Heritage and Conservation

Planning
Constitution of the Philippines

Resolution no. 3

Declaring Colonial Churches and other Houses

of Worship in the Philippines as Classified
Historic Structures.
WHEREAS, Article 14, Section 14 of the 1986 Constitution of the Philippines states that
“the State shall foster the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of a Filipino
National Culture”;

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 260, dated August 1, 1973,

specifically vested the National Historical Institute Commission, now the National
Historical Institute, the power to declare historical and cultural sites and edifices as
National Shrines, Monuments, and/or Landmarks which are symbolic of our culture and
society;

WHEREAS, P.D. No. 260 has declared several Philippines Churches of Spanish
vintage as National Landmarks, followed by P.D. No. 375 of January 14, 1974,
amending P.D. 260 by including the churches of Tall and Batangas, and of Sta. Maria,
Ilocos Sur;
WHEREAS, the following declaration of the other churches as either “National
Landmarks” or “Classified” structures, based on the approved criteria of the National
Historical Institute have all been made possible through P.D. No. 260, in a process of
survey, documentation, research, classification, and marking of said landmarks of great
national importance;

WHEREAS, the National Historical Institute has established the National Registry of
Historical Sites and Structures in order to catalog all the identified and classified sites
and structures nationwide.

NOW, Therefore, the National Historical Institute, by virtue of the powers vested in it by
Presidential Decree No. 260, dated August 1, 1973, hereby declares that existing
churches, including ruins, regardless of their religious denominations, which were built
prior to and in 1940, are hereby automatically categorized as “Classified” structures
and/or sites, provided that the requirements in the corresponding guidelines shall have
been met.
Section 5
It shall be unlawful for any person to modify, repair or destroy the
original features of any national shrine, monument, landmark and
other important historic edifices declared and classified by the
National Historical Institute as such without the prior written
permission from the Chairman of the said Institute.
Criteria for the Identification of
Historic Churches
1. Churches with a considerable age value, such as centuries-old churches
and ruins, which are distinguished for the historical, cultural and
archaeological significance.

2. Churches which stand out as concrete witness to the rich religious and
historical past of the Filipino people or those that mark the turning points in
Philippine Religious History;

3. Churches of architectural, cultural, historical and social significance and

those which are outstanding monuments to Filipino artistry and
craftsmanship, depicting local aesthetics values, the industry of its builders,
and the divers historic-cultural experience of the Filipino people;

4.Churches that bear strong foreign architectural influences such as Spanish,

Chinese, American, etc., and which contribute to the further enhancement of
the Filipino Cultural Heritage; and,
5. Churches considered as the first house of worship of the various religious
denominations, such as the first Catholic church, first Protestant church, first
Buddhist Temple, first Muslim mosque, etc.

Note:

All other churches or houses of worship built after 1850 shall like wise be
considered and evaluated for classification based on their distinct
architectural integrity and historical significance representing Filipino Cultural
values, and conformity with the rest of the above mentioned criteria.
Criteria for Identification of
Historic Sites and Structures
1. Properties strongly associated with important historical events of
personages and other illustrious Filipinos or whose owner had achieved an
enduring contribution toward the enrichment of Filipino historico-cultural
heritage;

2. Properties of architectural, cultural, historical, scientific and social

significance, including those that depict local aesthetic values of their
builders, and those related to a significant historico-cultural experience of the
Filipino people;

3. Properties that bear strong foreign architectural influences such as

American, Spanish or Japanese and with strong evidences of an active
political, social, economic and cultural relations with neighboring countries ;

4. Properties such as gates, wall, forts, tower, bastions, ramparts, parapets,

bridges or palisades that stand out as monuments to the artistry,
craftsmanship and industry of Filipino artisans and laborers who were
responsible for their construction and serves as mute witnesses to the heroic
spirit of the Filipino of yesteryears;
5. Properties which were the site of the first establishments in the Philippines
such as the site where the first printing press was built, first commercial
house, first theater, first school, first transportation office;

6. Groups or cluster s the immediate environs that are given importance

because of their setting and not due to their individual elements or
characteristics ; and,

