During its annual General Assembly held at the Ayuntamiento in Intramuros last August 19, 2017, members of ICOMOS Philippines elected Maria Cristina Paterno, Ar. Michael Angelo Liwanag, La. Susan Aquino-Ong, Maria Karina Garilao, and Ar. Jeffrey Cobilla as the new Board of Trustees.
Attendees of the 2017 ICOMOS Philippines General Assembly held last August 19, 2017 at the Ayuntamiento, Intramuros, Manila.
In a succeeding meeting of the Board of Trustees, Maria Cristina Paterno was elected as President, La. Susan Aquino-Ong was elected as Vice President, and Ar. Jeffrey Cobillawas elected as Assistant Corporate Secretary. Elected as Corporate Secretary was Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong.
For more information about our current Board of Trustees, please click on this link
Rizal Memorial Tennis Stadium (c) Manila Nostalgia
The Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites – Philippines (ICOMOS-PH), as regards the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC), respectfully state the following:
1. We reiterate our gratitude to the cultural agencies, specifically the National Museum (NM) and the National Historical Commission (NHCP), for their declarations on RMSC as an Important Cultural Property and a National Historical Landmark, respectively.
2. We particularly note with approval the NHCP’s declaration that outlines the significance of RMSC as a historical site – as a venue for the Far Eastern Games and in subsequent athletic, religious. political, and social events; its role in World War II and its reconstruction thereafter; and its architectural design in the Art Deco style by Juan Arellano, one of the country’s most significant architects.
3. Having thus outlined the statement of significance of the site, it is the duty of the cultural agencies, consistent with international best practices, to require the preparation of a conservation management plan (CMP) by qualified experts, under its control and supervision, to ensure that the significance of the site is respected and preserved.
4. A CMP should be prepared prior to detailed site, architectural and engineering development planning, and the CMP should in fact guide and provide the parameters of such development planning, just as the preparation of a environmental impact study and securing an environmental compliance certificate guide development planning.
5. The CMP should then be presented to, and evaluated by, stakeholders in a manner similar to that provided under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10066, (the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009), reflecting the fundamental principles of Sections 4 to 7 of Republic Act No. 7356 (the Charter of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts). Further, any CMP should be defined by public accessibility as provided by Section 40, and provide the parameters of a heritage agreement, as required by Section 18 of Republic Act No. 10066.
6. We reiterate our support for progress and development, and recognize the need for cities to evolve, but in the context of the sustainability of cultural significance through conservation, as provided under Republic Act No. 10066.
This Joint Statement was signed by Mark Richard Evidente, President of Heritage Conservation Society and Dominic Galicia, President of ICOMOS Philippines
Post Script Note: ICOMOS Philippines created a small working group which submitted a World Monuments Watch Nomination for its 2018 cycle. Research findings were shared by Gabriel Caballero at the mASEANa conference in Jakarta that happened in January 2018.
IDMS 2017 Conference: Redefining Cultural Tourism in the Philippines 29 April 2017 (Saturday) | 8:30AM-5:30PM (Manila City, Philippines)
In celebration of the 2017 International Day for Monuments and Sites, with the theme: “Cultural Heritage & Sustainable Tourism“, the International Council on Monuments and Sites Philippines will be holding a one-day conference entitled “Redefining Cultural Tourism in the Philippines: Our Stories and Best Practices in the Regions” on April 29 (Saturday), from 8:30AM-5:30PM, at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Auditorium, Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila City.
The event features experts who will talk about the following:
Kara Garilao, “The Role of the Narrative in Local Heritage Tourism“
Chen Mencias, “How Much is Paradise? Batanes and Its Economic Benefits through Heritage Conservation“
Tracey Santiago and Mapee Singson, “Saving Sagada: Realities and Recommendations“
Dominic Galicia and Tina Paterno, “Beginning Sustainable Tourism Efforts in Quiapo and Escolta“
Augusto Villalon, “Cultural Tourism Projects in Bohol Using Heritage Resources for Tourism“
Richard Daenos, “Elevating Angeles City as UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy“
Charisse Tugade, “Consuming Culture: Authenticity and Responsibility in Heritage-Based Tourist Merchandise“
Ivan Henares, “Social Media Marketing of Cultural Tourism“
Early bird registration is at PHP 1,000 until April 24. On-site registration fee will be PHP 1,200 (PHP 700 for students) inclusive of copies of the abstracts of the presentations and lunch.
For inquiries on the event, kindly contact Ms. Dominique Candi H. Escover at (046) 423 3741 / 0906 973 2310 or via email at nicaescover@icomosphilippines.com.
