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.

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”

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”

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/

Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Workshop for Intramuros

Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Workshop: Intramuros
23 November 2018 (Friday) | 9AM-5PM (Manila City, Philippines)

ICOMOS Philippines and the University of Tokyo Graduate Program in Sustainability Science, in collaboration with the Intramuros Administration, will be holding a Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Workshop for Intramuros on November 23 (Friday), from 9AM-5PM, at the Casa Blanca in Casa Manila Compound, San Luis Complex, Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila City.

The workshop will be based on a slight amendment from the Ritsumeikan Model, which is currently taught in workshops and is considered to be the best practice of disaster workshops for heritage. Already in Phase 2, this workshop will involve the disaster imagination game for contextualizing the disaster; collaborative focus group discussion with stakeholders; and drafting the policy brief.

The Intramuros would be the second historic district in the Philippines, after Vigan, to have such a plan.

For those interested to join us, kindly send us a message at info@icomosphilippines.com for us to save you a seat.

A Framework for Heritage: Comparing Systems, Prospects, and Wins in Developing Countries – A Talk by ICOMOS President Toshiyuki Kono

“A Framework for Heritage: Comparing Systems, Prospects, and Wins in Developing Countries” by Toshiyuki Kono
12 September 2018 (Wednesday) | 2-4PM (Makati City, Philippines)

ICOMOS Philippines invites you to a talk by ICOMOS President Toshiyuki Kono, a Distinguished Professor at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, entitled “A Framework for Heritage: Comparing Systems, Prospects, and Wins in Developing Countries” on September 12 (Wednesday), 2-4PM, at the Ateneo Professional Schools Ampitheater, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

As many UNESCO World Heritage sites are in developing countries, where the legal infrastructure and management systems for conservation and protection are still evolving. What are the parameters considered for setting up inventories, incentives, and management systems?

In view of this current terrain, President Toshiyuki Kono will discuss prospects and emerging trends in heritage systems for developing countries, along with sustainable heritage wins and best practices.

We would like to acknowledge the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law for co-presenting this talk with us.

For those who are interested to attend, kindly send us an email at info@icomosphilippines.

IDMS 2017: “Cultural Heritage & Sustainable Tourism” Conference on Redefining Cultural Tourism in the Philippines

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.

Drafting of the Philippine Heritage Charter with local heritage experts and ICOMOS Philippines

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.

Source: https://uapnational.wixsite.com/kyponline/single-post/2016/09/21/Philippine-Heritage-Charter—Levelling-Off-Consultation

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.

Completion of the International Symposium on Seismic Retrofit of Unreinforced Masonry Heritage Churches in the Philippines

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)

Both photos are credited to Bakas Pilipinas.