The City of Love is definitely getting a serious makeover. Gone are the gaudy and garish public plazas and public buildings. We now see a blossoming of heritage consciousness and urbanity. Lately, I have seen millennials and Gen Z kids in Jaro Plaza huddling together in grassy spots sharing laughter and light moments as if they are in some park in London. Decades ago, said plaza was in a decrepit stage reeking of stale urine and detritus. Fallen into neglect and disrepair, the plaza turned into an ukay-ukay market and makeshift beer garden during town fiestas. Forlorn, overgrown trees threw long shadows, making the plaza the ideal spot to get robbed by shady elements. For many years, I wished for the plaza to be given the makeover and dignity it deserved. Happily, after more than three decades, my wishful thinking materialized into reality thanks to national and local conservation efforts. Nowadays, it is a pleasure to walk through Jaro Plaza. The wrought iron benches provide comfort and solace for lonely thoughts and weary souls. Sometimes I would feed a lonesome Jaro Plaza cat some kibbles.
From any vantage point in the plaza, the newly restored Jaro Belfry stands like a beacon under the watchful eye of Our Lady of Candles. I believe it is a beacon and light for shared social responsibility.
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