2020 – ICOMOS Philippines recently concluded a Special Membership Meeting on November 30, 2020, 9:30AM (GMT+8) in a Zoom meeting. The Special Membership Meeting is in lieu of the ICOMOS Philippines Annual Meeting that was originally scheduled for July 2, 2020 as indicated in Article II Section 2 of the by-laws, which was not held due to community quarantines and restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The main agendas of the Special Membership Meeting were the presentation of the Term Report of Trustees and the Election of New Board of Trustees and Officers. The Meeting ended successfully concluded with new Board of Trustees and Officers.
For the new Term, Tina Paterno remains to be the ICOMOS Philippines President. With her are Ivan Henares as Vice President, Kara Garilao as Corporate Secretary, Richard Daenos as Executive Secretary, Erik Akpedonu as Treasurer, Kate Lim for the EPWG Representative position, and Claudia Montero as Communications Officer.
Last 3 November 2020, ICOMOS International announced the appointment of ICOMOS Philippines Member Mr. Gabriel Caballero as the incoming Focal Point for the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2021-2023.
Considering the urgencies the world’s societies are facing today affecting the cultural and natural heritage, and the potential of heritage to help address these, the 2030 Agenda is an imperative to transform the framework of cultural heritage protection in the next ten years. Cultural heritage goes beyond monuments. It has a crucial role for the well-being of communities, which needs to be harnessed for sustainable urban and rural and socio-economic development, in particular for post-COVID recovery strategies at international, national, and local levels. ICOMOS is a leading global voice in integrating cultural heritage within sustainable development framework. The SDGs Working Group coordinates ICOMOS response to the 2030 Agenda, through advocacy, policy, localizing of the SDGs.
Here is what Gabriel Caballero said to the SDGWG explaining his thoughts on the next years ahead.
As Focal Point, Mr. Caballero will act as a facilitator and coordinator for ICOMOS International’s work in relation to the global sustainable development policy arena. He will also coordinate the activities of the SDGs Working Group (SDGWG) under the supervision of the Working Group Chair and the ICOMOS Director General, and in close coordination with the International Secretariat. He is mandated to push forward the implementation of the ICOMOS Action Plan for cultural heritage and localizing the SDGs.
ICOMOS Philippines would like to congratulate Mr. Caballero for his success and further contribution to the scientific work of linking heritage with the movement of sustainable development globally!
In accordance with the ICOMOS Philippines By-laws, the 2020 General Assembly will elect the Board of Trustees for a term of three years (2020-2023). The Board of Trustees will elect among themselves the Chairman / President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Information Session, held last 30 October 2020, provided more information on proposed policies, procedures, and by-laws amendments which further elaborated the scopes and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees.
Functions and Powers of the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall have general charge of the property, business and affairs of the Organization with the power to manage, direct, and supervise the same under its collective responsibility as provided in the By-laws and the Policies and Procedure. Trustees shall:
Appoint or elect all officers, employees, and other administrative officers of the Organization as may be designated, except junior officers and minor employees; to define their duties and to discipline or remove them.
Purchase or otherwise acquire for the Organization rights and privileges of properties, and to manage, conserve, and invest the funds of the Organization
Approve the annual budget of the Organization
Delegate from time to time any of the powers of the Board which can lawfully be delegated to any standing or special committee or to any agent or officers and to appoint any person or persons to act as agents of the Organization with such powers and upon such terms as it may deem fit.
Additional Scope of Work of the Board of Trustees (based on the Policies and Procedure 2020)
Members of the ICOMOS Philippines Board of Trustees donate time and expertise to the Organization and they are part of a working board. As such, Trustees are expected to do the following tasks:
Donate a minimum of 10-20 hours a month of their time to the organization. Each trustee must take charge of one of the following for the duration of their tenure: staff management; fundraising; or 1 project per year
Assist the President in the cultivation of donors, partners, supporters, collaborators, allies, and other stakeholders
Ensure the organization’s activities are compliant and in furtherance of its mission in compliance with international parent organizations and local mission / vision
Engage in the creation of long and short-term goals with the President
Assist in review of financial statement
Respond to email within 48 hours for items for Board approval, as and when required.
