Tag: Heritage Conservation

Posted on

Synthesizing the ICOMOS Webinar – Place-making and Food Security

INTRODUCTION

ICOMOS Philippines members came together online last June 20, 2020 for the webinar, “Place-Making and Food Security: Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production”. This is part of the project, ‘Heritage Practice Amidst Covid 19’. Members and specialists provided some perspectives connecting food security and cultural heritage amidst the challenges of the global pandemic.

CONCEPT

Three key terms were re-examined namely: food security, food sovereignty, and their relationship to cultural heritage:

A. Food security defined as the supply, the availability, and the stability of price of basic foodstuff in the international and domestic market (World Food Conference, 1974). While Food Sovereignty emerged more than three decades later as the reaction to grass roots movements around the world, and uncovered more clearly the mediators, interactions, and instruments of food production, distribution, and consumption.

Food sovereignty prioritises local and national economies and markets and empowers peasant and family farmer-driven agriculture, artisanal – fishing, pastoralist-led grazing, and food production, distribution and consumption based on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Food sovereignty promotes transparent trade that guarantees just incomes to all peoples as well as the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition.

– Nyéléni Declaration on Food Sovereignty (February 2007) at Sélingué, Mali

B. Cultural heritage acknowledges the central role of change and human culture in shaping food production. The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila, the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia are just few of the sites representing agricultural practices passed on for generations, later on caters the global market, thus, highlighting the deep connections between food, people, places, and culture in various parts of the world.

Responding to queries – Pursuing a Public Discourse

A healthy public interest in the topic was well-received with questions coming from universities, professional organizations, and national institutions that exposes a need for public discourse in the Philippines on the politics of food.

An example is the Sagada in Northern Philippines which indicates the need for this platform in the public domain, to discuss our changing relationship with nature through food, cultural practices, and tourism.

Photos of a Dap-ay, a traditional place of gathering in Sagada. On the left shows the removal of more modern materials of corrugated metal which was replaced by more traditional roofing materials (right) during the pandemic. Photo from Patricia Santiago.

Responses by the esteemed speakers from the webinar’s questions are shown in the ‘Annex A’ of this report. The questions have been grouped into two broad themes: the first, brings globalization to bear on the Philippine context of food chain; the second focuses on local issues of food, tourism, economic development and intangible heritage.

CONCLUSION

ICOMOS Philippines hopes that this webinar provides 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

In summary the webinar illustrates that humanity’s food resources can be secured, while conserving its most important cultural heritage, based on these three basic principles:

  • Respect for the environment.
  • Build an equitable relationship with the primary producers of our food.
  • Recognise indigenous knowledge systems and practices for the benefit of these communities.

Download the file below to read more.

Food-Security-and-Placemaking-Webinar-Report-ICOMOS-PhilippinesDownload

If you would like to know more about this initiative, please get in touch with Gabriel Caballero, ICOMOS Philippines Communications Officer at communications[at]icomosphilippines[dot]com and Estela Duque, Founder of Moulinet Chocolat Limited at http://www.moulinetchocolat.com/

https://www.facebook.com/235191679972291/videos/1130550310643727
To watch the recorded webinar, see Facebook video.
https://www.facebook.com/AsiaFeatured/videos/1208506099515015
“PHILIPPINES: Farm to Manila” – Sustainable Sagada Initiative by Ms. Patricia Maria Santiago
Posted on

A View Towards Recovery: Focus Group Discussions on Heritage During the Pandemic by Tina Paterno | Conversatorio ICOMOS México

ICOMOS México, through its Scientific Committee of Theory and Philosophy, together with its Secretariat of Academic Development and Youth and Heritage Group, organized last Tuesday, June 23, 2020 an online discussion entitled, “Los Retos de la Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural y Natural Frente a Condiciones de Riesgo”. It discussed on the present challenges of cultural and natural heritage conservation as it faces risky conditions in its continued practice amidst the global pandemic.

