𝗣𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬

At the conclusion of the March 2024 activities for the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) project was a Town Hall Meeting, an assembly of Vigan Homeowners and local stakeholders to voice their opinions on issues on the recovery of Vigan.

In terms of emergency response, the homeowners suggested that a specialized response team with relevant technical specialists and experts be created, that more capacity building sessions be offered to all stakeholders to enhance skills and knowledge for conservation, and that guidelines for the restoration and repair of homes should be refined. The resurrection, too, of the Homeowner’s Association was suggested. That way, challenges and knowledge can be shared immediately to benefit all homeowners with communal support.

Financing the repair of the homes was also a sensitive issue, as many of the homeowners are now abroad or in other parts of the country, thus creating landlord absenteeism. Many of these homes now belong to numerous family members who may not necessarily agree on issues for the care of their ancestral homes and who may not have the funds or means to maintain the structures. One solution that was suggested is the use of tax breaks; with a sound legal framework and mechanism in place, a general fund could be created. Participants also proposed exploring avenues for financial assistance, such as grants or subsidies, to support homeowners in funding repairs and restoration efforts.

The first UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund project in the Philippines will conclude in August 2024. Many milestones were achieved during its engagement with the World Heritage Site, and, as a result, homeowners, business owners, local government officials, students, and everyday stakeholders are actively participating in the recovery and restoration and are learning more about their heritage along the way.

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

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To aid in the rehabilitation efforts and recovery of Vigan, there was further documentation of earthquake-damaged houses in the form of a generous in-kind contribution. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) led by Dr. Linda Shetabi, and nineteen students were paired with eighty-five fifth-year architecture students from the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) led by Dean Ar. Fatima Nicetas Rabang-Alonzo and twenty-one UNP professors to document fifteen priority ancestral houses damaged by the 2022 earthquakes.

Working in tandem, the HKU and UNP students used digital documentation to create 3D models of the homes with research on historical data and documentation of damage. With the use of photogrammetry, a LIDAR scanner, and mini-drones, the intensive documentation was rapid and concluded in less than one week. Each student team presented their findings at the knowledge sharing session on March 13th at Tadena Hall, UNP.

The partnership between HKU and UNP furthered the recovery of Vigan by providing much-needed documentation, which updated the 1996 Toyota Foundation-funded research inventory of 120 ancestral houses. The documentation performed and completed will aid in the potential restoration of these homes. Also, the relationships that were forged between HKU and UNP will, in the near future, provide more bilateral cooperation for the documentation of more ancestral houses in the Historic City of Vigan.

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

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Another program was the knowledge sharing sessions that were held in Tadena Hall at the University of Northern Philippines (UNP). Attendees included homeowners, custodians and managers, students and other stakeholders from the Historic City of Vigan. The knowledge-sharing sessions were a forum for lectures on topics relevant to the recovery of Vigan.

From UNP, the evolution of local conservation practices was delivered by Dean Ar./EnP. Fatima Nicetas Rabang-Alonzo, PhD, of University of Northern Philippines College of Architecture. From the National Museum of the Philippines - Ilocos, Ms. Maria Lourdes I. Ingel, Administrative Officer V, spoke of local perspectives on the World Heritage Status of Vigan and related challenges in a lecture entitled, "Heritage as a Development Tool." To give some tools for restoration, “The 7Ms of Documentation in Timber Built Heritage Conservation” was presented by Dr. Cheek S. Fadriquela, President, ICOMOS Philippines. To speak more particularly about possible disaster scenarios in Vigan, a Disaster Risk Management for Cultural Heritage plan was given by Ar. Kenneth J. Tua, Vice President of ICOMOS Philippines and Country Project Director of the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF).

For the realities of documentation in the digital age, Dr. Linda Shetabi, Director of the MSc Conservation Programme of The University of Hong Kong spoke of the availability of heritage data and how it reflects the socioeconomic realities of urban development and the values of communities in regard to their own heritage. Ms. Chelsea Michelle Ho of The University of Hong Kong presented a case study on conservation practices and the intersection of identity and place in rural Hong Kong in her lecture, “A Case Study of Yung Shue Au Village.”

Overall, the knowledge sharing session enriched individuals and the larger community through discussion of issues surrounding conservation, heritage policy, community organization and mutual cooperation. The knowledge-sharing session ensured that the participants had a safe forum to vocalize all perspectives, creating a space for inclusivity and learning.

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

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The UNESCO HEF Capacity Building Training Program: Learning by Doing On-Site composite and technician modules supplemented the previous day’s lecture series (March 11, 2024) with actual onsite practical activities. Two maestros, one stone mason and one carpenter, gave talks on their own trades, which are informed by traditional Filipino construction techniques. Most of the historic core of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic City of Vigan has homes that are of this type. So, to properly restore post-earthquake Vigan, it is imperative that these topics be discussed and demonstrated.

Maestro Elvin Alexon Ferrer lectured on traditional joinery carpentry, with various examples of structures where timber is used as structural and architectural elements. He shared how certain species of wood offer flexibility in earthquake situations and how joinery allows for that movement. He gave examples of wood in various types of forms and configurations that are used in traditional structures. Maestra Shiela Soliveres lectured on the process of making lime mortar. Many of the contractors and tradespeople are familiar with modern construction and modern materials, but not necessarily lime as a binder. When they started to handle the lime, Maestra Shiela said they truly grasped the idea that lime had noticeable physical differences, especially when tasked to throw lime on a wall. Another activity included the preparation of brick dust and charcoal.

Having the material in hand and manipulating it to serve as components in a structure gave the participants more knowledge of traditional construction. As a consequence, hopefully more workshops in the future can be conducted at the Vigan Conservation Complex to hone the skills of the trades for the restoration of Vigan.

