Several
National Cultural Treasures and
Important Cultural Properties were declared by the National Museum in May, August and November this year. The
Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) has been updated.
The National Museum announces that the following cultural properties have been declared in the course of 2015 as National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties:
Those declared as
National Cultural Treasures are:
1. The
Alcaiceria de San Fernando Marker of 1762, in the collection of the National Museum, Manila
2.
“Maradika”, the Qur’an of Bayang (Lanao del Sur), in the collection of the National Museum, Manila
3. The
International Rice Research Institute Series by National Artist Vicente Manansala (two paintings), on loan to the National Museum, Manila
4.
Paco Park (Cementerio Municipal de Manila y Capilla de San Pancracio) in Paco, Manila
5.
The Watchtowers of Ilocos Sur, comprising: the
Watchtower of Santiago in Barangay Sabangan; the
Watchtower of San Esteban in Barangay Bateria; the
Watchtower of Narvacan in Barangay Sulvec; and the
Watchtower-Belfry of the Church of San Agustin in Bantay
6. The
Watchtowers of Ilocos Norte, comprising: the
Watchtower of Badoc in Barangay Lingasy; the
North Watchtower of Currimao in Barangay Poblacion Uno; the
South Watchtower of Currimao in Barangay Torre; the
Watchtower-Belfry of the Church (now Cathedral) of San Guillermo Ermitaño in Laoag, the
Watchtower of Bacarra in Barangay Natba; and the
Watchtower of Pasuquin in Barangay Puyupuyan;
7. The
Dampol Bridge in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, as an integral part of the
Church Complex of San Vicente Ferrer, declared as a
National Cultural Treasure in 2003, and which henceforth are to be known collectively as the
San Vicente Ferrer Church Complex and Dampol Bridge of Dupax del Sur (Nueva Vizcaya)
8. The
Minor Basilica and Church Complex of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario in Manaoag, Pangasinan, including the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and movable and intangible properties intrinsic to the cultural significance of the property
9. The
Sacred Art of the Parish Church of Santiago Apostól in Paete, Laguna (four paintings in situ).
10. The
Ruins of Cagsawa Church in Daraga, Albay
11. The
Roman Catholic Cemetery (Camposanto) of San Joaquin, Iloilo, as an integral part of the
Church Complex of San Joaquin, declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2003, and which henceforth are to be known collectively as the
San Joaquin Church Complex and Camposanto of San Joaquin (Iloilo).
Those declared as
Important Cultural Properties are:
1. The
Building of the Philippine Center for Population and Development by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin in Taguig City
2. The
Church Complex of San Bartolome in Malabon City
3. The
Cariño House in Candon City, Ilocos Sur
4. The
Church Complex of San Nicolas de Tolentino, including the
convento (Santa Rosa Academy) and the road-side
via crucis structures, in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
5. The
Building of the San Nicolas Central School, in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
6. The
Municipal Hall of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
7. The
Valdez-Lardizabal House in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
8. The
Nagrebcan Archaeological Site in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
9. The
Callao Cave Complex, Peñablanca, Cagayan
10. The
Santa Maria Bridge in Sitio Tanibong, Aritao-Quirino Road, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya
11. The
Colegio del Santisimo Rosario (Diplomat Hotel) Ruins, Dominican Hill, Baguio City
12. The
Laperal House, Baguio City
13.
Peredo’s Lodging House, Baguio City
14. The
Church Complex of Santo Rosario, Angeles City, Pampanga
15. The
Angel Pantaleon de Miranda House in Angeles City, Pampanga
16. The
Patricia Mercado - Gomes Masnou House in Angeles City, Pampanga
17. The
Juan Nepomuceno Camalig in Angeles City, Pampanga
18. The
Jose Pedro Henson y Leon Santos Deposito in Angeles City, Pampanga
19. The
Ciriaco de Miranda House in Angeles City, Pampanga
20. The
Mariano Lacson House in Angeles City, Pampanga
21. The
Rafael Yutuc, Sr. House in Angeles City, Pampanga
22. The
Municipal Hall of Guagua, Pampanga
23. The
Church Complex of Inmaculada Concepcion in Guagua, Pampanga
24. The
Church Complex of San Bartolome in Magalang, Pampanga
25. The
Municipal Hall of Magalang, Pampanga
26. The
Municipal Hall of Lubao, Pampanga
27. The
Old Municipal Hall (Baliuag Museum and Library) of Baliuag, Bulacan
28. The
Barit Bridge in Barangay Santiago, Iriga City, Camarines Sur
29. The
Avanceña House (Camiña Balay na Bato) in Arevalo, Iloilo City
30. The
Lizares-Gamboa Mansion (Angelicum School) in Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City
31. The
Sornito House in Santa Barbara, Iloilo
32. The
Chapel of Saint Joseph the Worker in Victorias, Negros Occidental
The
Apu Santo Cristo image of Lubao, Pampanga was declared a
Cultural Property (Category III). Last year, the
Sta. Catalina de Alejandra Parish Church in Arayat, Pampanga was also declared a
Cultural Property (Category III).
