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The chimes that once soothed every nook and corner
of the U.P. Diliman campus are no longer heard. The towering
structure is in decay, empty, gathering dust and all sort
of rubbish from the elements. Its present state is a sad
decline from its memorable and distinguished past.
If the forty-six bells are played, the sound that comes out is
not the melodious blending of music that we used to hear from
the Carillon, but a cacophony of broken notes and discordant
tones.
Wobbly from the rusted steel frames where the bells hang,
there is imminent danger
that they may collapse not only putting an end to the Tower's
glorious tradition but also putting at risk even the bravest
of carillonneur. Where once, the bells shone at the touch of
light, they are now dark, dull and dreary. Some of the smaller
bells have completely lost their musical functions and will
have to be retired; while the other bells are in different
degrees and stages of tonality, if not dissonance.
The round clappers that strike the bells to produce the
ringing sound are corroded and stiff. The steel wires and
cables that connect these to the clavier keyboard
are similarly corroded and unsteady.The clavier itself
is hardly playable, its keyboard stucked if not loose, its
joints creaky if not stiff, its pedals wobble if not rigid
and its wooden frames and panels are in different stages
of rot. And the drum which was used for automatic-play (as
in a musical box) is jammed and rusted.
The main door of the Carillon is normally closed and padlocked.
But once entry is made, the sight that beholds the visitor
is a scattering of trash, empty soda cans, dirt and, after
the rains, a collection of stale water on the ground. The stairs
are navigable and while no cracks or breaks can be seen, they
give the impression of incompleteness. But they appear strong
and solid. Similarly, the surrounding walls inside the tower
have remained sturdy and would need only minor repair work
and some repaint.
The windows are largely in good shape but need some cleaning-up.
Otherwise, the structure from inside looks firm and could stand
the test of time. This impression is much more evident from
the outside. The 130-foot structure is rock-solid, strong,
and well-built. It is a clear testament to the ingenuity of
its architects, designers, engineers, and builders. Other than
a few superficial retouching here and there, it only needs
a fresh coat of paint.
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