Heritage Conservation

Introduction
This study is important because when one lists important features of a
community, it indicates group consciousness of local identity, socio-cultural
practices and environment. The collective significance of such points of
memory and consciousness may need to be conserved and enhanced in
order to foster community identity and set the stage for future heritage
significance.

To assess quality of life, Memory in a Heritage resource must then be dealt with
through an indirect assessment of individual physical characteristics as
products of intangible behavior and socio-cultural traits. A simple summary of
trends and collectibles may give an indication of Value. This can then be
ultimately applied to Land Use Planning and assessment.

There must be a change of mindset from the concept of individual buildings

assessment to include its environs and cultural patterns. If physical
categorization of a sole building is indicated, there must be an accompanying
justification of its value and character to its community at the very least. One
must also make the leap to the next level of consciousness: the assessment of
site, settlement, and place which all alludes to community. The relationship of
man and his environment, especially in terms of urban concepts must be
reevaluated.

The collective significance of a site can only be appreciated in terms of its

intangible connections to a community’s consciousness and environment.

Such an approach is also necessarily Asian as well as Filipino. The intrinsic values
of a site or settlement, which is the concern of any Land Use Plan, must also
look into the socio-cultural setting of the site. Any future plans must be in tune
with the local culture and mindset.

Genius Loci or Spirit of Place

Genius Loci or Spirit of Place is an internationally accepted term in conservation

circles as an indicator of tangible cum intangible quality that defines a certain
heritage resource, if not any locus of habitation. It conveys the cultural essence
of a site encompassing the meanings of a place accrued through time and
through its past and present uses. Expressed through the built heritage, these
intangible heritage values give the place its distinctive character.

The spirit of a place resides in its authenticity, retention of which is an essential

condition of heritage conservation. It is therefore imperative to identify the
authentic elements that define the character of a place and convey its spirit,
and, second, to ensure that through the conservation process these elements
are maintained, safeguarded and celebrated. (UNESCO Hoi-An Protocols
2009)
“The primary concern, therefore, is to isolate the major components of a
place’s identity of spirit, and then divide these components into logical
ingredient sets for future decision making activities. To do this we must accept
the notion that each place has a definable character, spirit, and identity; and
we must then apply that attitude to the preservation and revitalization
process.” (Garnham, p.7)

I. Basic Principles and Concepts

Historic Town Centers, Heritage Zones and old districts are great landmarks.
They represent the accumulation of diverse cultures, the innumerable
achievements of our forefathers as well as experiences of loss and pain. For
centuries these historic sites have been the arena of everyday life, providing
Filipinos of all classes, cultures and faiths, an open space to see the dawn or
enjoy the sunset, spend time with loved ones and friends, and partake of the
town’s social life. They are sites, too, of important events, and places where
Filipinos, known and unknown, lived and died. These important sites and
structures give us a sense of community and identity anchored on a shared
past. They are our common patrimony, and the responsibility to preserve them
for posterity is ours.

1. Continuity

We preserve these sites not to bring back old glories, but to remind us that our
past is there for us to build upon to achieve a better and happier future. We
are not driven to keep these sites merely for the purpose of beautifying them
for tourists; rather, we desire to share these sites with local and foreign visitors so
that they, too, may appreciate the traces of our past and know us better as a
people. The preservation of historic sites is part of the development of a
community unafraid to look back while living in the present and building a
collective future. Continuity is thus a key to the community’s development –
the continued use of old sites in the continuity of time. The Historic
Center/Heritage Zone is not a dead space but a vibrant, living heritage that
progress and growth respect, integrate into the larger setting, and promote for
future generations to enjoy and pass on to their heirs.

