CONSERVATION

Conservation of cultural heritage refers to the action taken to prevent the

absolute decay, and to prolong the life of a particular national heritage.
Conservation makes sure that a heritage will be able to survive as testaments
of historical events and phenomena for the enjoyment of the future generation.
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International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is an

association task to conserve and protect cultural heritage sites around the
globe. According to ICOMOS, conservation involves basic guidelines to ensure
that the process of conservation is ethical in nature. The first principle is
retention or restoration of historical significance. Stated in the Burra Charter
(ICOMOS), the goal is to retain, recover or reveal as much historical
importance/significance as possible. It also said that the new purpose of
conserved building must be compatible to the needs of a heritage site. Next is
conservation process has to be based on research. This refers to
understanding the context of a heritage site’s history including its physical
condition before the actual work of conservation begin. Another principle is
minimum physical intervention. It is encouraged that as the work progressed,
there is minimal changes that is made so that a site won’t lose its integrity.
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In the Philippines, there is a number of places which are hailed by United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as
tangible heritage sites. Refer to the list below.

Cultural Tangible Description Image

Heritage Site

4 Baroque churches in located in Manila, Santa

the Philippines Maria, Paoay and
Miag-ao; chosen by their
unique interpretation of
European Baroque style
The Historic city of considered best in
Vigan regards to its
preservation of a
Spanish colonial town in
Asia

Cordillera’s Rice It has high rice fields that

Terraces follows the shapes of the
mountains created by
the Ifugaos.

Natural Tangible Description Image

Heritage Site

Mount Hamiguitan provides habitat for 8

Range Wildlife, endemic flora and fauna
Sanctuary species

Puerto Princesa contains some of the

Subterranean River most important forests in
National Park Asia

Tubbataha Reefs an example of a pristine

Natural Park coral reef with a 100-m
perpendicular wall.
 Cultural Heritage includes an Intangible section which is dedicated to the
documentation and protection of traditions and living expressions that are
handed down from one generation to another within particular community. One
of its category is Traditional Craftsmanship. National Commission for Culture
and the Arts published a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Philippines in
a book called Pinagmulan: Enumeration from the Philippine Inventory of
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Traditional craftsmanship is under Domain 5.
Some of the intangible cultural heritage are listed below.

Intangible Cultural Image

Heritage

Patterns of Culture in
Philippine Traditional
Textiles

Philippine Earthenware
Pottery

Sinaduparan Ivatan
House Types

Back-Strap Weaving
 Morion Head Mask

Tepo Mat

Sarimanok

Metal Templates with

Wire Casting
 Torogan

Royal House

Salakot and Other

Headgear

So far, UNESCO has only inscribed three elements from the Philippines.
This includes tugging rituals and games, Hudhud chants of the Ifugao and the
Darangen epic of The Maranao people of Lake Lanao but these are mostly
considered Social Practices and Oral Traditions, none for the tradition
craftsmanship yet.

REFERENCES

www.clarelibrary.ie

http://ich.unesco.org

www.ichcap.org

http://ncca.gov.ph