7. All sites and structures must, at least be 50 years old and display a high
degree of authenticity to qualify for considerations.
Classification of Historic sites and
structures
1. National Shrines – historic sites hallowed and honored for their history or
associations.
2. National Monuments – objects, structures or sites dedicated to
memorialize or give reverence to a special historic personage or event.
3. National Landmarks – sites or structures that are associated with an
event, achievement, characteristics, or modification that makes a turning
point or stage in Philippine history.
4. Heritage houses – houses of ancestry with notable historical and cultural
significance.
5. Historic sites – natural areas or places with historical significance and
places recognized, marked or declared such as.
6. Classified – structures and sites not falling under the above categories
and marked as listed as classified and recorded in the NHI’s National
Registry of Historic Structures.
All sites and structures must fall within the NHI
criteria for identification of historic sites and
structures. In the identification procedures, all
sites and structures must, at least be 50 years
old and display a high degree of authenticity
to qualify for consideration.
Guidelines on Monuments Honoring
National Heroes, Illustrious
Filipinos and other Personages
(4th revision: September 22, 2008)
1. Definitions
Monuments and Memorials under this category, which basically include full
bodied statues, busts, pedestals, pylons, arches, gravestones, obelisks,
crosses, remembrance walls, fountains. And even entire parks, shall be
governed by the following set of guidelines.
Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred or hallowed
grounds and accorded with the same full reverence as we have for the
Philippine flag. Any form of desecration against monument, such as
squatting, graffiti and improper advertising commercialism shall not be
allowed.
The constitution of the Philippines, arts and culture, section 16 states: All the
country’s artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure of the
nation and shall be under the protection of the state which may regulate its
disposition.
2. Dominance
Monuments are landmarks of our cities, towns and provinces. They must
honored, preserved and protected.
If two or more monuments are present at the site, the most important
monument should be given prominence at the site.
Façade of buildings around monument, particularly on a rotunda or circle can
be retrotifitted with a uniform design to enhance the urban renewal of the site
and the prominence and dominance of the monument.
The scale of the figure of an outdoor monument should be kept to an ideal
standard, which may be governed by the following:
Minimum: Life-size
Maximum: Twice the life size
Landmark/monumental structures: More than the Life-size
3. Site and Orientation
Site/setting for this purpose will refer to the place, the vicinity or territory where
a monument is found or located.

4. Design and Material

The design fundamentally is based on the over-all character of the site and its
peripherals (urban or environmental character or setting). The monument
should be contextual to the site and its vicinity.

5. Structures
The structures of the monument, which may include the platform, pedestal,
figure, pylon, or the arch, must be rigidly constructed in accordance with the
existing National Building Code requirements and accepted engineering
practices and construction principles.

6. Landscaping and Amenities

Site development, landscaping, and amenities shall depend on existing site
qualities and requirements. Local and national government restrictions
regarding site development shall complied with.
7. Renovation
This refers to site renovation and renewal projects within existing public
plazas, squares, courts, open spaces. The concept of an open space for
public use is that it must remain open, simple, and neat. An open space and a
center for public congregation.

8. Proper Use
All monuments as stated in these guidelines should be treated with utmost
respect and reverence, more particularly, full bodied statues, busts of the
country’s illustrious heroes and eminent leaders of the locality.

9. Maintenance
All monuments should be ensured with proper and continuous maintenance
by local government units if the monument is within municipal, city, or
provincial limits and national agencies for National Monuments.
10. Relocation
Article 7 of the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of
Monuments and Sites, otherwise known as the Venice Charter states that: A
monument is inseparable from the history to which it bears witness and from
the setting in which it occurs. The moving of all or part of a monument cannot
be allowed except where the safeguarding of that monument demands it or
where it is justified by national or international interest of paramount
importance.

National Monuments cannot be relocated without prior written permission of

the National Historical Institutes.

11. Development of the Vicinity (Existing and Future)

It is highly recommended that towns and cities formulate zoning guidelines or
local ordinances for the protection and development of monument sites, and
strictly implement these laws, especially in places where important
monuments and structures are located.
World Cultural
and Natural
Heritage
Definitions:
(UNESCO meeting in Paris, 17 October to 21 November 1972)
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
Monuments: architectural
works, works of monumental
sculpture and painting,
elements or structures of an
archaeological nature,
inscriptions, cave dwellings
and combinations of
features, which are of
outstanding universal value
from the point of view of
history, art or science;
Definitions:
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
Groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected
buildings which, because of their architecture, their
homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of
outstanding universal value from the point of view of
history, art or science;
Definitions:
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
Sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and
man, and areas including archaeological sites, which are
of outstanding universal value from the historical,
aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological point of view.
Definitions:
NATURAL HERITAGE:
natural features consisting of
physical and biological formations or
groups of such formations, which are
of outstanding universal value from
the aesthetic or scientific point of
view
Definitions:
NATURAL HERITAGE:
Geological and Physiographical formationsand
precisely delineated areas which constitute the
habitat of threatened species of animals and plants
of outstanding universal value from the point of view
of science or conservation.
Definitions:
NATURAL HERITAGE:
Natural sites or precisely delineated natural
areas of outstanding universal value from the
point of view of science, conservation or natural
beauty.
The International Charter
for the Conservation and
Restoration of Monuments
and Sites (ICOMOS)
“The intention in conserving and restoring
monuments is to safeguard them no less as
works of art than as historical evidence.”
 CONSERVATION
Intended as a means to safeguarding heritage, with
the view to suitably adapting it to the society’s
needs, by a series of technical, legislative, financial,
fiscal, educational and other measures
 RESTORATION

Meant as a technical means of intervention, with

the aim of maintaining intact the above heritage
and transmitting it to the future in all its integrity.
ICOMOS Provisions on Conservation

• Maintenance on a permanent basis

• Retaining of layout and decorations while
making them socially useful
• Movement of monuments
• Movement of integral parts of monuments
•
 ICOMOS Provisions on Restoration
• aim is to reveal aesthetic and historical value
• respect for original materials and authentic documents
• preceded and followed by archaeological and historical
study
ICOMOS Provisions on Restoration

• use of modern in place of

traditional techniques
•valid contributions of all
periods
• unity not the aim
• replacement of missing
parts
• addition of new parts
•
Basic Conservation Principles
“The least intervention is the best conservation.”

