John Carlo Diaz ARSPC4

BS ARCHITECTURE HERITAGE CONSERVATION

ACTIVITY NO. 5 Due October, 29, 2022 1:00 PM

RA:10066
The National Cultural Heritage Act

This law's objectives are to safeguard, conserve, protect, and develop the nation's cultural
legacy, including its history, properties, and ethnic diversity. Additionally, it aims to build up
cultural institutions. All cultural properties recognized as Important Cultural Properties will
receive government support through this statute for their maintenance, conservation, and
restoration. A formal heritage marker must be placed on it in order for it to be recognized as a
significant cultural asset. It also made it an immovable cultural property.

Community: This law will promote and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to
preserve and advance their traditions, institutions, and cultures. Additionally, the indigenous
community's traditions, practices, customs, languages, and other forms of art will be
safeguarded. When formulating national goals and policies, it will also take these rights into
consideration. As active and sustainable sources of income for the community, this legislation
also encourages the local government to support and promote traditional arts and crafts.
Finally, in order to encourage and promote the distinctive traditions and identities of the
aforementioned communities, the local government will assist them in conserving their
traditional and contemporary arts and crafts and making them viable for both present and
future markets.

Country: This deed strengthens Filipino identity and pride in the country. The State is able to
safeguard and maintain all of the creative and historic resources of the country as a national
cultural treasure thanks to this statute. Additionally, Heritage Zones are put into place, which are
locations across the nation that are noteworthy from a historical, anthropological, archeological,
artistic, and geographical standpoint. The nation's historical, cultural, and artistic productions
will all be promoted and brought to a wider audience. The nation's entire cultural and historical
wealth will be available as well.

Heritage Zone Examples

Church of San Agustin in Manila

Location: Intramuros, Manila
San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, displays its noteworthy features such lofty Baroque
retablos and wall buttresses separating cripto collateral chapels, just as other baroque
churches that are cultural heritage monuments in the Philippines. The tromp l'oeil ceiling murals
at this world historic monument are what set it apart.

The San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is regarded as the oldest and longest-
standing church in the nation. It was constructed between 1587 and 1606. During World War II,
the only unharmed building in Intramuros was the church.

Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva

Location: Miag-ao, Iloilo

The Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao is one of the Philippines' UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. It is among the outstanding displays of the "fortress baroque" architectural
movement in the nation. The church, which was finished in 1797 and is made of local yellow-
orange sandstone, is located on the highest height in the community. The church endured
typhoons, earthquakes, and two fires—the first during the Philippine-American War and the
second during the 1898 revolt against Spain.

The whole surface of the church was etched by Filipino master carvers. One of the outstanding
examples of the blending of the western Baroque style adorned with Filipino folk themes is the
church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva. Given that, it is understandable why this church is listed
as one of the Philippines' UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Paoay Church (Church of San Agustin)

Location: Paoay, Ilocos Norte

One of the five examples of tangible cultural heritage in the Philippines is the Church of San
Agustin, also known as Paoay Church, which is renowned for its lavish coral-block buttresses
and elaborate stone finials. This site was built in 1604 and finished in 1710, making it a World
Heritage Site. Its bell tower, made of coral stone and situated some distance from the church,
was completed in the latter half of the 18th century. To avoid it toppling on the church during
earthquakes, bell towers in the Philippines were built apart from the main church building. The
bell tower of Paoay Church is rumored to have served as a Filipino watchtower during the 1898
revolt against the Spaniards.

This is one of the most notable “earthquake baroque” structures in the country where the
primary concern was to design the church for earthquake protection.