Preserving the Legacy of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

From Oct. 10 to 14 in Banaue, a conference entitled “Climate Risk and Resilience at the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras” was organized by Preserving Legacies, ICOMOS International, and ICOMOS Philippines in partnership with Climate Heritage Network and National Geographic Society, and funded by Manulife.

Participants from the local governmental units of Kiangan, Hungduan, Mayoyao, Bangaan, Batad, and Banaue, stakeholder’s organizations, and local community members, along with natural and cultural heritage site custodians from Cambodia, Togo, Colombia, the United States of America, Ireland, Jordan, Bangladesh, and Tunisia were in attendance.

Victoria Herrman, National Geographic Explorer and project director of Preserving Legacies, adds, “[We] firmly believe in the power of cultural and heritage for climate change. This important project will empower communities and site custodians to protect their heritage from the images of climate change. It will also provide them with a platform for their stories and their valuable experiences with the world.”

Photo credit: Philippine Star, November 11, 2023

ERRATA: 

RE: Col. 1. Par. 2. For “Ifugao Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras” read/to “Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.”

RE: Col. 2. Par. 2. For “Kiangan rice harvest festival” read/to “Bakle, post-harvest rice ritual.”

RE: Col 3. Par. 1. For “Marlon Martin, founder of the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo)” read/to “Marlon Martin, Chief Operating Officer of the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo).”

RE: Photo and Credits. For “View of the Ifugao Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Photo by GREG VALERIO, ICOMOS Philippines” read/to “View of the Mayoyao cluster, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Photo by BHONG TAWANA.”

RE: Col. 3. Par. 2. For “Dr. Maria Laurice Jamero, Resilience Coordinator, Klima, Manila Observatory” read/to “Dr. Maria Laurice Jamero, Climate Scientist – Independent Consultant.”

Please see the article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer Lifestyle and Arts section. Read here ➡️ https://bitly.ws/326hC

For more information on ICOMOS Philippines ➡️ https://philippines.icomos.org/

For inquiries about ICOMOS Philippines and the Preserving Legacies Project: Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, please email: info@icomosphilippines.com

Technical Forum on Built Heritage and Fire Successfully Held

Built Heritage and Fire: Technical Forum on Fire Protection, Investigation, and Restoration through Engineering” brought together experts, professionals, and stakeholders to address the specific challenges and complexities associated with fire-related incidents and recommended possible strategies for post-disaster restoration this past Friday, August 11, 2023. 

ICOMOS Philippines recognizes that this technical forum is a much-needed response to the devastating fire disaster at the Manila Central Post Office in Manila on May 22, 2023. Fire hazard awareness, policies, response, and restoration are important factors in the protection of our heritage structures and sites across the Philippines. Response and coordination to fire disasters is critical at all levels of government and for all stakeholders, and we know that this forum has enlightened our fellow heritage site advocates and stewards to the importance of this topic. 

Some of the onsite participants of the Technical Forum together with the organizers and speakers.

ICOMOS Philippines thanks our partner, Bakás Pilipinas, and organizers the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), the Institution of Specialist Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ISSEP), the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the forum which attracted over 1,000 attendees.

Rodolfo Mendoza Jr., ASEP Secretary (left 1st row), Cheek Fadriquela, ICOMOS Philippines President, Ivan Henares, UNACOM Secretary General and NCCA Commissioner for Cultural Heritage, Rene Escalante, former NCCA Chairman, Tristan Beriña, IIEE Member, Carlos Villaraza, former ASEP President (right 1st row). Giuseppe Abcede, HCS President (left 2nd row), JH Corpus, ICOMOS Philippines Communications Officer, Patrick Lee, NCCA CPPRD Chief, Philippine Post Office Officers (right 2nd row)

To our speakers Christopher Marrion, Erik Akpendonu, Rodolfo P. Mendoza, Jr, Carlos M. Villaraza, Tristan G. Beriña, and Stephen Kelley, we extend our gratitude to your invaluable expertise and time. Thank you Johit Rigyasu for your contributions to Christopher Marrion’s presentation.

To watch the recently concluded Forum kindly check NCCA’s Facebook page ➡️

Part 1 (8 hours): http://bitly.ws/S4Ee

Part 2 (1 hour): http://bitly.ws/S4Ei

Please consider membership with ICOMOS Philippines to get involved in the advocacy of disaster risk reduction management: info@icomosphilippines.com.

#ICOMOS #ICOMOSPH #HeritageProfessionals #InAction #TechnicalForum #BuiltHeritageAndFIRE