Application Procedure:
Interested parties should submit their letter of intent and (1) curriculum vitae, (2) letter of intent, and (3) proposed agenda for the next 3 years to the ICOMOS Philippines Secretariat at info@icomosphilippines.com with the email title “Trustees Application 2020 – Last Name” by 15 November 2020.
For more information on the position and how to apply, please read the information below.
Last 13 October 2020, ICOMOS Philippines Member Mr. Ivan Henares was elected as Secretary General of the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) for 2020-2023.
The ICTC is a global network of cultural heritage, conservation and tourism professionals & academics; and a platform for multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder research and activities with the aim of achieving high standards in policy directions and management of cultural heritage at historic sites and tourism destinations. Mainstreaming cross-cutting issues places conservation and cultural tourism centre stage in sustainable development agendas. As an international professional network ICTC seeks to work at a strategic level to advise governments and influence international bodies – UNESCO, UNWTO & IUCN – to adopt policies and practices that better support cultural heritage conservation in the context of tourism development.
As Secretary General, Mr. Henares will be responsible for assisting the president of the committee in the running of ICTC and will circulate, direct, and/or coordinate internal communications among the members, to external parties and the ICOMOS Secretariat. He has previously served as Vice President for the Scientific Committee for 2 terms, from 2014-2017 and 2017-2020.
Here is what Ivan Henares’ response when asked what will be the future of cultural tourism amidst the global pandemic.
ICOMOS Philippines would like to congratulate Mr. Henares for his success and further contribution to the scientific work of cultural tourism professionals globally!
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.
The first UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Building a New Partnership held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from February 4-6, 2015, broke new ground in bringing together over 600 delegates including over 40 ministers and vice-ministers of tourism and/or culture from around the world to jointly discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by both the tourism and culture sectors.
The participants endorsed the Siem Reap Declaration on Tourism and Culture and committed to encourage and facilitate effective partnerships between government, private and community organizations in both tourism and cultural heritage sectors.
ICOMOS Philippines was represented by the following members: Ivan Man Dy, Claudia Isabelle Montero, Richard Daenos, Jeremy Balagat, Kat Correa, Rene Luis S. Mata, Tracey Santiago, Ivan Henares, and Marianne Claire Vitug.
ICOMOS Philippines member and ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) Expert Voting Member Ivan Anthony Henares was named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines for 2012. He is the first awardee ever for the category of Heritage Conservation, which makes the honor doubly significant. This is one of the most prestigious professional awards given in the Philippines.
ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) President Susan M. Millar arrived in Manila last night for the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Conference and 2012 ICTC Annual Meeting that will be held next week in the Historic Town of Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. She was met at the airport by ICOMOS Conference Chair Ivan Anthony S. Henares (right) and Co-Chair Ivan Homer U. Man Dy (left).
An international conference on cultural tourism was held on November 7/8 2012 in the World Heritage city of Vigan, capital of the province of Ilocos Sur on the west coast of the Philippines island of Luzon. The event demonstrated both the rising influence of the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) and the energy and sophistication of the ICOMOS Philippines organising team.
Billed as ‘cultural tourism for community development’ and part of the 40 year celebration of the World Heritage Convention, the two day conference attracted more than 200 delegates from around the world, including a large contingent of students from local universities.
French Ambassador Gilles Garachon with Augusto Villalon
ICOMOS Philippines President Augusto Villalon was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, conferred by the Minstry of Culture of France to individuals who have excelled in their fields of endeavor and who have promoted France. Established in 1957 by the French Ministry of Culture and then President Charles de Gaulle, the Order is in recognition of significant contribution to the arts and literature, or the propagation of these fields.
The citation says that Augusto Villalon has worked tirelessly in the practice of architecture and protection of heritage in the Philippines, in France and all over the world through his work as an architect and writer, and also involvement as the NCCA Commissioner representing the Subcommission of Cultural Heritage, as the Commissioner for Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO National Commission Philippines, as the Philippine representative to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, as the President of the ICOMOS Philippine Committee and as Member of its Executive and Advisory Committees in Paris.
