The Silence of Heritage: Why a Park Library is a Step Backward for Cavite City

In the rush toward "progress," it is easy to mistake a lot of movement for real achievement. The news of plan to move our city library to Samonte Park just meters away from a children’s playground is a textbook example of urban planning that prioritizes convenience over function. While a library in a park sounds might look good on a brochure, the reality on the ground in Cavite City tells a different story. It is a poor planning decision that threatens both the sanctity of study and the preservation of our soul.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

A library’s primary function is to serve as a sanctuary for the mind. By placing it adjacent to a playground and a park who has very high activity, planners have ignored the fundamental requirement of a learning space: SILENCE. A park is a place for "active" recreation, while a library is for "passive" reflection. Without a significant buffer zone, the chaotic energy of the park bleeds into the reading rooms, rendering the library’s purpose ineffective.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞

We all feel it. People are starving for open spaces. In a city as crowded as ours, every bit of green grass and open sky is a luxury we can't afford to lose. Filling our rare "urban lungs" with concrete structures even well-intentioned ones like a library suffocates the park. A park should remain a place to breathe, not a construction site for buildings or structures that belong elsewhere.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

True progress is not always about building something new. Sometimes it is about honoring what we already have. The library belongs in its original home - the “quiet area” near the church. This site offers three things the park never can:

Atmospheric Silence: The original area near the church is more somber and quiet, providing the perfect acoustic environment for a house of books.

Historical Symbiosis: The original building holds historical value. When a library is housed in a heritage structure, it becomes more than a room full of books - it becomes a living museum. It teaches the youth to value their "yesterday’s treasures" rather than treating them as "today’s trash."

A Real Cultural Hub: Placing the library near the church and other heritage landmarks creates a "Culture District." This centralizes our history, faith, and education in one dignified corridor, rather than scattering them in mismatched locations.

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤.

-----------------------

This is a summary article of the previous survey post in Lutong Cavite FB page from the community including reactions from local librarian, educators and citizens who are all in UNITY of opinion - protect our open park spaces and return our city library to its rightful, historic home. 𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐆𝐔 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞.