State of heritage conservation in the Philippines

For almost a century, the conservation of structures in the Philippines has been a quiet yet steadfast practice. Although only a handful of buildings were formally recognized as heritage during the Spanish and American Colonial Periods, the drive to preserve our architectural legacy - particularly civic and church structures - has been an enduring part of our national identity.

- By JOEL V. RICO Conservation Architect

In the aftermath of the 1863 earthquake, the Pasig Church Bell Tower was restored by Felix Roxas, symbolizing an early example of heritage conservation. During the Malolos Convention, Arcadio Arellano meticulously repaired the Barasoain Church. Likewise, Tomas Mapua oversaw the restoration of the Intendencia de Intramuros and the Ayuntamiento de Manila in 1935 in anticipation of the Commonwealth Proclamation. The most ambitious of these early efforts came in the 1980s when the Intramuros Administration (IA) restored the entire walls of Intramuros - an unprecedented feat that remains the largest conservation project in Philippine history.

The dawn of the 21st century saw a renewed and growing awareness of our historical and cultural heritage. This was fueled in part by social media platforms that inspired pride in our past and by the enactment of Republic Act 10066, the National Cultural Heritage Act, which mandated the conservation of our country's irreplaceable treasures. The recent restoration of the Metropolitan Theater by the NCCA exemplifies the dedication required for this cause.