Author: ICOMOS Philippines

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ICOMOS Philippines: New Members 2020

ICOMOS Philippines is very pleased to welcome its new members for the year 2020! Get to know them as we share with you a brief of their profile and expertise.

Kinna Mae G. Kwan

Kinna is a researcher and heritage practitioner. She received her Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Studies from the University of Santo Tomas and is currently studying Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Philippines. Her thesis, which earned a meritissimus (highest merit) recognition, focused on social value of historic sites hinged on community memories and attachment to places.

She works as a project-based researcher at the UST Graduate School–Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics. Her present work at the center involves cultural mapping, drafting of conservation management plans, and providing technical assistance to local government units and heritage managers across the country. As an advocate of heritage and culture in the public sector, she has worked with government institutions such as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (PCEP), Department of Tourism, Philippine Postal Corp., and served as a consultant in her hometown, Guiuan. She previously worked for the Lopez Museum and Library and the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation.

She is also active in refugee research and has been collaborating with UNHCR in studying the Philippines’ history of refugee assistance. Her focus is on the 5th Wave when the Philippines became a transit country for White Russian refugees in 1949. Her research led her to major archives in Australia, USA and France, and was published in The Journal of History.

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ICOMOS Lighter Side Talks: The Basics of Baybayin

Last 24 May 2020, ICOMOS Philippines members and friends met up over zoom to have a “Lighter Side Talk” entitled, “The Basics of Baybayin”. The talk was conducted by prominent broadcaster, Howie Severino and his wife and environmental lawyer Ipat Luna.

After a short presentation on the history and typologies of ancient Philippine text, participants brought their pens out to do impromptu writing in baybayin, which everyone enjoyed.

Howie Severino believes that, “Baybayin is a window to understanding nature, culture, history, heritage, identity, at iba pa, which is why it’s so compelling.”

Fan-art by Fung Yu

ICOMOS Philippine member, Fung Yu created a fan-art of the ICOMOS Philippines logo, which brings a Filipino brand to the international prominence of ICOMOS. What do you think about his interpretation?

Veggie packs or cake that were awarded during the talk and members decided to donate these prizes to Covid-19 frontliners, homeless and workers in Baclaran.

ICOMOS Lighter Side Talks was conceptualized by the ICOMOS Philippines Board of Trustees to explore unexplored conversations and lighter topics of heritage and culture for the benefit of ICOMOS Philippine members.

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Introducing Isaiah Cabañero, ICOMOS Philippines Intern – May 2020

Even with the Enhanced Community Quarantine, heritage work continues. ICOMOS Philippines is fortunate to have a new intern working with us remotely for the next three months: Isaiah Cabañero is an advocate of community development and believes in the agency of the people to effect change in transforming their lives and society for the better. He majored in Community Development at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, working with communities and volunteer organizations which gained him experience in community organizing and people-centered participatory project development.

Isaiah contacted ICOMOS Philippines regarding an internship because of his interest in cultural heritage conservation which has continued to seep through his work. He believes that “scientific and technological methods in conservation strategies must go hand-in-hand with the economic and socio-cultural knowledge of local communities in order for efforts to be sustainable and become, ultimately, for the people.” He will be continuing the Project Alexandria research which will be done in collaboration with the ICOMOS Philippines Secretariat and Trustee, Kara Garilao. He will also be assisting the organisation with the planned focus group discussions and other communications projects.

Welcome, Isaiah! We’re very pleased to have your assistance.

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Ideas for Continuing a Heritage Practice amidst Covid 19

ICOMOS Philippines members came together online last April 25 to discuss the topic entitled, “Heritage Practice Amidst Covid 19”. This discussion is seen as the first step in exploring collective strategies to adapt to new challenges amidst the global pandemic for Filipino heritage practitioners. Members living in different parts of the Philippines, United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Germany and Egypt shared their current situation, challenges and prognosis of Covid-19 in their heritage practice during the 2-hour discussion.

INITIAL FINDINGS

While the pandemic has threatened the heritage practice, many still viewed the resulting changes in the new heritage landscape as opportunities. Following were common experiences:

A. Stalled projects due to site inaccessibility and  suspension of government-funded projects or work with local government projects;              
B. The recent memo from Department of Budgets to keep ‘non-essential’ industries alive results in diminished spending for heritage and mass layoffs for the creative industry; 
C. Difficulty in engaging students with online learning 

Continue reading “Ideas for Continuing a Heritage Practice amidst Covid 19”
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Heritage Practice Amidst Covid-19: ICOMOS Philippines Discussion

As part of the International Day of Monuments and Sites 2020 theme of “Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility, and Shared Culture”, ICOMOS Philippines is organising a zoom discussion entitled, “Heritage Practice Amidst Covid 19”. The goal of the discussion is to check in with its members and understand how Covid-19 has affected their practice. It will explore collective strategies for heritage professionals in the Philippines to adapt to new challenges amidst the global pandemic.

