New Intern: Rhizza Mae B. Comandante (September 2021)

Rhizza Mae B. Comandante is an undergraduate student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines taking a Bachelor of Arts in History. She is a student and research assistant at the PUP Center of Human Rights and Studies. She is an active member of the PUP-Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Kasaysayan, and an active deputy of the Kabataan Partylist, a youth partylist group in the Philippine congress.  Despite her numerous responsibilities outside the university, she is a consistent President’s and Dean’s Lister and a scholar of the Taguig City Government.

Her research interests focus primarily on (1) Local History; for the aspiration to give limelight to the collective struggles and experiences of the grass-root masses and Indigenous people, (2) Cultural Heritage; as she believes that the long-standing history of the people is reflected on their Cultural Heritage, and (3) Asian Studies; because she wanted to acquire an interdisciplinary understanding in studying the diverse culture and profound history of the Asian countries.

She joined the ICOMOS Philippines Internship Program because of the belief that this institution will help her achieve her utmost goal: to serve the Filipino people. As a scholar, she would like to amplify the voice of the Filipino masses and Indigenous communities by studying their remarkable history and culture, by contributing to the conservation of their Cultural Heritage and traditions, and lastly, by advocating that history must be accessible to the general public. Under the program, she hopes to create a significant contribution to the organization with the guidance of the ICOMOS Philippines mentors.

New Intern: Jake Advincula (August – October 2021)

Jake is a graduate student currently taking up MA Philippine Studies at the University of the Philippines Asian Center. Having graduated BS Communications Technology Management from the Ateneo de Manila University, he is passionate about how marketing, design, and heritage all intersect and inform the Philippine cultural identity. 

With ICOMOS, he hopes that his internship will deepen his understanding of heritage work in the country, as well as provide him an opportunity to contribute. He believes that heritage is an important part of realizing and appreciating who we are as Filipinos.

New Intern: Novo Mickey M. Mitra (September 2021)

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Novo Mickey M. Mitra is an undergraduate student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila studying Bachelor of Arts in History. She is an active officer of the student organization of the Department of History PUP ‘Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Kasaysayan’ as a year-level representative. Aside from school, she is an active officer and a member of a community organization ‘Rotaract Club of Culiat’ as Professional Service Director. She’s a consistent President’s Lister and a scholar. 

She joined a month Internship with ICOMOS Philippines because of her interest in studying culture in Traditions of the Philippines as well as Military History and the ruins that wars left in the soil of the Philippines. She believes that there is a world beyond books that she wants to discover in order to understand the diversified communities, their stories and their significance to each other. Like her program History, Heritage studies become closer to her heart as she met and read about the Indigenous People and their struggles about keeping their culture and Heritage in modern days and ICOMOS Philippines is one of the most powerful places to empower such ambition. She hopes to learn new things and knowledge outside her current program and contribute to the ICOMOS.

New Intern: Glyre Faeldonia (September – November 2021)

Glyre Treasure Faeldonia is an undergraduate student studying a degree in Human Geography at Lancaster University, UK. Aside from his studies, he is an active member in a number of student organisations that facilitate conversations and activities in international relations and cultural heritage in particular – and his proudest achievement is being recently accepted as a member of the European Students’ Association in Cultural Heritage!

Glyre wanted to get involved in the ICOMOS PH internship since he is impassioned with the policy-making, economic, and cultural-mapping aspects of Cultural Heritage. He also has a sharp interest in intangible heritage, with the main pursuits of preserving indigenous traditions and practices in the Philippines, on the main account that he comes from the Subanon people which further invigorates his enthusiasm! Furthermore, he aims to spread awareness to the British-based Filipinos of their rich heritage that is brilliant as it is abundant in the Philippines.

Throughout the duration of his internship, Glyre will be under the guidance of Tina Paterno to contribute in restructuring and repopulating the organisation’s e-library, as well as developing certain sections of the ICOMOS PH’s website. Further work also includes producing reports and assisting in reviews of certain issues pertinent in the field.

We are looking forward to Glyre’s work for ICOMOS Philippines. Welcome!

[REGISTRATION] EnHerit 2021: August 7 & 14

The approach, philosophy, and set of design principles for the structural engineering of existing and historic buildings is different from those in conventional structural engineering. The work requires an understanding of original construction systems, the cause and mechanism of failure or safety, and if over the course of decades and centuries the building has settled into a new load path. For this work, research, conditions assessment, and non-destructive testing and modeling are essential. Methods, materials, and designs will be discussed with the perspective of weathering mechanically or chemically well over time, and ensuring longevity of the historic or existing structure. .

Register at: https://forms.gle/QDYATf26nuMnQeW16

Organized by: The Association of Structural Engineers in the Philippines, ICOMOS Philippines, Bakas Pilipinas, Inc., and the De La Salle University GCOE Department of Civil Engineering

New Intern: Lorenzo Vesagas (June – August 2021)

Lorenzo is an undergraduate student currently taking a degree in AB History with a minor degree in Education at the Ateneo De Manila University. With a passion for film and Philippine history, he hopes to combine the two passions to make history more accessible to people.