“Managing Disaster Risks for Cultural Heritage and Building Resilience” by Dr. Rohit Jigyasu 28 April 2017 (Friday) | 2PM (Manila City, Philippines)
Bakas Pilipinas and ICOMOS Philippines invite you to a talk by Dr. Rohit Jigyasu, ICOMOS India member and conservation architect and risk management consultant, entitled “Managing Disaster Risks for Cultural Heritage and Building Resilience” on April 28 (Friday), 2PM, at the Mapua Institute of Technology Seminar Room, Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila City.
The event is open to everyone and is FREE ADMISSION.
For inquiries, kindly contact Ms. Nica Escovar at 0906 9732310 or via email at nicaescovar@icomosphilippines.com.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the International Council on Monuments and Sites Philippines held a consultation with experts and advocates of heritage last September 8-9, 2016, at Silid Darangen, NCCA Building, Intramuros, Manila City.
The consultation session was the first of the series of consultations that will happen all over the country in the coming years. The leveling consultations gathered local experts from NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to work together in redefining Philippine Heritage that is more comprehensible to Filipinos. It was aimed at further understanding of Philippine Heritage sensibilities, priorities, and therefore implementation of a Philippine Heritage Charter. ICOMOS Philippines member Patricia Maria Santiago served as the project director of the initiative.
The said event was participated participated by several ICOMOS Philippines members, which is shown in the photo above: Melva Java, Fernando Zialcita, Augusto Villalon, Dominic Galicia, Tracey Santiago, Kara Garilao, Claudia Montero, Christian Aguilar, Ivan Henares, Tina Paterno, Chen Mencias, Cheek Fadriquela, Markel Luna, Manuel, Singson, Victor Venida, and Richard Daenos.
ICOMOS Talks: UNESCO World Heritage – Perspectives from the Field 8 August 2016 (Monday) | 1PM (Manila City, Philippines)
ICOMOS is one of the key advisory bodies to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and members of the organisation are dedicated to the stewardship of the world’s significant monuments and sites, and the dissemination of pertinent knowledge.
For this year’s World Heritage Committee meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, ICOMOS Philippines supported the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines for evaluating various World Heritage nominations and reviewing the states of conservation reports. The Philippines is one of the members of World Heritage Committee from 2013 to 2017.
International conservation practitioners Augusto Villalon, Bojer Capati, Gabriel Caballero, Eric Zerrudo, and Michael Manalo will discuss triumphs, challenges, and guidelines that could better Philippine heritage policy and management.
Augusto Villalon, “The Benefits of the World Heritage Convention to Sites, People and Culture”
Gabriel Caballero, “Unraveling World Heritage: Breaking Down the Concept of Outstanding Universal Value”
Michael Manalo, “Damming It Up: Recent Case Studies in World Heritage and their Philippine Parallels“
Eric Zerrudo, “The Concept of Sustainability in Philippine World Heritage Sites“
The event will be on August 8 (Monday), 1PM, at the National Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium, P. Burgos Drive, Manila City.
Registration fee for ICOMOS Members, as well for students and faculty with valid school ID, is PHP 200. For others and the general public, registration fee is PHP 400. To reserve seats, email info@icomosphilippines.com.
The image on the poster is of Alhambra in Granada, Spain, inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.
ICOMOS Talks: Inside Out – Methods and Case Studies for the Retrieval of Architectural Interiors 16 July 2016 (Saturday) | 9AM-12NN (Makati City, Philippines)
Experts will discuss interior design and architectural conservation, within the context of the magisterial exhibit, “Filipinos in the Gilded Age” featuring masterpieces by Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, and Rafael Enriquez.
The event will be on July 16 (Saturday), from 9AM-12NN, at the Leon Gallery, Corinthian Plaza, Paseo de Roxas corner Gamboa St., Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Registration fee for ICOMOS Philippines Members and HCS Members is PHP 150. For non-members, registration fee is PHP 250. Registration is inclusive of snacks.
The Alliance Francaise de Manille held the Seminar on Heritage Conservation, Contemporary Architecture and Urbanism last March 15-16, 2016, at the National Museum of the Philippines Auditorium, Manila City.
The seminar brought together leading French and Filipino experts who presented different topics on heritage, architecture, urban development, and other related themes. Prof. Eric Zerrudo served as moderator for the two-day workshop.
ICOMOS Philippines was one of the partner organizations that supported the event, with ICOMOS Philippines President Arch. Dominic Galicia doing a presentation entitled, “Escolta, the Conscience of a Mega City”, and also a roundtable discussion on “Urban Planning in the Philippines: The bigger picture” with other members Augusto Villalon and Paulo Alcazaren, together with Julia Nebrija.
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.
