With Republic Act No. 10066 - National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 in place, all structures 50 years or older, structures with historical markers, and all structures designed by National Artists (regardless of age) are now presumed to be declared and cannot be demolished or altered without the permission of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). So those contained in the list below are among those already protected by law.
Representatives of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), ICOMOS Philippines, NCCA, National Museum, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and Department of Tourism (DOT) met in February 2011 to discuss among many others, which sites should be formally declared. We thus came up with an unofficial tentative list similar to UNESCO's tentative list. Most of the sites are actually clusters or serial listings which have specified or several representative structures under each listing.
Structures that are already declared are not in this list. This list will continue to grow as more suggestions come in. Please feel free to comment.
Note: Historic Town Center refers to the Town Plaza, Municipio and Church Complex. Historic Town means that the many of the houses are still intact. You can also suggest Historic Town Plazas when only the plaza is intact
NATIONWIDE
Provincial Capitols of the Philippines
Railroad Stations of Luzon Island
Historic Aglipayan Churches of the Philippines
Historic Mosques of the Philippines
Gabaldon Schools of the Philippines
Spanish Lighthouses of the Philippines
Watchtowers of the Philippines
Fortifications and Military Heritage of the Philippines
REGION I
Ilocos Norte
Historic Town Center of Laoag (Ilocos Norte Capitol, Museo Ilocos Norte, Laoag City Hall, Tobacco Monopoly Monument, Laoag Cathedral and Bell Tower, Laoag Central Elementary School, Laoag Town Plaza, etc.)
Historic Town Center of San Nicolas (San Nicolas Church, San Nicolas Municipal Hall, San Nicolas Town Plaza etc.)
Baroque Churches of Ilocos Norte (Badoc and Piddig)
Ilocos Sur
Historic Town Center of Candon
Baroque Churches of Ilocos Sur (Santa Lucia, San Vicente, Bantay, Sinait and Tagudin)
La Union
Baroque Churches of La Union
Pangasinan
Historic Town of Alaminos
Historic Town of Lingayen
Baroque Churches of Pangasinan
REGION II
Batanes
Baroque Churches of Batanes (Ivana, Sabtang, Itbayat, Basco, Uyugan)
Historic Villages of Sabtang Island (Savidug, Chavayan, Sumnanga, Malakdang, Nakanmuan, Sinakan)
Historic Villages of Itbayat Island
Historic Villages of Batan Island (Kayvaluganan, Itbud, Kayuganan)
Idiangs of Batanes
Historic Town Center of Basco
Representative Ivatan Houses (declared as Heritage Houses)
Historic Burial Grounds of Batanes
Cagayan
Baroque Churches of Cagayan (Tuguegarao, Alcala, Lal-lo, Pamplona)
Brick Kilns of Cagayan
Heritage Properties of the Calayan Islands
Isabela
Baroque Churches of Isabela (San Pablo, Gamu, Alicia, Cauayan, Ilagan)
Nueva Vizcaya
Bambang Church
CAR
Abra
Baroque Churches of Abra
Historic Fortifications of Bucay
Cemetery Chapel of Bangued
Gabriela Silang House
Apayao
Historic Church Ruins of Pudtol
Kalinga
Rice Terraces of Kalinga
Representative Kalinga Houses (declared as Heritage Houses)
Ifugao
Representative Ifugao Houses (declared as Heritage Houses)
Heritage Villages of Ifugao
American Colonial Buildings of Kiangan
Mountain Province
Rice Terraces of Mountain Province
Sagada Protestant Church
Representative Bontoc Houses (declared as Heritage Houses)
Benguet / Baguio
Camp John Hay
Teachers Camp
Historic Town Center of Baguio and Burnham Park
Dominican Hill
Representative Ibaloi and Kankana-ey Houses (declared as Heritage Houses)
