Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania, Australia

Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania is one of the Australian Convict Sites, a World Heritage property. This former convict settlement is Tasmania's top tourist attraction.

The Australian Convict Sites are eleven convict colonies that represent the thousands of penal settlements established in Australia between 1787 to 1868. This eighty year period saw the transportation of over 166,000 men, women and children, condemned by the British justice system to Australia. Five of the sites are in Tasmania, namely Brickendon and Woolmers Estates, Darlington Probation Station, Cascades Female Factory, Coal Mines Historic Site, and the Port Arthur Historic Site which I got to visit.

Visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in North Korea!

Believe it or not, despite many visits to South Korea, I've never been to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). I thus found it exciting that my first visit to the DMZ would be on the North Korean side!

We left Pyongyang quite early for the roughly two-hour trip south to the border in what used to be the village of Panmunjom. Today, it's where the Joint Security Area (JSA) is located. The JSA is the place where you can technically cross the border without getting into trouble. And that's where all tours will take you.

Exploring Pyongyang, North Korea

To those who are surprised that I got to visit North Korea, the DPRK is not as isolated as one may think. There are regular tours that leave from Beijing, China allowing you various options to get there. I took a 24-hour train ride (that was delayed for about two hours) from Beijing to Pyongyang. We arrived at the Pyongyang Train Station early in the evening and went straight to our hotel. So the real exploring started the next day.

North Korea: Train ride from Beijing to Pyongyang via Dandong

Few people realize that North Korea or the DPRK, as they prefer to be called, is not as isolated as we perceive it to be. There are regular tours that leave from Beijing which almost anyone can join. It was an exciting prospect that I've been wanting to do for several years now. This year was it!

Register now for Heritage Conservation Summit 2014: Revitalizing Old Downtowns

The Heritage Conservation Society, City Government of Iloilo City, and Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC) bring you the Heritage Conservation Summit 2014: Revitalizing Old Downtowns from October 24-26, 2014 in Iloilo City.

The Summit, which is being organized for the third time, has adopted the theme “Revitalizing Old Downtowns.” It is aimed at bringing together a wide spectrum of participants representing national government, local government units, local historical and heritage societies, academe, heritage conservation practitioners and allied professionals, architects, planners & real estate developers, the tourism industry, and the media. Its primary objective is to discuss and exchange knowledge on revitalizing old downtown areas and best practices in heritage conservation in historic old quarters and districts in the Philippines, its recent developments and the challenges and opportunities faced in the conservation of heritage. The presentations will include successful experiences of local government units and community conservation groups in revitalizing their historic downtown areas.

October 24, 2014
9am – Heritage Tour of Iloilo Province (Optional/Booking Required)
1-5pm – Adaptive Reuse Workshop for Iloilo Heritage Building Owners (Tentative)
6pm – Welcome Dinner (By Invitation)

October 25, 2014
Heritage Conservation Summit 2014
8:30am – Registration
9:00am – Welcome Remarks - Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Chairperson, Heritage Conservation Society
9:10am – Opening Address - Ivan Anthony S. Henares, President, Heritage Conservation Society
9:20am – Keynote Address - Hon. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, City Mayor, Iloilo City
9:30am – FAQs on RA No. 10066 - Atty. Karen Lucille M. Isberto, Head, NCCA National Committee on Monuments and Sites
10:00am – Coffee Break
10:15am – Case Study: Escolta, Manila (Revitalization of Historic Business District) – Mr. Arturo Dy, President, Escolta Commercial Association Inc. (ECAI)
10:45am – Case Study: Calle Real, Iloilo City (Revitalization of Historic Business District) - Dr. Kristin G. Treñas, President, Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC)
11:15am – Case Study: Cebu City (Revitalization of Historic Downtown) – Dr. Jocelyn B. Gerra, Executive Director, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI)
11:45am – Open Forum
12:00pm – Lunch Break
1:00pm – Case Study: Taal, Batangas (Revitalization of Historic Town) - Mr. Ernesto Villavicencio, President, Taal Active Alliance Legion
1:30pm – Case Study: Angeles City, Pampanga (Removal of Street Wires in Historic Center) – Dr. Richard Daenos, City Tourism Officer, Angeles City & Ms. Joy Cruz, Angeles City Heritage District Working Committee
2:00pm – Creating Style Guides for Heritage Districts - Dr. Fernando Zialcita, Cultural Heritage Studies Program, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University
2:30pm – Open Forum
2:45pm – Coffee Break
3:00pm – Round Table Discussion on Revitalizing Old Downtowns
Moderator – Archt. Manolo LC. Noche, HCS Trustee
Panel – Dr. Felipe de Leon, Jr., Chairperson, National Commission for Culture & the Arts
Dr. Maria Sereno I. Diokno, Chairperson, National Historical Commission (NHCP)
Mr. Jeremy R. Barns, Director, National Museum
Hon. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, City Mayor, Iloilo City
Mr. Ivan Anthony Henares, HCS President
Archt. Paulo Alcazaren, HCS Trustee
Mr. Angel P. Bautista, Acting Assistant Director, National Museum
Archt. Wilkie B. Delumen, Chief, Historic Preservation Division, NHCP
Dr. Kristin G. Treñas, President, ICCHCC
Dr. Jocelyn B. Guerra, Executive Director, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.
Archt. Joy Martinez-Onozawa
4:15pm – Mapping Iloilo: Geotagging and Promoting Pride of Place in the Digital Age - Mr. Bernardo Arellano III
4:30pm – 360 Immersive Imaging in Heritage Documentation – Mr. Fung Yu
4:45pm – Closing Message

October 26, 2014
9am – Heritage Tour of Iloilo City (Optional/Booking Required)

On-site registration is Php 2,000 inclusive of conference kits and meals.

Pre-register by Wednesday, September 26, 2014, to avail of discounted rates:
Php 1,700 for professionals and government
Php 1,500 for HCS members in good standing, masteral students with ID, or group discount (minimum of 8)
Php 500 for undergraduate students with ID

Please issue check payments to "Heritage Conservation Society." Cash or check payments could be deposited to BPI C/A No. 8105-8153-61. Remember to e-mail your deposit slip to info@heritage.org.ph and keep the original deposit slip which you have to submit on the day of the summit.

Again, take advantage of discounted rates by paying on or before September 26, 2014. See you in Iloilo City!

Here is the updated program: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dwfkek2f9rut06p/Heritage%20Conservation%20Summit%202014%20Invitation.pdf?dl=0