ICOMOS Philippines recognizes that the global pandemic of Covid-19 has affected and is continuously affecting the heritage practice in the Philippines. Following a discussion last 25 April 2020, ICOMOS Philippines is launching a series of focused-group discussions to look at how practitioners can link heritage to national priorities as well as exploring threat and revisiting heritage narratives. National priorities that have been identified include: food security, peace and order, well-being and overall health.
As the country seeks solutions, the organization recognizes how complex these problems are, and how sustainable solutions will need to cross disciplines. Now is a great time to ally with outer fields- psychologists, developers, health and safety consultants, community development workers, disaster statisticians, mappers, tourism officers, to name a few, so both sides learn from the exchange, and ICOMOS can reach those that are currently outside our fields of contact.
This call for action forms part of a global initiative of ICOMOS International to help overcome the impacts of COVID-19. The organization will monitor and assess developments and measures taken across various countries for at least the coming three years, from the viewpoint of heritage conservation. ICOMOS will publish periodic reports on the recovery from the pandemic, covering both pre-vaccine and post-vaccine phases, and offer a solid basis for policy recommendations.
ICOMOS National Committees of Spain and Nepal have done their first consolidated approach. While organizations like UNESCO and ICCROM are also putting together various initiatives featuring different perspectives.
First ideas from ICOMOS Philippines can be found here.
This webpage will be further updated as new information develops.
ICOMOS Webinar Series Episode 1 
ICOMOS Webinar Series Episode 2
Synthesizing the ICOMOS Webinar – Place-making and Food Security
ICOMOS Philippines hopes that the webinar provided new ideas that can contribute to improving the appreciation for Filipino farmers, and artisans, and improve their commercial prospects. The lack of interest and of involvement in traditional agricultural practices especially by the youth, will lead to a loss of traditional knowledge, and risks destruction of cultural landscapes that are shaped by the dying farming traditions. This holds true for fishing villages, sugar plantations, salt-making regions, and other places where food production is central to these cultural landscapes’ cultural significance. Read More
ICOMOS Webinar Series Episode 2 — When Communities Engage – Tools for Community Participation in Heritage
The webinar, “When Communities Engage – Tools for Community Participation in Heritage,” is scheduled this Tuesday, July 7, 2020 – 10am (Manila Time). ICOMOS Philippines would like to thank ICOMOS Thailand, Tuklas Pilipinas, Tao Pilipinas Inc., University of the Philippines Archaeological Studies Program, and Intramuros Administration for co-organizing the event with us. Read More
ICOMOS Webinar Series Episode 1 — Place-Making and Food Security: Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production
The webinar, “Place-Making and Food Security: Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production,” is scheduled this Saturday, June 20, 2020 – 6pm (Manila Time). ICOMOS Philippines would like to thank the Intramuros Administration for co-organizing the event with us. Read More
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. Read More
ICOMOS Philippines Discussion : Heritage Practice Amidst Covid-19
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. Read More
Presentation at ICOMOS Mexico’s webinar : A View Towards Recovery: Focus Group Discussions on Heritage During the Pandemic
ICOMOS Philippines presented the current situation of heritage specialists and practitioners in the Philippines during a presentation at the ICOMOS México online conference last June 23, 2020 entitled, “Los Retos de la Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural y Natural Frente a Condiciones de Riesgo”. ICOMOS Philippines discussed the present challenges of cultural and natural heritage conservation as it faces risky conditions in its continued practice amidst the global pandemic.
More information can be found here.
ICOMOS International calls upon international thinking: Heritage as a cornerstone of human, social and economic recovery
On 14 May 2020, ICOMOS through its global networks, Committees and Working Groups and calling on its diverse expertise, will start to take the initiative to monitor and assess developments and measures taken across countries for at least the coming three years, from the viewpoint of heritage conservation. ICOMOS will publish annually a published on the recovery from the pandemic, covering both pre-vaccine- and post-vaccine phases, and offer a solid basis for policy recommendations.
More information can be found here.
Recommendations of ICOMOS Spain – International Council of Monuments and Sites–concerning the reopening of cultural assets, museums and heritage centres and their adaptation to what has been called the “new normality” against Covid-19
On 28 April 2020, the Council of Ministers of the Government of Spain approved the Plan for the Transition towards a New Normality after the crisis caused by COVID-19 that establishes the main parameters and instruments and the calendar of phases of the de-escalation that foresees in the first phase the opening of museums and in the second cultural assets and heritage centres with maximum security guarantees.
Download the file below to read more.
ICOMOS Nepal starts the discussion – Impact of Pandemics on Cultural Heritage
ICOMOS Nepal organized a video conference on 15 April 2020 to discuss the theme “Impact of Pandemics on Cultural Heritage” to prepare this short report for the International Day for Monuments and Sites 2020 theme of “Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility”. The paper was compiled based on contributions by ICOMOS Nepal Members: Kosh Prasad ACHARYA, Rishi AMATYA, Sirish BHATTA, Anie JOSHI, Jharna JOSHI, Monalisa MAHARJAN, Shristina SHRESTHA, Nabha THAPA, Anita TULADHAR and Kai WEISE.
Download the file below to read more.