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 at the newly renovated 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. Having fallen into neglect and disrepair, it had turned into an ukay-ukay market and a makeshift beer garden during town fiestas. Forlorn, overgrown trees cast long shadows, making the plaza an 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—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.
As public spaces grow in number, so do the number of visitors and locals who visit. Littering becomes an issue and concern. If the locals do not adapt the mindset of being responsible for one's trash, the beautiful spaces we now enjoy might fall again into premature dilapidation. After all, conservation, restoration and maintenance go hand in hand.
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