2. Conservation and Re-use

If continuity amid progress is a crucial element in the development of towns

and sites, conservation is its partner. A modern urban center without old
buildings and other things accumulated from the past is not progressive
because it shows no continuity from past to present, little evidence of change,
no logical period variations and patterns. Indeed many modern cities have
become clones of each other, being literally alike and having no distinct
personality. Conserving historic edifices and sites helps define the community’s
identity and growth.
Moreover, contrary to the conventional perception that conservation is static
and therefore abhorrent to development, conservation involves the adaptive
reuse of old objects in which our past is inscribed, melding that past in the
fullness of its character and individuality with the demands of present day life
and future needs. The town’s cultural development reflects the various layers
of its built and natural environments: the people who have lived in it, and how
the town has valued and cared for them. Conservation, therefore, is not anti-
development. It is, in fact, future-oriented since it aims to hand over valuable
objects from the past, produced by earlier generations, to coming generations
of Filipinos, with their fullest possible historicity. (Guidelines, Policies and
Standards for the Conservation and Development of Historic Centers/Heritage
Zones, 2012)

II. General Objectives and Outputs

Objectives

 To identify and appreciate the cultural character and uniqueness of a

city/ municipality
 To create Composite Maps of the cultural character and uniqueness of
a city/ municipality
 To use Composite Maps as a basis for preservation and revitalization of
the cultural character and uniqueness of the city/municipality

Outputs

 Analysis of Cultural Systems based on

o Physical/environmental maps (Landforms, topography, surface
water, soil types, vegetation, undisturbed natural areas or ecological
niches, climate)
o Cultural Maps
o Participatory Consultations/ Tools (e.g. interviews/ surveys)

 Visual Systems
o Image Maps
o Heritage Assessment Surveys (See ANNEX HE-1. Cultural Mapping
Form for Built Heritage)
III. Thematic Area Assessment Guide

Participants

1. Study Team

Citizen’s Advisory Committee - The Study Team must have a Citizen’s Advisory
Committee. This committee must include members from the broader spectrum
of stakeholders of the community: shopkeepers, public utility, religious groups,
youth organizations, historians, teachers, academicians, and other concerned
organizations.

It is often very educational to include any local undergraduate and graduate

students from local technical schools, especially architecture to help in the
preparation of the composite maps. A few art studies graduates and local
historians will greatly help in their interpretation.

The purpose of this committee is to enable local citizens’ awareness, and the
inculcation of the community’s self-identity. This will facilitate project purpose
and direction and set the stage for the community’s vision setting, through the
use of appropriate workshops and lectures. The only difference will be the Study
Team’s eventual recording of citizen’s values and goals towards self-
awareness. The hiring of technical support could be twofold if it is possible to
tap them from the local citizenry.

Protocols could be further gleaned from local historical and heritage

counterparts, whether NHCP, National Museum or NCCA for LGU and NGO
participation. Indicators of one’s self-awareness and identity can only be found
from signs and symbols as well as cultural practices unique in the community’s
socio-cultural practices.

2. Resource Persons:

Special expertise from the following organizations could also be tapped:

 Government agencies
o National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
o National Museum
o National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)

 Non-government organizations
o Heritage Conservation Society
o International Committee for Monuments and Sites - ICOMOS
(Philippines)
o Local historical societies, cofradias, etc.
Materials

 Cultural Mapping Form (Annex HE-1)

 Intangible Heritage Form (Annex HE-2)

Steps

OVERVIEW OF STEPS

1. Gather and collate all data.

2. Establish the cultural character and uniqueness of the community.

3. Consider the ancestral legacy’s uniqueness and self-identity in the LGU’s vision and
goals .

4. Establish what we call the “Spirit of Place” or “Diwa ng Lunan”.

5. Assess the economic viability of improving heritage resources.

6. Consolidate and validate the findings of the above steps.

7. Prioritize, tabulate and present the results in matrix form.

8. Recommend interventions such as policy options and appropriate strategies, programs

and projects for implementation .
1. Gather and collate all data (see Annexes for data to collect).

Tip: Technical help may be needed, to include any local undergraduate and
graduate students from local technical schools, especially architecture, art
studies graduates and local historians to help in the preparation of the
composite maps.