The panel in the online discussion included ICOMOS Philippines President Tina Paterno, who shared the current situation of heritage specialists and practitioners in the country on her presentation entitled, “A View Towards Recovery: Focus Group Discussions on Heritage During the Pandemic”.

Ms Paterno  shared findings from several local discussions on how ICOMOS Philippines members are seeing the changes in the heritage practice in their fields of expertise. A common emerging theme was the necessity to explore how heritage can be part of recovery, perhaps by linking it to new national priorities. Generally, many ICOMOS Philippines members saw ideas for continuing a heritage practice amidst Covid 19, during in the mandated pause we are all going through, to re-evaluate where the Philippines is in the practice, and identify where structural improvements are necessary. She also shared two success stories from the past discussions.

“We have a chance to do things differently,” Paterno concluded, “and the accessibility of discussions and knowledge moving online is a great ‘democratizer’ for learning. Our hope is that one day, heritage becomes a more mainstream issue and it happened from a time that there was this major pause and painful time from COVID but it was able to give birth to something truly positive.”

WEBINARS & FOCUSED GROUP DISCUSSIONS

Starting June 2020, ICOMOS Philippines held free public webinars to think about heritage in a differently because of the current global situation. The first webinar was  entitled, “Place-Making and Food Security: Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production,” which explored the mechanisms that shape rural and urban spaces, private and public, facilitating food production and place-making grounded in community-based participation. It provided various perspectives that link food and the understanding of historic significance of particular places.

The online discussion can be viewed on the official Facebook page of ICOMOS México. ICOMOS Philippines would like to thank Mr. Yoloxochitl Lucio of the Grupo Jóvenes y Patrimonio del ICOMOS Mexicano A.C. and Dr. Saúl Alcántara Onofre, ICOMOS México President for the invitation.

https://www.facebook.com/ICOMOSMex/videos/304571427597022/
Posted on

ICOMOS Webinar Series Episode 1: Place-Making and Food Security – Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production

ICOMOS Philippines recognises that the heritage practice in the country has been affected by the global pandemic. Now, more than ever, practitioners need to see the work of conserving heritage in a different light.

ICOMOS Philippines believes that heritage needs to connect to national priorities and be part of a shifting focus on food security, health, well-being, and peace and order, while a viable vaccine is being created. 

As part of the project, “Heritage Practice amidst the Pandemic“, ICOMOS Philippines is launching a series of online discussions that will delve with opportunities to explore new ideas for the Philippine heritage practice.

The first webinar is entitled, “Place-Making and Food Security – Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production”, which will explore mechanisms that shape rural and urban spaces, private and public, that facilitate food production and place-making grounded in community-based participation. It will also provide various perspectives that link food and the understanding of historic significance of particular places. 

ICOMOS Webinar Series Episode 1: Place-Making and Food Security – Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production
20 June 2020 (Saturday) | 6PM Philippine Standard Time

The webinar will focus on providing answers to two main questions: 

  • How can the heritage practitioners improve a community’s cultural, economic, social circumstances while preserving the environment?  
  • How do you facilitate food production and place making grounded in community-based participation?

SPEAKERS

A dynamic group of heritage professionals, all of whom are members of ICOMOS Philippines, will be sharing their points of view on the integration of food production and heritage conservation:  

Dr. Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita is Professor Emeritus, teaching at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the  Ateneo de Manila University. He has done field research among farming communities in the Ilocos, Northern Luzon, and has done studies on urban heritage and regeneration of Manila. He writes about the interface between the Southeast Asian and the Hispanic worlds in domains of Filipino culture such as traditional architecture, cookery, and popular Christianity.     

Ms. Patricia Maria Santiago is a cultural manager with 25 years of experience who sits on the Board of Nayong Pilipino Foundation. She is part of  “Sustainable Sagada,” an online support market for local produce of farmers from Sagada which aims to help bring local produce to reach consumers in Manila, to support their sustainability not only during times of economic crisis but even beyond.  

