Executive Officers
Dr. Cheek S. Fadriquela, Chairman / President
Cheek is currently an Assistant Professor lecturer at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Studies program. He obtained his PhD as an Academic Achievement Awardee in Forestry: Wood Science and Technology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2017, and finished his Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Studies, Summa Cum Laude, at the University of Santos Tomas in 2008. He was a Riksantikvaren (The Directorate of Cultural Heritage) scholar in Norway for his training in the International Course of Wood Conservation Technology in 2016, and a Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation research grantee in 2008 and publication grantee in 2010 which culminated in his 2014 National Book Award finalist multi-volume work entitled “Kahoy: Wood in the Philippines”. As a MEXT / Monbukagakusho (文部科学省奨学金) scholar in Japan from 1990 to 1996 for his technical and bachelor’s degrees, he has conducted research on advanced materials such as superconductors and blue lasers, among others.
Apart from materials and conservation science, he is also interested in disaster risk management in cultural heritage sites. He was involved in the World Bank funded Assessment of the Multi-Hazard Vulnerability of Priority Cultural Heritage Structures in the Philippines in 2015 as a materials specialist. As an NCCA Competitive Grants awardee in 2019, he developed a conservation management plan with a risk assessment component to various hazards for the Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro in Binondo Church. As a trustee of the International Committee on Monuments and Sites Philippines, Inc. since 2021 and an expert member of the ICOMOS International Wood Committee since 2020, he led both projects on the Post-Typhoon Odette Damage Assessment and the UNESCO funded Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment of Vernacular Buildings in the World Heritage City of Vigan project in 2022. At present, he is a pioneer lecturer of the course on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Cultural Heritage at the first culture-based governance degree in the Master in Publication Administration program of the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
As the President of ICOMOS Philippines, Cheek leads long term and short-term plans with the Executive Board, including the development of programs to carry out the goals of the organization together with project directors and managers.
Dr. Caroline “Mylene” Marie Quinto-Lising, Vice President
Mylene is a university lecturer, archaeologist, licensed interior designer, visual artist, and entrepreneur. She is also the Honorary Consul of Georgia in Manila and Luzon. As an archaeologist, she specializes in cultural heritage management of materials and sites of deep history. She obtained her PhD in Prehistoric Archaeology (Magna cum laude) from the Goethe Univeristy in Frankfurt, Germany.
She is part of the Kalinga Archaeological Expedition team that published a paper in the journal Nature (Inggico et al, 2018), the Peñablanca Rock Art research team that published a paper in Radiocarbon (Jalandoni et al ,2021). She is also a researcher of the ROCEEH (The Role of Culture in Evolution and Expansions of Humans) Program at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, a faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Sociology and Anthropology, an associate of ASIA (Anthropological and Sociological Initiatives of the Ateneo), former cultural deputy for Cagayan Valley of the National Museum of the Philippines, a pro bono consultant for cultural heritage of the Office of the Governor of Cagayan Province. She continues to work closely with the National Museum of the Philippines on matters concerning Cagayan Province. She created Crania Heritage Sciences, Inc in 2015 as a venue to deliver programs and events related to collaborative science-based heritage management. Mylene is president of Plaza Management, Inc. which manages Plaza Santiago, a courtyard and buildings across Fort Santiago–the most popular tourist, cultural, historical, and archaeological site within Intramuros, the historical walled city of Manila.
Ms. Lilia Rosa “Tats” Rejante-Manahan, Corporate Secretary
Tats, by profession is a surface decorator specializing in historical paint finishes and a restorer for wall paintings, holding a Master Certificate for Artisanship from Centro Europeo per I Mestieri del Patrimonio. Her undergraduate diploma from Maryknoll College is Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts. Thus, her professional life is dual faceted, 18 years spent in television production as a writer, producer and director and about the same number of years practicing her second profession as a decorator and restorer.
As an active practitioner in media, she has a resume that encompasses a number of entertainment genres. Her outstanding work has been cited in local awards of that period, the Patas Awards. One of her documentaries, “Days of the Crimson Sun, The Re-telling of the Battle of Manila” had a special showing at the International Documentary Association in La, USA, shown in SBH Australia and is now archived at the Filipinas Heritage Library.
Her work for cultural heritage preservation includes the restoration of the Pasig Cathedral façade, the Baptistry of Sta. Ana Church, and others. She heads the restoration team for St. Joseph the Worker Chapel in Victorias, Negros Occ where the well known mural of Alfonso Ossorio known as “The Angry Christ” is housed. Her work with the restoration team for Gota de Leche, headed by ICOMOS Philippines first President, Ar. Augusto Villalon, was given a UNESCO Honorable Mention for Southeast Asia.
