Check out some photos of the recently concluded International Symposium on Seismic Retrofit of Unreinforced Masonry Heritage Churches in the Philippines held at the National Museum of the Philippines last January 13-14, 2016.
Former ICOMOS President Augusto Villalon was part of the panel of speakers where he shared a statement of the importance of historic preservation in the Philippine context. Other experts such as architectural historian Regalado Trota Jose, conservation architect Rohit Jugyasu from India, structural engineer and Architect Stephen Kelley from the USA were part of the discussion. ICOMOS member and President of Bakas Pilipinas Roz Zacarias Li served as symposium moderator.
The event was organised by ICOMOS Philippines with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Museum of the Philippines, Bakas Pilipinas, and the University of Santo Tomas – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (UST-CCCPET)
Continuing a tradition that started last year, ICOMOS Philippines held its first meeting of the year at this icon of modern Philippine architecture, the home of the late National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio, at 2650 Zamora Street, Pasay City.
The first meeting and general assembly of 2016 (February 6, Saturday) was energetic and productive, with Bojer Capati doing a presentation about heritage fortifications.
The meeting was fueled by the delicious brunch prepared by Malu Antonio Veloso (third from right in photo), champion and protector of her father’s architectural legacy.
Arch. Rene Luis S. Mata, was a beloved educator and heritage advocate who molded a generation of practitioners in the field of architectural restoration, history and theory. He served as Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Architecture and has taught at the university since 2002.
Arch. Mata was part of the National Committee for Monuments and Sites, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for several terms, first in 1992, as a representative of Intramuros Administration, second in 2014 as a representative of Heritage Conservation Society and at the time of his passing, he was the incumbent Vice-Head of the said committee as individual member. Arch Mata also served as Vice President for National Affairs for ICOMOS Philippines under the presidency of Arch. Dominic Galicia. Aside from his many institutional roles, Arch. Mata was involved in several heritage conservation projects for heritage towns like Sariaya, Quezon. He also served as an expert reviewer who did World Heritage mission report for ICOMOS International for the Hidden Christian Sites in Nagasaki, Japan. More information of his publications can be found in the UPCA website.
Jojo, as colleagues will call him, graduated in 2002 as an AECI Scholar at the University of Alcala- Henares in Madrid, Spain, where he took his Masters of Architectural Restoration and Rehabilitation of Patrimony. His graduate research focused on the rehabilitation of the San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He received his undergraduate training in Architecture from the University of the Philippines in 1980.
He was a heritage advocate to the very end, doing an assessment of the historic train stations in Naga and Lucena for possible conservation when he succumbed to a heart atttack. He passed away doing what he enjoyed the most: protecting heritage for future generations. The testimonials of ICOMOS members Dominic Galicia, Ivan Henares, Augusto VIllalon, Patricia Santiago, Tats Rejannte Manahan and Kay Maliliong can be found below.
Jojo is survived by his parents Carmelito P. Mata and Lourdes Sevilla Mata, and his siblings Jennina Elena S. Mata-Joven, Rolando Alberto S. Mata, Ricardo Gabriel Felipe S. Mata, Raphael Vicente S. Mata and Raul Carmelo S. Mata.
