Day: May 9, 2025

INTRAMUROS, MANILA — In a landmark step toward protecting the nation’s cultural heritage in the face of increasing climate and disaster risks, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Philippines officially launched its local chapter of the International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP) on April 30, 2025. The hybrid event, held at the Honorary Consul of Georgia in Intramuros, Manila, convened stakeholders from the fields of heritage conservation, disaster risk reduction, climate action, and urban planning hosted by a Heritage Specialist, Mr. Ivan Man Dy. 

ICORP, established in 1990, is one of ICOMOS’ core scientific committees, focusing on advancing global efforts to safeguard cultural heritage from natural and human-induced hazards. The Philippine chapter’s launch reinforces the country’s commitment to proactive, science-based, and community-driven approaches to disaster preparedness—particularly for its rich yet vulnerable built heritage.

In her Opening Remarks, Dr. Zeynep Gul Unal, President of ICOMOS-ICORP, warmly welcomed the new chapter and emphasized the power of regional and local collaboration in safeguarding heritage assets:

“It’s truly encouraging to see the establishment of the National Committee in the Philippines—this is a significant and welcome step. I warmly invite you to engage with us, share your knowledge, participate in joint training programs, and help ensure that our cultural heritage is protected for generations to come.”

Dr. Cheek S. Fadriquela, President of ICOMOS Philippines, delivered the Welcoming Address, outlining how the country’s recent experiences with disasters underscored the need for structured heritage risk governance:

“The devastation brought by Typhoon Odette in 2021 reignited our sense of urgency. It led us to launch Tabang Bohol, mobilizing structural engineers and a conservation architect to assess the damages on the ancestral houses and churches in Bohol.”

“The Abra earthquake the following year further highlighted the importance of preparedness. With support from UNESCO Jakarta, we began post-earthquake assessments in Vigan, which culminated in the Philippines’ first implementation of the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund in 2023.”

Dr. Fadriquela also spotlighted the organization’s climate-focused initiatives:

“Our 2023 collaboration with Preserving Legacies, supported by National Geographic and Manulife, evaluated the climate vulnerability of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras—an effort that aligns with the ICOMOS Scientific Plan on Cultural Heritage and Climate Action.”

The formation of ICORP-Philippines was formally introduced by Mr. Joselito “JJ” Corpus, the country’s voting member to ICORP, through his keynote address, Fragile Foundations: Protecting the Philippines’ Built Heritage in Times of Disaster. He called attention to critical gaps in heritage protection within current national frameworks:

“Despite the presence of Republic Act 10066 and DRRM laws, there is still no integrated national strategy that embeds heritage protection into disaster response systems.”

He underscored the chapter’s purpose with a clear vision:

“Our goal is simple yet urgent—a Handa at Ligtas na Pamana: a heritage that is ready and safe. Our ICORP logo represents this mission, inspired by indigenous scripts and our shared responsibility to preserve memory and identity.”

The launch event also featured timely and expert-led presentations that bridged cultural heritage and emergency response where Ms. Emily Dy Ramos, Emergency Preparedness Specialist from the NYC Emergency Management Department, shared frameworks on urban cultural risk management. Jefferson Chua, Climate and Energy Campaigner from Greenpeace Southeast Asia, presented Heritage Practice in a Changing Climate, examining the intersections of heritage, climate justice, and ecological sustainability. Philip Norbert Ahmad L. Medina, historian and heritage advocate, presented a Risk Assessment for Cavite Churches, offering a case study in community-based, localized heritage protection.

The event highlighted ongoing efforts from across the archipelago, as regional focal persons shared updates on hazards, risk mapping, and response efforts in their localities. Ar. Carmen Solis presented on behalf of Cebu and Bohol, Ar. Aris Go represented the Cordilleras, Ar. Giuseppe Alonzo reported on Northern Luzon, and Mr. Ruhullah Al-Hussieni Javier Alonto delivered insights from Northern Mindanao. Additional appointed regional representatives were also introduced, affirming ICOMOS Philippines’ commitment to decentralization and inclusive heritage resilience: Ar. Sy Valientes for Batanes, Ar. Michael Tabao for Cagayan Valley, Mr. Philip Medina for Calabarzon, and Ms. Kinna Kwan for Samar-Leyte.

Dean Ar./EnP. Sylvester Shaun D. Seño, National Chair of Green Architecture Advocacy and Vice President of the Philippine Architecture Schools Association, delivered the event’s resolution.

