In a bold display of prioritizing aesthetics over infrastructure, Japanese builders have decided to demolish an almost-finished high-rise building. The reason? It dared to obstruct the sacred view of Mount Fuji. Clearly, the panorama of a majestic peak was worth more than the millions invested in steel and concrete.

Meanwhile, across the waters in the Philippines, the new Senate Building’s construction budget has undergone a miraculous expansion—from a modest P8.9 million to a staggering P23.3 million. One can only marvel at how democracy has gotten so pricey.

Rather than demanding its demolition, perhaps Filipinos should repurpose this golden monument to political excess. Turning it into low-cost apartments might just offer a roof to those perpetually priced out of the housing market.

After all, who needs a Senate when you can have affordable housing?

Perhaps the Filipinos can teach the Japanese a thing or two about functional repurposing.