Building bridges

WHO doesn’t love bridges? They come in all shapes, sizes, and length. Some are elaborate, grand, and historical. I remember admiring the beautiful bridges that link the Left and Right banks of Paris even as the Seine River keeps them apart. Some are majestic and proud as they are seemingly suspended from air — the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge come to mind.

In the Philippines, we have the San Juanico Bridge — the longest in the country, snaking over the San Juanico Strait for more than two kilometers. I remember when I was in grade school and we would look at pictures of the bridge in books and in postcards teachers asked us to buy from the bookstore.

As a dyed-in-a-wool, true-blue Manileño, I have always been fascinated by the bridges that span the Pasig River. There is the famous and historical Quezon Bridge that links Quiapo and Ermita. Do not forget the stores that are under the bridge selling a hodgepodge of stuff from handicrafts made of Capiz shells to, banig, and local souvenirs. Although simple and austere, the Del Pan Bridge serves its purpose of connecting Tondo and the North Harbor to the rest of Manila.

Then there is Jones Bridge which connects Ermita and Binondo. Try to look at old photographs of Manila and, like me, you will be filled with wonderment at the iconic beauty of this bridge. There are others like the Ayala Bridge, Lambingan Bridge, and the Nagtahan Bridge which adds to the grandeur, history, and beauty of Manila. I really hope we can restore their beauty.

I started reminiscing about bridges when I read a news article in which government announced that they are planning to build eight major bridges that would connect the islands of the Visayas, and that would link them to Luzon and Mindanao.

The Manila Bulletin quoted Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III as saying that the bridges would amount to 1270 billion and is part of the Duterte administration’s thrust to usher in the “golden age of infrastructure” in the country.

Among the bridges in the pipeline are an “18.2kilometer bridge connecting Luzon and Samar islands; a 20-km bridge connecting Leyte and Mindanao islands either through a long-span overhead or an underwater tunnel; a 12.3-km bridge connecting Negros and Guimaras island; and a 5.7-km bridge connecting Panay and Guimaras islands.”

Sec. Dominguez also noted that these bridge projects would be complemented by the rollout of road networks by the Department of Public Works and Highways aimed at ensuring that “none of the major islands of the Visayas will be left behind in the country’s race to progress.”

I hope all of these proposed bridge construction come into fruition. Bridges are important in terms of moving people and goods especially in an archipelagic country like the Philippines. Just as a modern railway system can spur economic growth, bridges could stimulate rural development and develop local and international tourism.

But I also hope that we make these bridges beautiful and not just functional. As we build structure after structure, let us see them not just as bricks and concrete but also as an adding to the beauty and history of our country. Bridges are not just utilitarian but a hallmark of human ingenuity, creativity, and artistry. They will not only carry goods and tourists but will also capture stories and history.

Do you still remember that tradition when you cross a bridge for the first time? You are supposed to hold your breath for the entire length of the bridge, which is suppose to give you good luck.

I hope we do not have to hold our collective breath for this to happen. Let us build those bridges!