Figure HE- 1. Cultural Resources

Tip: The TWG must be able to remove any perceived biases from any previous
knowledge (e.g. emphasis on tourism over heritage) and/or training and
concentrate on the Citizens Advisory Committee inputs to further an effective
Urban Land Use Plan. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee, earlier embedded in
the TWG should then reemerge as the Cultural Heritage Committee that can
aid in the development of the appropriate guidelines towards proper land use
allocation in terms of Cultural Heritage Conservation and the need for
physical as well as policy-backed legislation protection of valued heritage
resources. Our various cultural agencies such as the NHCP, the National
Museum, headed by the NCCA (implementors of the Heritage Law) can
guide the Committee to this end.
2. Establish the cultural character and uniqueness of the community.

a. Establish what the community wishes to preserve, and where they would like
to go from there. This exercise can be incorporated in the Visioning and Goal
Setting of the CLUP Preparation. The following are some guide questions
(Maintaining the Spirit of Place, Garnham 1985):

 What do you think is special about your town/community?

 If you could change anything in your town/community, what would it
be?
 What are the things you hope would never change in your
town/community?
 When showing out of town guests your town/community, what places
would you be sure to show them?
 In your opinion, what are the three (3) most attractive streets in your
town/community?
 What things do you think make a neighborhood nice?
 What improvements would you like to see made in the downtown area
of your town/community?
 What is the natural character/quality of your town that needs to be
conserved?
 What is the cultural character/quality of your town that needs to be
conserved?
 What is the visual character/quality of your town that needs to be
conserved?

Tip: Socio-cultural values and economic values are indicative of a

community’s capacity to take the initiative and take responsibility for land use
planning. If a community’s goals are not in sync with any proposed Land Use
Plan as indicated by the LGU’s Planning Departments, it only reflects the gap
between what the community envisions itself and its representatives’
perceived vision for the community.

Compartmentalizing, for example Recreation areas, parks and Tourism from

social centers and divorcing economic indicators as a result of increased
social intercourse and civic pride cannot be considered useful planning. The
conditions for civic pride and its manifestations in cultural events and a
healthful environment are only possible if a link is made with physical and
judicial planning taking into consideration civic vision and self-confidence.

b. Include the establishment of the LGU’s ancestral legacy’s uniqueness and

self-identity within the CLUP’s Vision.

c. Create a composite map of as many or all socio-cultural, visual and image

maps of the community based on indicators.
Examples of Image Maps:

Figure HE- 2. Image map of San Juan Batangas, 2009 (Sample only)

Hall St. Allocation of Jeepney

Ensemble of Vernacular and Terminal (going to
Ancestral Houses Laiya)
Castillo St.
Improvement of Town
Renovation of the Church Plaza including
Plaza Javier St. Parking

Bonifacio (Marasigan) St.

Reconstruction of Old
Allocation of Tricycle

General Luna St.

Theater as Tourist Inn
Terminal to Empty Lot Burgos St. and Commercial

Devilla St.
Rizal St. Offices

Perez St.
Improvement of Rizal St. as
Connection to Market and Introduction of River
Municipal Hall Side Cafés and
Mojica St. Restaurants
Controlling Advertisement,
Improvement of Sidewalks Pedestrianizing
and other Street Elements
Mabini St.

Bonifacio St.
For General Luna St. Kalayaan St.
including
enhancement of the
street and
Connection of Perez St Dandan St. surrounding buildings
to Bonifacio St. to Avoid
Dead ends Control and
Maintenance of the
Lawaye River to
avoid further Water
Pollution
Bonifacio St.

30
STREET MAP

Figure HE- 3. Image Map Quiapo (2010) (sample only)

3. Consider the ancestral legacy’s uniqueness and self-identity in the LGU’s
vision and goals (for the Ancestral Domain).

4. Establish what we call the “Spirit of Place” or “Diwa ng Lunan”.

a. Determine the cultural assets that are to be preserved (e.g. plazas, etc.)

b. Determine tangible structures which are indicators of collective memory,

future hopes and dreams.

c. Identify what these structures and assets mean to the LGU

d. Indicate these in a map.