Lorenzo wanted to become an intern at ICOMOS Philippines because of his interest in making history accessible to people. He believes that knowing more about one’s own cultural heritage will help them value their own history. With these intentions in mind, he hopes to contribute to the research at ICOMOS.

Glad to have you on the team Lorenzo!

New Intern: Kly Macaraeg (June – August 2021)

Kly Allyson Macaraeg is a college senior taking up a degree in History at the Ateneo de Manila University and is also currently taking a double minor in Japanese and Southeast Asian Studies. Her research interests lie mainly in cultural heritage and history, preservation of local languages, and ASEAN development studies.

Kly has joined the internship program with the goal of growing in knowledge in the field of cultural heritage, through a more hands-on learning experience in the development of resources in the Philippine context, and as well as advocating for more profound appreciation of Philippine heritage practice. Through the advice and guidance of her mentors she hopes to be able to make valuable contributions to the research projects of the organization’s internship program.

Welcome to the team Kly!

The Board Welcomes Victor ‘Bobing’ Venida as the New Vice President of ICOMOS Philippines

Dr. Victor S. Venida is a retired Professor of Economics and lecturer of the Development Studies Program and the European Studies Programme of Ateneo de Manila University. He finished his M.Sc. in Economics at London School of Economics and his Ph.D. in Economics at New York University. His research interests are in development economics, urban and regional analysis, cultural/architectural heritage, Marxian economics and history of economics.

Quoted from ICOMOS Philippines By-Laws: In the case of vacancy due to resignation, death or any other cause of the trustees, except removal or expiration of the term, the Board is empowered and authorized to designate from among the members of the Association (ICOMOS Philippines) in good Standing, a trustee or trustees who shall serve only for the unexpired term of the trustee being replaced.

Tawir Talks: Webinar on Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)

Tawir Talks with Youth for Pangasinan Heritage (Y4PH)

Title of Activity: Tawir Talks: Webinar on Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)

Date: June 12, 2021 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Venue: Online (via Zoom)

Description:

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

One of the most important aspects that must be focused on in order to achieve sustainable development is heritage. In the recent years, it has been recognized that heritage and their conservation could positively impact local communities –an effective driver for economic and social development, and an important site for inclusivity and empowerment.

The Youth for Pangasinan Heritage (Y4PH), a youth-led volunteer organization which aims to raise awareness on and elicit appreciation of culture, arts, history, and heritage among Pangasinan youth, will conduct an activity that could open a platform for a discussion on cultural heritage and development. Y4PH recognizes the crucial role of the youth, being the community’s cultural bearers and transmitters, in the eventual achievement of the SDGs. In this regard, Y4PH will conduct a webinar on “Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Particularly, the webinar aims to accomplish the following objectives:

1) To situate and present the relationship between heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

2) To identify and present prospects for initiatives anchored on heritage conservation and SDGs in the Philippines; and

3) To inspire the youth to actively contribute to the achievement of the SDGs

Resource Persons:

LArch’t. Gabriel Caballero, Focal Point for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of ICOMOS International, gave a talk on “Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals: Policy Guidance for Heritage and Development Actos”. His talk consists of: 1) Introduction of ICOMOS International and its contribution to global causes, 2) Basic principles of Heritage and Sustainable Development, 3) Inclusion of Cultural Heritage in the Agenda 2030: Target 11.4, and 4) Mobilization for integrating Heritage in the UN Decade of Action through the International Policy Guidance and the SDGsWG.

Arch’t. Kenneth Tua, Philippine Policy Guidance Manager / Coordinator, gave a talk on “Cultural Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals: Prospects for the Philippines”. His talk consists of: 1) Introduction of National Sustainable Development Goals Working Group Philippines, 2) Efforts of ICOMOS Philippines in achieving Sustainable Development from 2013 – 2021, and 3) Prospects for initiatives anchored in Heritage Conservation and the SDGs in the Philippines through localizing the Policy Guidance.

Internship Testimonial – Marga De Lemos (Comms and Strategy Track)

I was an ICOMOS Philippines Communications and Strategy intern from March 2021 to June 2021. As a Consular and Diplomatic Affairs student, most of my works were related to policymaking. Working with ICOMOS Philippines as a Communications track intern has helped solidify my passion and advocacy for all things heritage, culture, and history.

My two primary tasks were: 1) Communications and Strategy work support, including but not limited to social media management. I did the primary strategy support for the International Day for Monuments and Sites 2021 (IDMS) and the 2nd ICOMOS Philippines Student Symposium (IPSS). I also produced the collaterals for IDMS 2021 and edited the bio notes for the IPSS speakers 2) Copyediting organizational outputs, specifically the official ICOMOS Philippines website. 

Although I was not part of the research track, I was also assigned to research international heritage initiatives. In my research, I learned that young professionals and the like have been proactive in cultural works and simply need a better and suitable platform to deepen their contributions further. Hence, organizations such as ICOMOS are ever more significant in ensuring that we may continue to enjoy sustainable heritage. 

Two years on, as I pursue a law degree, I’ll continue promoting and advocating for heritage and culture in my sphere of influence. With the help of my experience as an ICOMOS Philippines intern, I’ll be able to effectively convey the proper cultural conservation and preservation issues that we must address.