New Government Center, Bacolod City

The Bacolod City New Government Center is stunning during night. It's the favorite spot for joggers and promenaders day and night who treat this plot of greenness as an alternative to the Provincial Capitol Lagoon. The whole story can be read here:

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/newgovtcenter.htm

I love the textural minimalism of the whole structure. It has that local canefield sophistication that's restrained and yet functional- which depends really on the budget.  Even the lobby chandelier is muted in its details.  It may be vogue during the decade of which this was built, but I wonder how it shall be critiqued ten to twenty years from now. 

Take note, this was taken around 10 p.m. on a weekday. This has become a local chill area for people living the the eastern part of Bacolod.  Though I am glad that such areas have expanded during the last two decades, I am appalled by the rate, planning and even non-existence of sound urban planning of this area.

Why? There is no other route system or street planning that directly traverses this area save for the Circumferential road.  Twenty years from now, this will become a gridlock of cars, tricycles and cane trucks as each must navigate thru this single geographical lifeline.  Unless the proprietors of Villa Angela would prefer to donate their other pieces of land for street development, soon, this area will become a nightmare.  Of course, why in the first place would they choose to donate this land to the city if not to directly boost the land values of their already existing plots.  Which is why all along the Circumferential road you shall see an already cluttered, ramshackle, and blightful array of sundry stores, bbq kiosks and eateries contributing to the chaos and the traffic.  Yes Virginia, it's urban planning at its finest.

Even the calm lapping of the center's fountain betray the chaos that lurk 100 meters from the road.