REGION III
Bataan
Baroque Churches of Bataan (Orion, Pilar, Samal)
Bulacan
Historic Center of San Miguel
Heritage Houses of Bustos
Nueva Ecija
Central Luzon State University
Pampanga
Baroque Churches of Pampanga (Bacolor, San Luis, Candaba, Arayat, San Fernando, Santa Rita, Guagua, Angeles)
Historic Town of San Fernando
Sugar Centrals of Pampanga (PASUDECO, PASUMIL)
Heritage Houses of Santa Rita
Zambales
Baroque Churches of Zambales (Sta. Cruz, Iba, Botolan)
NCR
Historic District of Santa Ana
Historic District of San Nicolas
Historic Quarter of Escolta
Malacanang Properties and Related San Miguel Sites (Malacanang, Goldenberg, Arlegui, Teus, San Miguel Church, etc)
Historic Quarter of Hidalgo Street, Quiapo
Fire Stations of Manila
Far Eastern University
UST Gym (expansion of UST declarations)
Neoclassical Buildings of Ermita (Finance, Tourism, Old Legislative Building, City Hall of Manila, Post Office Building)
Art Deco Buildings of Manila
Rizal Memorial Coliseum
Historic District of South Harbor
Cultural Center of the Philippine Complex
Protestant Churches of Manila (Ellinwood Malate, United Methodist, Knox, Cosmopolitan, etc.)
Baroque Churches of Manila
Iglesia ni Cristo Properties and Representative Houses of Worship (Punta Chapel in Santa Ana, INC Cubao, INC Temple and Central Offices in Quezon City, etc.)
University of the Philippines, Manila including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
University of the Philippines, Diliman
Historic Colleges and Universities of Manila (SSC, STC, PNU, PWU, PCU, Sta. Isabel, DLSU, Adamson)
International Style Buildings of Manila
Historic Town of Malabon
Heritage Houses of New Manila
Heritage Houses of San Juan
Historic Bridges of the Pasig River
Nielson Tower
Works of Juan Nakpil
Works of Leandro Locsin
Works of Pablo Antonio
Works of Antonio Toledo
Works of Juan and Arcadio Arellano
Works of Tomas Mapua
Works of Fernando Ocampo
Works of José Marìa Zaragoza
Works of Federico Ilustre
Works of Andres Luna de San Pedro
Works of Cesar Concio
Spanish Colonial Buildings of Metro Manila
Historic Churches of Paranaque and Las Pinas (Paranaque, Las Pinas, San Dionisio, La Huerta, Redemptorist)
Historic Cemetery Complex of Manila (La Loma, Norte, Chinese)
REGION IV-A and B
Historic Town of San Juan, Batangas
Historic Town of Sariaya, Quezon
Historic Town of Mulanay, Quezon
Historic Town of Calaca, Batangas
Historic Town of Balayan, Batangas
Historic Town of Pagsanjan, Laguna
Baroque Churches of Cavite
Baroque Churches of Laguna
Baroque Churches of Batangas
Baroque Churches of Rizal
Baroque Churches of Quezon
Banton Island Properties and Related Sites
Historic Town of Romblon, Romblon
Historic Town of Boac, Marinduque
Iwahig Penal Colony
REGION V
Historic Town Center of Guinobatan, Albay
Baroque Churches of the Bicol Region
REGIONS VI, VII and VIII (VISAYAS)
Historic Business District of Calle Real, Iloilo City
San Joaquin Cemetery
Sugar Centrals of Negros
Sugar Mansions of Panay and Negros
Historic Town of Carcar
Historic Town Center of Argao
Historic Town Center of Bantayan
Historic Town Center of Cebu City
Baroque Churches of Panay Island
Baroque Churches of Negros Island
Baroque Churches of Cebu Province
Baroque Churches of Bohol Province
Baroque Churches of Leyte and Samar Islands
REGIONS IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, ARMM (MINDANAO)
Historic Town of Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
Historic Town of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental
Representative Houses of the Maranao (Lawig, Malai-a-walai, Torogan)
is there any declared or undeclared heritage structures or sites in lahar covered bacolor that should be dug up and preserve?