Ms. Estela Duque is an architect, historian, social entrepreneur, certified chocolate taster, and chocolate competition judge in Europe. A practitioner based in the United Kingdom, she founded Moulinet Chocolat Limited (UK) in 2015 in order to introduce Philippine specialty cocoa to the world, and since 2017 she has been an adviser to the only craft chocolate event of the Philippines now called Intramuros Chocolate Festival.

Mr. Gabriel Caballero is the Communications Officer of ICOMOS Philippines. He is a Singapore-based landscape architect and independent world heritage specialist whose expertise ranges from sensitive landscape design interventions, cultural landscape research, and world heritage evaluations particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas in Asia. He will serve as the moderator for this webinar. 

DETAILS

The webinar, “Place-Making and Food Security: Thinking of Heritage Conservation and Food Production”,  is scheduled this Saturday, June 20, 2020 – 6pm (Philippine Standard Time).

This forms part of the project, “Heritage Practice amidst the Pandemic“, which is a series of online discussions that delves with opportunities to explore new ideas for the Philippine heritage practice.

ICOMOS Philippines would like to thank the Intramuros Administration for co-organizing the event with us. 

For those who would like to be part of the conversation, please watch the webinar via our Facebook Live where the speakers will be able to get your questions and respond: www.facebook.com/icomosph

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Seminar on Heritage Conservation, Contemporary Architecture and Urbanism

The Alliance Francaise de Manille held the Seminar on Heritage Conservation, Contemporary Architecture and Urbanism last March 15-16, 2016, at the National Museum of the Philippines Auditorium, Manila City.

The seminar brought together leading French and Filipino experts who presented different topics on heritage, architecture, urban development, and other related themes. Prof. Eric Zerrudo served as moderator for the two-day workshop.

ICOMOS Philippines was one of the partner organizations that supported the event, with ICOMOS Philippines President Arch. Dominic Galicia doing a presentation entitled, “Escolta, the Conscience of a Mega City”, and also a roundtable discussion on “Urban Planning in the Philippines: The bigger picture” with other members Augusto Villalon and Paulo Alcazaren, together with Julia Nebrija.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Museum of the Philippines, Bakas Pilipinas, ICOMOS Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics invite everyone to the upcoming International Symposium on “Seismic Retrofit of Unreinforced Masonry Heritage Churches in the Philippines” on January 13-14, 2016, at the National Museum of the Philippines in Ermita, Manila City.

For those interested, kindly register on or before January 7 by paying the registration fee (PHP 2,500 for professionals, PHP 1,500 for students) to ICOMOS Philippines BPI Current Account: 003271030028.

For inquiries, please send us an email at seismic.symposium2016@gmail.com or call us (63) 948 0112630 / (63) 917 5554633. Look for Ms. Sheila de la Paz.

To view the Symposium Program and List of Speakers, go to www.bakaspilipinas.wordpress.com.

Posted on

1st UPCA Heritage Conservation Seminar – Tahanan ng Diwa Workshop, in collaboration with ICOMOS Philippines

1st UP College of Architecture Heritage Conservation Seminar
21-24 May 2012 (Monday-Thursday) | (Quezon City, Philippines)

The University of the Philippines College of Architecture – HTC (History, Theory, and Criticism), in collaboration with ICOMOS Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, would like to invite you to this workshop entitled, “Tahanan ng Diwa”, the 1st UPCA Heritage Conservation Seminar that will be held at the UPCA HTC Studio Laboratory, University of the Philippines – Diliman, Quezon City, on May 21-24.

The workshop encourages the participants to:

  1. Consider heritage in planning;
  2. Be familiar with the steps in a Conservation Project;
  3. Be aware of and and enforce the Heritage Law;
  4. Know the importance of Architectural Heritage; and
  5. Consider the Architectural Heritage in the Building Permit Process.

We are hoping to see your representative/s attend the workshop and aid us in promoting the Conservation Principles that your chosen participant would surely learn.

Should you have any queries please call our secretariat, Ms. Claire Vitug, at (0927) 6056388 or email us at tahananngdiwa2012@gmail.com.