Last December 2014, the
Parish Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva in Miagao, Iloilo and the
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church Complex, both
World Heritage Sites, and the
Fortifications of Manila at Intramuros and Fort San Antonio Abad, were declared
National Cultural Treasures.
Also this year, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the
Apolinario Mabini Monument at the National Library and the
Quezon Monument at the Quezon Memorial Shrine in Quezon City as
National Monuments.
An
Important Cultural Property is a cultural property that possesses “exceptional cultural, artistic and/or historical significance,” whereas the highest designation of
National Cultural Treasure pertains to “a unique cultural property found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation.”
The National Museum is mandated to declare cultural properties of the Philippines as either
Important Cultural Properties or
National Cultural Treasures, pursuant to several laws, including Republic Act No. 4846 (“The Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act”) as amended by Presidential Decree No. 374, Presidential Decree No. 260, Republic Act No. 8492 (“The National Museum Act of 1998”) and, most recently, Republic Act No. 10066 (“The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”).
These declarations were made as a result of the National Museum’s own research, recommendations from other government agencies or, in the majority of cases in 2015, petitions made by property owners or concerned parties. Nominated properties were, when necessary, evaluated by dedicated panels of external experts convened for the purpose and approved subject to the confirmation of the Director of the National Museum.
The purpose of declaring selected Philippine cultural properties as
Important Cultural Properties and
National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum is to, first and foremost, highlight their significance to the entire world that they are officially recognized as an intrinsic part of the patrimony of the Filipino people and are central to the legacy that the present generation should take special care to steward for the generations to come. They are an acknowledgment of the best of what we have inherited, in order that we may care for it, enrich it further, and pass it on in turn.
In practical terms, these declarations under the law serve to facilitate, through such agencies as the National Museum, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and others, measures for the protection, preservation and promotion by the national government of these exceptional and outstanding cultural properties, which may be either movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible, in partnership with concerned public, private and civil society stakeholders as well as the local governments and communities.
Pending cultural properties for consideration for declaration as
Important Cultural Properties or
National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum in 2016 include:
• Quezon Bridge, Manila
• Ayala Bridge, Manila
• The Post Office Building, Manila
• The Customs House, Port of Manila, South Harbor, Manila
• The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila
• The Intendencia Building, Intramuros, Manila
• The Hospicio de San Jose Complex, Isla de Convalescencia, Ermita, Manila
• The Church Complex of San Miguel Arcangel, San Miguel, Manila
• The Church Complex of Santo Niño de Tondo, Tondo, Manila
• The Church Complex of Nuestra Señora de Remedios, Malate, Manila
• Fort San Antonio Abad, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Manila
• Manila City Jail (Cárcel de Bilibid), Manila
• The Tutuban Railway Terminus Building, Manila
• The Paco Railway Station, Manila
• Heritage Railway Stations, Bridges and Tunnels of the Philippines (Luzon, Cebu, Panay)
• The Church Complex of San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City
• The Quezon Institute, Quezon City
• The Balara Filtration Plant Complex, Quezon City
• The Church Complex of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Makati City
• The Church Complex of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Makati City
• The Old Municipal Hall (Museo ng Makati) of Makati City
• The Old Concepcion Mansion (Pasig City Museum), Pasig City
• The Old Rizal Provincial Capitol Ruins, Barangay Santa Rosa, Pasig City
• The Church Complex of San Felipe Neri, Mandaluyong City
• The Church Complex of Sta. Ana, Taguig City
• The National Penitentiary (New Bilibid Prisons), Muntinlupa City
• The Pindangan Church Ruins, San Fernando City, La Union
• The Tabacalera Ruins, Currimao, Ilocos Norte
• The San Fernando Metropolitan Cathedral, San Fernando, Pampanga
• The Church Complex of San Pedro Apostol, Apalit, Pampanga
• The Church Complex of San Luis Gonzaga, San Luis, Pampanga
• The Chapel of San Vicente Ferrer in Barangay Pio, Porac, Pampanga
• The Remaining Structures and Sites of Fort San Felipe and Cavite el Puerto, Cavite City
• The Ruins of Corregidor Island, Cavite City, Cavite
• The Cuartel de Santo Domingo Ruins, Santa Rosa, Laguna
• Sabang Bridge, Ibaan-Batangas Road, Ibaan, Batangas
• The Fort of San Diego de Alcala, Gumaca, Quezon
• The Church-Fortress (now Cathedral) of Boac, Marinduque
• Heritage Houses in Boac, Marinduque
• The Church-Fortress of Cuyo, Palawan
• The Ruins of the Fortress of Cagayancillo, Palawan
• The Ruins of the Fortress of Taytay, Palawan
• The Ruins of the Fortress of Linapacan, Palawan
• The Site of Fort Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Fort San Pedro), Iloilo City
• The Customs House, Port of Iloilo, Iloilo City
• The Old City Hall (University of the Philippines - Visayas Main Building), Iloilo City
• Fort San Pedro, Cebu City
• The Customs House (Malacañang sa Sugbu), Port of Cebu, Cebu City
• The Provincial Capitol of Cebu, Cebu City
• Heritage Lighthouses of the Philippines (35 structures under consideration at present)