ReplyDeleteThat would be close to impossible to do. The lahar should have destroyed most of the wooden ancestral homes. Bacolor itself could have been declared a national historical landmark. But we can't do anything about that now. So our goal then should be to preserve what is left in other towns of Pampanga.
ReplyDeleteIvan, I just wonder why Sta Monica Church, in Minalin was not considered as an Heritage Structures while it received financial support from NCCA around 3-4 years ago. All papers were sent to NHI for approval. Ambeth Ocampo is aware about this. We are also waiting for another financial approval from NCCA to continue the project of restoration.
ReplyDeleteI would like also to propose the home of my grandfather "Bale Maragul" in Paroba, San Francisco, can I do it personally?
Hi there! The Minalin Church is a heritage structure, no doubt about that. However, it hasn't been declared. That's what we should endeavor to do. I remember that the NCCA did restore some centuries-old murals in the convento.
ReplyDeleteYes, you can personally write Ambeth Ocampo about it. You could do the same for the church.
That's one question we have to address. Are structures with NHI markers protected? One example as I mentioned was the Abad Santos House. It had an NHI marker outside for Jose Abad Santos but when the owners clarified if they needed permission to demolish it, the NHI said it wasn't declared so it's gone now. Apparently a marker is not a guarantee that it is declared. Imagine?
ReplyDeleteHi Ivan, My name is Melanie Casul. I am currently finishing my Masters Thesis on Old Cinema Houses and I am using Bellevue Theater (1932) in Paco as my case study. I have taken extensive photos of both interior and exterior of the cinema including an image map of the immediate vicinity of Pedro Gil. I even have interviews of the previous owners and current managers of the place. I would love to contribute my paper and cd-rom to you guys when I finish and maybe we can help get an NHI marker up for Bellevue.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! Our office is in the Museo Pambata Compound, Roxas Boulevard cor. South Drive, Ermita, Manila. Or e-mail hcs_secretariat@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThe church complex in Hilongos. Leyte is also not in the list...it has a marker from the Historical Commission. I'm inviting you to visit the place and see how we can help...I'm from that place and my late father is instrumental for having the commission visit the place about 15 years ago and making it as a heritage structure in Leyte. I'm now residing in Cebu City and just visited the place last Holy Week. As an architect I want to help for the conservation of the "cota" (as they caalled the fort complex) in whatever way. How do I start?
ReplyDeleteHi Jun, an NHI marker does not mean automatic declaration. Hilongos would be a marked site then.
ReplyDeletehello ivan, i don't know if you would still read and reply to this, because only now i have this question in mind and your post is 3 or 4 yrs old already. anyway, i read on your blog about those CULTURAL PROPERTIES and such examples are buildings, documents, paintings, jewelries, etc. My question: if a building or old spanish house or jewelry is a legitimate property of an individual, would then the government or any institute have the right or authority to sequester or confiscate such property? would the government or any historical institute have the sole authority to dictate on the fate of such property? if this is the case, this would surely violate the right of ownership. i really like to be enlightened. thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhen a historical structure is declared, the government does not sequester the property. Let's be clear about that. That's a common misconception. In fact, it adds prestige to a house and its owner when it becomes part of national heritage.
ReplyDeleteDeclaration simply puts restrictions on demolition and alteration. It's not a violation because protecting the national patrimony comes before the right of personal ownership.
There are several historical houses in Sta. Ana Manila. Is there no NGO or PO involved in the declaration of their district as a historical site? One of the sad stories is the ongoing and nearly finished demolition of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Dormitory that they say is giving way to SM Hypermart.
ReplyDeleteYes, the HCS is aware of that and is trying to talk to SM about it. We're trying to organize a walking tour for top management so that they could appreciate the heritage of the area.