Aside from principles mentioned in the introduction, there are seven (7) facets
of cultural worth which the LGU can use in heritage conservation and
planning:

 Originality (first of its kind)

 Indigenousness (original/native to a place)
 Authenticity (purity, genuineness)
 Uniqueness (one of its kind)
 Historicity (connection to past significant or momentous events)
 Magnitude (superlative degree or extent, quantitatively measured)
 Excellence or greatness (in artistic, intellectual, scientific, humanistic or
technical quality)

Heritage and Tourism

The enhancement of heritage for the benefit of tourism is only one of the many
possible means of development. It is sometimes the simplest and often the
most interesting from the economic point of view. If well - conceived and
managed, tourism has the capacity of making heritage sites profitable.
Tourism will position a heritage site in an economic process that can enhance
heritage and successfully support local development. (Handbook-tourisme
et-patrimonie p.20)

In the International Cultural Tourism Charter (Managing Tourism at Places of

Heritage Significance) 1999, it is stated:

“Before heritage places are promoted or developed for increased tourism,

management plans should assess the natural and cultural values of the
resource. They should then establish appropriate limits of acceptable change,
particularly in relation to the impact of visitor numbers on the physical
characteristics, integrity, ecology and biodiversity of the place, local access
and transportation systems and the social, economic and cultural well-being
of the host community. If the likely level of change is unacceptable the
development proposal should be modified.”

Developmental strategies must therefore be put in place from the outset to

cover all sites of heritage tourism potential, and it must be stressed in terms of
impact to local culture and environment. Assessment of such Heritage tourism
potential is therefore vital at the planning stage, and not after.
5. Seek assistance from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) for the declaration of the identified heritage sites/structures.

6. Assess the economic viability of improving heritage resources (e.g. tourism

potential).

7. Consolidate and validate the findings of the above steps

8. Prioritize, tabulate and present the results in matrix form

9. Recommend interventions such as policy options and appropriate strategies,

programs and projects for implementation

Table 1. Sample matrix

Technical Effects,
Issues and Policy
findings/ impacts,
concerns options/interventions
Observations implication

Declared Owner not Possible loss of Provide incentive for

Historical interested in landmark if maintaining the
and conserving the developed for property as historical
Architectural building, plans to other use; building; Apply for
Significant sell the property affects the compulsory repair
Building integrity of the order with the
cultural appropriate cultural
significance of agency (NHCP or
the place NM)

Historical Modernization of Loss of Provide incentive for

and the structure by the significance of maintaining the
Architectural heirs the place original architecture;
Old Houses Implement “adaptive
reuse” of the structure
References
“Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10066 otherwise
known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”

Guidelines and standards applying to sites that the National Historical

Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) or the National Museum (NM) have been
declared Historic Centers or Heritage Zones

Balangkasan (NCCA Publication)

Measurements and Indicators of Heritage as Development, Rypkema &

Cheong, ICOMOS 2011

Does Investment in the Built Fabric of Historic Towns Drive Economic Recovery?
Shipley & Reeve, ICOMOS 2011

Risks Generated by Tourism in an Environment with Cultural heritage Assets,

Milos & Tomas Drdacky, Intl Preservation News No. 52 Dec 2010

Maintaining the Spirit of Place, Garnham 1985

The International Cultural Tourism Charter (Managing Tourism at Places of

Heritage Significance) 1999

Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS, 1999)

Florence Declaration on Landscape 2012

Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas (Washington
Charter 1987)

Xi’An Declaration on the CXonservation of the Setting of Heritage Structures,

Sites and Areas (ICOMOS 21 October 2005)

The Venice Charter for the Conservation and restoration of monuments and
Sites (ICOMOS 1964)

Hoi-An Protocols (ICOMOS 2005)

Handbook Tourism & recent Heritage (Borghi, Mariotti & Safarzadeh 2011)

Risks Generated by Tourism in an Environment with Cultural heritage Assets,

(Milos & Tomas Drdacky, Intl Preservation News No. 52 Dec 2010)
Annex HE-1. Cultural Mapping Form
Source: Copyright from Arch. Jojo Mata
Annex HE-2. Intangible Heritage Form

Source: Copyright from Ms. Patricia Ma. Santiago