Month: March 2023

ICOMOS Philippines reaffirms its commitment to advance heritage conservation and management in the country through its participation at the Inter-Agency Meeting of cultural organisations called by the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) on February 28. 

This year’s National Heritage Month theme is “Change and Continuity,”  shared values that ICOMOS Philippines upholds in all its programs and activities that promote cultural heritage as a tool and driver of development.

According to the NCCA, the theme aims to highlight the potential of cultural heritage in enhancing social capital, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

The celebration, which happens every May, also seeks to showcase the benefits, impacts, and growth opportunities produced by heritage science research and innovation; promote advocacies; and encourage participation in programs that safeguard intangible and urban cultural heritage.

In line with the celebration of National Arts Month in February, ICOMOS Philippines’ Treasurer Erik Akpedonu led the discussion on “Renegotiating Philippine Heritage,” an event organised by the University of Asia & the Pacific’s (UA&P) College of Arts and Science held on February 28.

The lecture met its objectives after helping the participants with the following:

• Identify Philippine artistic heritage with emphasis on different categories of cultural properties and their aesthetic values
• Examine the parameters of significance that explain why cultural properties are important Philippine artistic legacies
• Analyse the role of the colonial experience in shaping how heritage is understood, collected, conserved, presented, and interpreted
• Investigate social, historical, and cultural transformations and issues that affect Philippine artistic heritage
• Determine how stakeholders in artistic heritage are participating in conservation and preservation efforts and why it is significant

Mr. Akpedonu also discussed the lack of architectural heritage appreciation evident in basic and higher education curricula, and the steps heritage advocates must take to raise awareness and understanding among students and youth.

Dozens of UA&P faculty members, staff, students, and guests outside the institution joined the on-site activity, with many expressing interest in joining future learning sessions focused on cultural heritage management and conservation.