The event concluded with a symbolic cutting of ribbon and the opening of an exhibit featuring risk assessments and heritage documentation of churches in Cavite—representing transparency, renewal, and protection.

In his final message, Dr. Fadriquela said: “This formal launch of a national scientific committee is a milestone in the history of ICOMOS Philippines. Lahat ng ito ay para sa handa at ligtas na pamana—Halina’t ipaglaban natin ito. Halipa!”

Seoul, Republic of Korea – April 18, 2025 — In a significant gathering of heritage professionals from across the region, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) held its Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting in Seoul from April 16 to 18, 2025. With the overarching theme, “Challenges and Collaborative Responses for Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region,” the event served as both a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of ICOMOS and a vital forum to confront the increasingly complex challenges facing cultural heritage in a rapidly changing world.

The meeting brought together delegates from national committees, international organizations, cultural institutions, and academia to engage in knowledge sharing, collaborative planning, and policy dialogue. Against the backdrop of post-pandemic recovery and the intensifying impacts of climate change, the conference emphasized the urgency of creating sustainable, inclusive, and locally rooted approaches to safeguarding heritage across the region.

Representing ICOMOS Philippines were President Dr. Cheek S. Fadriquela, Past President Ms. Tina Paterno, and LAr. Gabriel Caballero. Their presence reinforced the Philippines’ active role in addressing climate-induced risks, promoting community-based heritage management, and advancing transdisciplinary research.

In his panel discussion on “Climate Change + Heritage,” Dr. Fadriquela gave a poignant account of personal and professional encounters with natural disasters in the Philippines. He described a harrowing flight through a super typhoon in Taiwan en route to the ICOMOS Annual General Assembly in Ouru Preto, Brazil, linking his experience to the broader reality of increasingly extreme weather patterns in the Philippines — where six typhoons struck within just two months in 2024, including three categorized as super typhoons. The province of Batanes, renowned for its stone vernacular architecture, was particularly hard-hit. Due to its designation as a protected area, traditional stone-quarrying practices have been banned, forcing communities to build with less resilient materials.

Dr. Fadriquela also outlined ICOMOS Philippines’ growing engagement in Disaster Risk Management (DRM). Following the devastation of Bohol by Typhoon Odette and the earthquake in Vigan in 2022, ICOMOS Philippines mobilized expert teams to assess damages and recommend preservation measures. These actions catalyzed broader institutional developments, including a UNESCO Jakarta grant for post-disaster assessment, participation in DRM training courses at Ritsumeikan University in Japan, and the formal creation of a National Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP) — officially launching on April 30, 2025. During the Seoul meeting, Dr. Zeynep Unal, President of ICORP, Dr.. Teresa Patrício, President of ICOMOS, Dr. Takeyuki Okubo of ICCROM-ITC DMUCH, Dr. Kai Weise, Secretary General of ICORP, and Dr. Alex Yen, Vice President of ICORP extended their congratulatory messages for the said launch 

Ms. Paterno contributed to the session on “Climate Change + Heritage,” where she presented the ongoing “Preserving Legacies” project. This initiative conducts vulnerability assessments on cultural sites affected by climate change, particularly focusing on the Ifugao Rice Terraces. A collaborative effort with local communities, the initiative combines traditional ecological knowledge with scientific methods to develop site-specific adaptation strategies. “By learning from the past and empowering local stewards, we can co-create solutions that are both resilient and respectful of cultural identity,” she noted.

LAr. Gabriel Caballero, ICOMOS Philippines’ Focal Point to the Sustainable Development Goals Working Group, delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “Developing an Approach for a Collaborative Definition of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in the Philippines.” He emphasized the importance of participatory frameworks in determining what is deemed “universal” about heritage, challenging top-down models of inscription and instead advocating for the voices of local and Indigenous communities.

Beyond technical presentations, the meeting served as a platform to strengthen regional collaboration among Asia-Pacific National Committees of ICOMOS. Sessions focused on Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), Disaster Management, Interpretation, and the development of comprehensive heritage management frameworks that are adaptive to climate, political, and socioeconomic changes. Delegates recognized the importance of transboundary cooperation, cross-disciplinary integration, and the institutionalization of Indigenous and community-based knowledge systems. 

As countries in the Asia-Pacific region continue to grapple with urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate emergencies, ICOMOS Philippines reiterated its call for holistic approaches to heritage conservation — approaches that acknowledge vulnerability while embracing resilience and innovation. Through continued engagement with international networks and on-the-ground community partners, the organization aims to catalyze enduring impact.