She was a member of the second ICOMOS Board of Trustees, is the immediate past Chairperson for the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), immediate past representative for ICOMOS Philippines on the National Commission on Monuments and Sites (NCMS) and is currently on the Advisory Board of HCS. She is an expert member of ICOMOS ISC for Shared Built Heritage and is currently President of the Board of Trustees for Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP).
As the Corporate Secretary of ICOMOS Philippines, Tats is in charge of external responsibilities of the organization including compliance with government mandated requirements and enforcement of the statutes of ICOMOS International, the organization’s parent company. She will also serve as the Secretary General when communicating with ICOMOS International on matters relating to National Committee compliances.
Ar. Harvey A. Vasquez, Treasurer
Harvey is a Registered and Licensed Architect (RLA) in the Philippines with 16 years of experience ranging from renowned local firms to international offices servicing wide-range of projects. International exposure gained while employed in Dubai (U.A.E.) and Singapore has enormously improved his interaction and negotiation skills affirming better grasp in the architectural profession. He is the Managing Partner at Kalamaam Design Studio and a Full-time Professional Faculty and the Architecture Program Chairperson at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). He is currently heading STUDIO N0W as his banner studio. STUDIO N0W’s research interest lies in the intersection of Art and Architecture and its permutations in installation art. The studio also focuses on the seamless integration of the existing built environment with new Architectural Intervention using the strategic platform of Research by Design. He also became the OIC- Program Chairperson for the School of Design and Arts-Environment Studies Cluster-Architecture Program last May 9, 2020, during the Benilde Online Learning Term (BOLT). This appointment was made official for the 1st Term of Academic Year 2020-2021 last September 01, 2020. He still serves the same position at present.
As the Treasurer of ICOMOS Philippines, he provides financial oversight and encourages the board’s strategic thinking about the short and long term budgets in relation to its advancement of the organization’s mission. The treasurer develops financial management policies & protocols for monitoring and evaluating the organization financial performance. He will also serve as the Treasurer General when communicating with ICOMOS International on matters relating to National Committee compliances.
Ar. Ramil B. Tibayan, Board Trustee / Spokesperson
Ramil joins the Board of Trustees, bringing a distinguished background in architectural heritage conservation and education. He currently serves as a lecturer at the College of Architecture of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), his alma mater where he earned both his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and Master’s Degree in Cultural Heritage Studies.
Ramil previously headed the Cultural Properties Conservation Division of the Intramuros Administration, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, and worked with Design Coordinates, Incorporated in construction project management. He also taught at the Far Eastern University, Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts.
In 2009, he placed first in the Architecture Licensure Examination. His dedication to heritage conservation is further exemplified through his training with the Getty Conservation Institute and ThinkCity Malaysia, and by completing the Getty Conservation Institute’s Conserving Modern Architecture course in 2021.
Ramil currently serves as a Panel of Experts member for Architectural Heritage at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), an Expert Member of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Twentieth-Century Modern Heritage, and now a Board Trustee of ICOMOS Philippines.
As one of the Board Trustees, Ramil assists the President in the cultivation of donors, partners, supporters, collaborators, allies, and other stakeholders. She is also in charge of ensuring the organization’s activities and projects are compliant and in furtherance of its mission in compliance with international parent organization and VMV charter. She is also a primary spokesperson of the organization together with the President on various heritage issues both locally and internationally.
The Secretariat
Mr. Abdulbasir B. Endong, Heritage Affairs Officer
Bashyr is ICOMOS Philippines’ Heritage Affairs Officer who assists the Board of Trustees in its functions, is in-charge of administrative work, and helps manage projects.
Mr. Abdulbasir Endong is a public servant whose career reflects a deep commitment to preserving Bangsamoro heritage and promoting effective public service. From a young age, he was actively involved in cultural preservation efforts—serving as a resident researcher and scriptwriter for the Technical Working Group of the Inaul Festival Governor’s Night, where he helped document different cultures and tradition in the Province. During secondary days, he was the resident researcher for his school’s team in the Doon Po Sa Amin video-making competition, which showcased the beauty of his city and local community. He also contributed as a scriptwriter and technical committee member during the Koryo Mindanao cultural event held in Koronadal, South Cotabato.
Professionally, Mr. Endong served for over three years as an Information and Communication Officer at the Bangsamoro Information and Communications Technology Office (BICTO), where he was involved in crafting communication strategies, content development, and supporting ICT programs and projects. He sometimes also worked closely with cultural workers in the BARMM, serving as an assistant writer in producing cultural stories and narratives that mirror the richness and identity of the Bangsamoro people.