ICONIC smokestacks that merited a place in the official seal of the Province of Pampanga – detailed in the old, representative in the new – vanished with the dismantling of the storied sugar central that was Pasudeco – registered business name: Pampanga Sugar Development Company – at the start of the groundwork for Megaworld’s Capital Town some seven years ago.
Actually, three chimneys in all, but one collapsed even before the developer’s first shovel struck ground, one returned – refurbished like new, and then there is the so-called Smokestack No. 2 which absence raised a howl from the city government under then-Mayor Edwin Santiago, joined in by the cries of the local culturati harmonized in the call to preserve a piece of Kapampangan heritage.
“A future built on heritage.” Megaworld’s blurb for Capital Town in its initial presentation veritably went up in smoke sans Smokestack No. 2.
Some broken promise or untruth in its advert levelled at Megaworld hence, affirmed, unwittingly in all probability, with the coming of its new pitch of “Heritage meets progress at Capital Town.”
The pursuit of progress at the expense of heritage, what with all the buildings rising.
The heritage part complied in nothing other than the seasonal calesa rides at the site. So, it seemed.
And then, from out some greenery dark metal tower steadily rising, the form of a chimney shaping.
An official announcement has yet to be issued by Megaworld if the structure is indeed Smokestack No. 2 in replica reborn. But to the city’s culture vultures, it is enough reassurance of a returned heritage to lavish on again.
Photos of old Pasudeco and new tower by BZL. Other photos by Megaworld Capital Town
