is the horse that is employed in the calesa rides. 

Personal Thoughts

Culture always has that bitter truth: It evolves because of other cultures fusing with it. We may be Filipinos but we have to admit that our identity is a fusion of several cultures such as the Spanish and the American cultures. It's evident in our languages and our daily life. Nevertheless, culture is not only an intangible thing that we use to express ourselves and affirm our identities- it's one thing we can use in our daily life in the form of our heritage. I'm not so sure in the exactness of his words but one of my professors taught us this during a field trip to Vigan:

"The people of Vigan have done a great feat in surviving thanks to their tourism. Without that, the people would might as well starve and die. They did a great work in expressing themselves and applying their heritage as a form of business which kept their town and themselves afloat."

The challenge to the rest of us now is to do to the same. Perhaps our heritage as Filipinos would help unlock the answers to the problems we face as a nation today...

Sources:

"Plaza- Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary" Merriam-Webster, Inc. Accessed April 9, 2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaza

"Hero of the Philippine Revolution: Padre Jose Ma. Burgos” Filipino.biz.ph. Last modified  2009. 

http://www.msc.edu.ph/centennial/burgos.html

"History of Vigan" Vigan City Official Website. Last modified 2011.

http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/history.asp

Ernesto Laput. "Pinaghatian Ang Pinagbuo" Mga Kasaysayan ng PINAS: Pundar Pang Pilipino. Accessed April 9, 2014. http://www.elaput.org/pinshati.htm