ReplyDeletehi ivan. can the supposed location of where andres bonifacio and his brother procopio were arrested in brgy limbon, indang, cavite be considered as a possible historical landmark? there is already a memorial on the location. together with the maragondon trial house, this makes up a bigger picture of one of the darker sides of the philippine revolution.
ReplyDeletealso in the Polo area of valenzuela [Polo is Valenzuela's spanish pueblo] are several 30's and 40's houses that were even used by movie artists as sets for their films that are now "sunken". since Polo is a low lying area, threat of flood is always at hand, and the first solution of the government is to raise roads, thus the heritage houses left submerged that led to its deterioration. now, most of the ground floor of the houses, including Dr. Pio Valenzuela's [one of katipunan's head and a Polo town mayor that became the namesake of the whole city at present] is now submerged in stagnant water whole year round. I'd really love to contribute to the preservation of the old town since Valenzuela has already lost most of its identity in just 5 decades. but what solutions can be done about this problem? will it be permissible to uproot the structures, raise the soil level and rebuild it again? Valenzuela is now heading to its 400th foundation year in 2023, but it seems that people just know that valenzuela was just founded 50 years ago because the tangible evidences, including the church ruins are left to deterioration. what can be done about these??
ReplyDeletebtw, the church ruins also lay on a low-leveled soil. this is the URL to my flickr set on Polo Church : http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurencebukas/sets/72157619184042388/
and a set for some of Polo's heritage structures : http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurencebukas/sets/72157612931391852/
Hi sir,
ReplyDeleteI can't post a comment in you Index of Declared Structures & Sites page. Anyway:
1. In the National Historical Landmarks area, the Tayabas Provincial Capitol is placed in Tayabas, Quezon. Pls verify this because the Capitol building is in Lucena City (it is Tayabas Provincial Capitol because Tayabas was the former name of the province before Quezon).
2. In your list of undeclared heritage site, I think we should include the Malagonlong Bridge of Tayabas, Quezon. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, bridges in the province. It has a NHI marker.
Hi Ivan,
ReplyDeleteI also can't comment on the Declared Structures and Sites page. Kindly please add Cagayan de Oro City's heritage sites )http://baktincorporation.blogspot.com/2011/04/cagayan-de-oros-heritage-sites.html) too:
1. Battle of Makahambus Hill
2. Battle of Cagayan de Misamis
3. Battle of Agusan Hill
4. Macabalan Wharf and
5. Casa Del Chino Ygua.
Thanks!
The list is solely for sites declared by national government agencies. I will expand the list only when the IRR guidelines for local declarations are finalized.
ReplyDeleteHi Ivan, our old church in Agutaya, Palawan was built sometime in 1748 by our forefathers thru the supervision of the spaniards. However, due to many years of neglect, the church was not already in its original form. Sometimes in 2004-2007, the church have undergone repair thru the initiative of a private donor. Today, as i was told, the church is already near the shoreline due to the constant effects of the big waves in the area near the church. In other words, there is rapid erosion in the area. now, how can we register our old church to your directory? Is our church qualified to be included in this list? Please let me know. Actually we are in urgent need for funds for the construction of sea wall to protect the church. Thanks .
ReplyDeletePlease e-mail photos to info@ivanhenares.com. Let's see what we can do
ReplyDeleteHello. I'm a student from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Some of my profs are actually heritage conservationists and are connected with NCAA. Maybe you could inquire to our department or directly to NCAA.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I've been to Agutaya Church some time in 2004. And yes, it's been deteriorating since then. The townsfolk are relying on private assistance, and the plan has gone a lot of changes. Raising this concern would be of great help.
Hello sir.
ReplyDeleteI'm a student currently taking up my architectural thesis in Pampanga. My study concerns the redevelopment of train stations in Bulacan. Are they protected by the NHI or NCAA? I have not seen any markers in the building nor plans for its future developments. It is historical and yet completely neglected.
I'm working on the train station in Balagtas, Bulacan.
Thank you.