The shift to a purely online internship did indeed make my ICOMOS Philippines internship experience unique. Regardless of the challenges that this posed, there were regular meetings between mentors and interns. The tasks assigned to me as a communication interns were mainly information dissemination in the different online mediums. Together with the ICOMOS Philippines Communication Team, we helped develop the Philippine culture and heritage conservation repository of information. These are not limited to the Philippine context; instead, it also includes international news, opportunities, and practices relevant to heritage practitioners, students, and enthusiasts.
In addition to working on ICOMOS PH communications, I also had the opportunity to be a part of Project Alexandria’s study on the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP). I interviewed and gathered the view-points of LGUs in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regarding their cultural inventories- from their collection to preservation, which allowed new insights into the different government processes and experiences and the challenges that come with it.
The theme of my internship has a lot to do with communication and information regarding heritage and culture. From my internship experience with ICOMOS PH, I’ve come to appreciate how access to information is a crucial part of governance. Not everyone has the same amount of access. I am glad that ICOMOS Philippines’ goal as an organization is to work towards an informed Philippine heritage practice.
Currently, I am part of a national government agency office focused on promoting and harnessing regional products and trade in the Philippines. Although my work is more focused on businesses, it has a lot to do with knowing a product’s origin, its history, heritage, and culture – to be able to promote and market the product or services efficiently. My current role also involves a lot of coordination with local government units and offices. My ICOMOS PH internship experience, especially with the PRECUP study, has contributed to building connections and coordination with different Philippine government levels.