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

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As part of the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, two capacity building training programs were programmed to bring awareness to topics relating to Vigan, both as a World Heritage Site and as a post-disaster site. To help capacitate the stakeholders of Vigan, a day-long lecture series was organized by partner institution Ustgs-Cccpet with Vigan City PH. The first program, “Capacity Building Training Program: World Heritage Site Module Manager,” was held at the Vigan Conservation Complex.

To start the program, Ar. Christian Nico Pilotin, on behalf of Hon. Jose “Bonito” C. Singson Jr., Mayor of Vigan City, Ms. Moe Chiba, Head of Culture Unit of UNESCO Jakarta, and Dr. Cheek S. Fadriquela, Chairman and President of ICOMOS Philippines, warmly welcomed the participants and thanked all partners that partnered and contributed in-kind to the recovery efforts at the World Heritage Site Historic City of Vigan.

Dr. Eric B. Zerrudo of USTGS-CCCPET opened with a talk on the Vigan: its significance, challenges and successes, entitled ”Defining Vigan and Contemporary Approaches to Heritage Conservation.” To help understand the representative houses chosen as pilot cases, conservation architect Ar. Michael F. Manalo, M.Arch., spoke of the evolution of the Syquia Mansion and Cabildo (Old) House in the context of Vigan ancestral home types. Engr. Rodolfo P. Mendoza, Jr., D.Eng., shared common structural problems in unreinforced masonry structures and analytical models of strengthening and proper reinforcement. Ar. Kenneth J. Tua, PhD Cand., presented a Disaster Risk Management for Cultural Heritage Plan which included vulnerability assessments and ways forward in a post-disaster situation. And to conclude the lecture series, Dean Ar. / EnP. Fatima Nicetas Rabang- Alonzo, PhD, of the University of Northern Philippines spoke of how Vigan has evolved in her lecture, “The Evolution of Conservation Works and Practices in the World Heritage City of Vigan.”

The range of topics captured the attention of homeowners, contractors, tradespeople, technicians and other concerned groups. This deep dive offered the necessary foundations, context for the post-earthquake situation, and dissemination of critical information. This marked the opening of the activities in March, to augment the skills and tools needed to continue the recovery of Vigan.

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

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𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 (𝗜𝗗𝗠𝗦) 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 “𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿.”

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has always advocated for capacity building for “disaster and conflict resilient heritage” for its members and the wider heritage community. And with this theme of disaster and conflict resilience, ICOMOS celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Venice Charter (31 May 2024), we look back on our shared inheritance from this very charter, and ahead as we ask ourselves what the pragmatic needs of heritage practice are today. As the Venice Charter states: “The intention in conserving and restoring monuments is to safeguard them no less as works of art than as historical evidence” (Article 3) while maintaining them on a “permanent basis” (Article 4).

The International Day for Monuments and Sites, celebrated each year on 18 April, provides us with a unique opportunity to raise awareness of this foundational instrument, which is at the core of ICOMOS’ history and identity.

Here in the Philippines, ICOMOS Philippines has been integral to upholding this instrument in all its activities, especially those that involve post-disaster activities. In the Philippines, one of our World Heritage Sites, the Historic City of Vigan, succumbed to loss and damage due to earthquakes in 2022. Now, UNESCO, ICOMOS Philippines, the LGU of Vigan, the homeowners, and other stakeholders in Vigan are cooperating in the restoration efforts of many sites that make up this unique place that contains a blend of Filipino, Western, and Eastern-influenced architecture.

Please see ICOMOS invitation for . Read here ➡️ https://bitly.ws/3ibmE

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

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Is the Venice Charter still relevant today in the preservation and conservation of our built heritage?

Created in 1964, the Venice Charter is a set of guidelines that provide an international framework for the conservation and restoration of heritage structures. With changes in preservation and conservation techniques over the years, IDMS 2024 takes itself back to the beginning in the continuing relevance of the Venice Charter today with the theme, "Disasters and Conflicts through the Lense of the Venice Charter".

As we celebrate the International Day for Monuments and Sites 2024, your National Museum of the Philippines - Cebu invites you to join us in a lecture entitled "Tinukod nga Kabilin: Looking at Cebu's Built Heritage through the Venice Charter" this April 18, 9 am to 5 pm, Thursday, at the 3/F Tower Hall of the NMP-Cebu. The morning lecture will be followed by a road tour in the afternoon at Cebu City's downtown area to see the actual condition of our heritage structures.

To join, please register to this google link form: https://forms.gle/eU5T1otEm4k9D8ts6

International Council on Monuments and Sites - ICOMOS Philippines participated in the 5th meeting of the NEDA Philippines SDGs Stakeholders' Chamber last Wednesday, April 3, 2024, to engage with other civil society organizations that look at the implementation of the SDGs at the local level.

It is great to know that the sectors of culture and heritage conservation are not alone in this endeavor of identifying the critical pathways wherein sustainable development can be integrated into the work of organizations, the private sector, and the government, and it requires a lot of planning and synergies too.

ICOMOS Philippines is now part of the Stakeholders' Chamber's Environmental and Social Working Groups, which will highlight the important role of heritage in the bigger work of environmental sustainability (of rural and urban areas) and the promotion of inclusive social development of sites.

More updates will come soon as the chamber prepare for the Summit for the Future in September 2024.

2023 has been a fruitful year for ICOMOS Philippines. We are thankful to everyone who has worked with us in our events, projects, and advocacy. We look forward to a successful and meaningful 2024. Happy New Year!

Greetings of peace! Wishing everyone Happy Holidays!
- ICOMOS Philippines

UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund for the Historic City of Vigan in the Philippines UNESCO Jakarta and ICOMOS Philippines launched a 12-month project to enhance the protection of the Historic City of Vigan, a World Heritage Site since 1999.