Continue reading “Heritage Practice Amidst Covid-19: ICOMOS Philippines Discussion”
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Internship Experience with ICOMOS Philippines – Carissa Veloso

ICOMOS Philippines is gathering testimonials from researchers, students and graduates of its internship program. The first testimonial comes from Carissa Veloso, who interned with the organization in 2018 and now has become part of ICOMOS Philippines.

In 2018, I completed an internship with my partner Chanelle Custorio at ICOMOS Philippines. While my primary work dealt with research on the PRECUP of the NCCA, I was also able to participate in a couple of other events in partnership with ICOMOS International.

As an intern and in the early stage of my career in heritage, it was exciting to be exposed to these kinds of international events and also be connected to ICOMOS Philippines members who are at the top of their fields in the country.

My mentors for the PRECUP were always approachable and while they provided a lot of guidance, there was a lot of room for me to accomplish my work through my own methods.

It was a full learning experience doing research on something that I felt was meaningful.

Carissa Veloso continues her work in heritage and now serves as the Secretariat of the ICOMOS Philippines. For interested students or new graduates who would like to take internship with the organization, please contact info@icomosphilippines.com

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Recovery and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage: The Notre-Dame Cathedral and Some Other Cases – A Talk by Toshiyuki Kono, ICOMOS President

Date and Time: 11 September 2019 | 6:30 PM
Venue: AVR 1, Mapua University Makati Campus
Address: 333 Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

Learn more about the recovery and reconstruction processes at play at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and other similar cases. Join us for an evening with Toshiyuki Kono, ICOMOS President and international expert on heritage law — a very timely talk given the recent destruction of heritage sites in Bohol, Marawi, and Batanes.

ICOMOS Philippines invited the following reactors:

Arch. Reynaldo Lita
Chief, Historic Preservation Division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines

Arch. Carmen Bettina Bulaong
Executive Director of Escuela Taller de Filipinas, Inc.

Kinna Mae Kwan
Researcher (and Guiuan Stakeholder) at the UST Graduate School – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics

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Architecture and its Dialectic with History

ICOMOS organised a thesis colloquium entitled, “Architecture and its Dialectic with History,” last Saturday, May 18, 2019, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
It was a presentation with open discussion of three heritage-centered theses wherein students were partnered with ICOMOS members to provide some crucial critique.

The activity was held at Pope Francis Hall, The Manila Cathedral, Beaterio St, Cabildo St, Intramuros, Manila. Intramuros Administration provided specially designed Beep Cards for the 1st 50 registrants. It was a well attended session with people attending in Intramuros and viewers also participated online.

Check out the video of the colloquium at our Facebook below

https://www.facebook.com/icomosph/videos/2355270738062687/
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2018 ICOMOS Annual General Assembly held in Buenos Aires, Argentina

From the 3rd to the 7th December 2018, members of ICOMOS Philippines attended the Annual General Assembly of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  This meeting is part of a three-year cycle of formal discussions leading to the next General Assembly which will be held in Sydney, Australia by 2020.

ICOMOS Philippines was represented by the following members: Tina Paterno, ICOMOS President, Gabriel Caballero, Contributing Expert of ISCCL and EPWG Commnunications Officer, and John Peterson, ICAHM President.

From L-R: Gabriel Caballero, John Peterson, Tina Paterno

Ms. Paterno attended the Regional Group meeting for Asia-Pacific and presented the current activities of ICOMOS Philippines. Mr Caballero, together with the ICOMOS Board, organised the World Heritage Training Session which was aimed at engaging members about the organisation’s role within the World Heritage system. Mr. Peterson chaired the annual meeting of the International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management . The proceedings of these discussions will be published by ICOMOS Argentina in the months to come.

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Biodivercities & The Sustainability of Urban Historic Plazas

The second joint partnership of ICOMOS Philippines and Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (PALA) brings together two stellar speakers, Prof. Perry S. Ong and Mr. Paulo G. Alcazaren for the CPD Seminar “BiodiverCities and the Sustainability of Urban Historic Plazas” on Nov 17 (Saturday) 1:00 – 6:00 pm at the Institute of Biology Auditorium, UP Diliman.

With rapid urban development of centers, how do we work towards having well-planned, sustainable, and resilient cities and communities?

This program is an accredited CPD Seminar for Architects and Landscape Architects (Applied Points: 3.5 – 4), but is open to other professions, LGUs, scholars, and advocates of sustainability, design, urban planning, biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage.

Registration fee is at Php 1,300 for regular entrants and discounted rates of Php 1,040 for Senior Citizens and Php 500 for students.

To register, kindly follow the instructions on this link: https://goo.gl/forms/WxRdeQT6uEBAcWUt2. For inquiries and other concerns, email info@icomosphilippines.com or visit our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/icomosph/ for more details.