“It is better to preserve than to repair, better to

repair than to restore, better to restore than
reconstruct.”

“Any form of restoration should follow

predetermined lines. It must include criticism and
objectivity; it cannot vary according to whoever
carries it out.”….
Basic Conservation Principles

“We do not restore the monument, but we restore

the materials of the monument.”

“Restoration is not carried out to return the work

of art to its primitive splendor.”….

“The principle of reversibility : whatever added to

or applied on the monument must be reversed or
taken out in cases of negative effects…”
Basic Conservation Principles
“Conservation is part of positive
development; modernization does not
necessarily mean progress; conservation
does not displace, it attracts.”

“Restoration must never be: 1) an imitation

2) a falsification 3) in competition with the
original
Basic Conservation Principles
“Restoration should be more utilitarian than
romantic.”
“Restoration is not luxury (over-restoration);
not nostalgic (over-romantic); not a masking
(superficial)
Basic Conservation Principles
“The basic purpose of preservation is not to arrest time
but to mediate with the forces of change.
It is to understand the present as a product of the past
and a modifier of the future.”
 Techniques Involved in the
Restoration of Historic Structures

IDEOLOGY PRINCIPLES METHODOLOGIES

TECHNIQUES
“Technique”- is the restoration process itself applied to the preservation of
architectural monuments. It is the bottom line of the above ideal restoration
flow chart. Techniques are actual applied operations which emanate from an
accepted restoration methodology. By methodology, it is meant the working
program or procedures to follow in conserving the object. Methodology
likewise, should evolve from universally accepted restoration principles
confirming to the existing philosophical values or ideology of the people.
Methodologies emanate from conservation principles, the fundamental
guidelines in formulating conservation methodologies. The very basic
restoration principle is that we do not restore the monument, but we restore
the materials of the monument, which clearly indicates that the object of
restoration is preservation. However, there is popular idea which defines
restoration as restoring the object to its original state. This is misconception.
No one could ever restore or bring back an object to its original state.

Conservation necessitates various measures to preserve and safeguard

objects of culture and history. Principles evolve but do not actually change in
essence. They must always mandated by the flow chart starting from
ideology.
Two types of Restoration
Techniques
DYNAMIC RESTORATION – (quasi restoration) preserving
thee object without direct intervention on its materials; has
something to do with preventing or avoiding agents of
degradation of the objects fabric, function, form, intrinsic values
and attributes.

STATIC RESTORATION – (the true restoration) preserving the

object by direct intervention on its materials, e.g., light
mechanical and chemical cleaning of stone and masonry walls;
injection of epoxy grout.
Dynamic Restoration Techniques

1) Anastylosis: reassembly of fallen

fragments or elements; substitute
materials for missing elements, usually
with unnoticeable differences.
Dynamic Restoration Techniques

2) Substitution: replacing original object

with a replica and preserving and
transferring the original in a safe place to
ensure its preservation.
Dynamic Restoration Techniques

3) Relocation: removal or transfer from a

hazardous to a safe place only for
justifiable reason.
Dynamic Restoration Techniques

4) Total Protection Shed: enclosing a

structure to protect it from the elements
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
5) Traces of time: leaving traces of
various periods on the face of the object
6) Projection of extant features: intended
to show a virtual reality of the complete
original structure
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
7) Integration of modern structures – introduction
of new structures and partial transformation – must be in
harmony with the old, and requires unifying elements or
transitional devices.
8) Adaptive Reuse – continued usage of the building;
converting buildings or parts thereof for renewed uses.
9) Provision of a Buffer Zone – a monument or
historical site can be better protected by providing a
peripheral area or device w/c serves as a shield against
agents of deterioration.
Static Restoration Techniques:
1.Cleaning – either by chemical or mechanical means,
cleaning is a simple and traditional technique of
preservation.
2.Isolation of structure – by freeing the structure of
external stresses by making it independent from an
adjacent structure which physically affects it.
3.Restructuring/strengthening – (structural consolidation)
old structures, if found weak, damaged or
inappropriate to serve their intended reuse functions,
could be restored by introducing new, different or
additional supports to the existing.
4.Repair and replacement of elements – another simple
and commonly practiced technique in extending the
life of old structures is by correcting the defects and
damages by partial removal of affected elements and
direct replacement on it.
Static Restoration Techniques:
5. Material Consolidation – is restoring the original physical
strength, capabilities or qualities of the material as it was in its
original state.
6. Combining old and new materials – since there are limitations
to our extracting of valuable natural resources, for materials, and
the shortage in skilled labor ideally intended for restoring
monuments, resorting to the use of modern materials and
technologies can provide practical answers to our restoration
needs.
7. Substituting modern structures – (not simulation) original
replacement may not be possible anymore due to shortage of
obsolescence. Substituting is the best solution on it.
8. Preventive maintenance – is first-aid measure to avoid further
and larger damage.
Examples:
“Historic buildings subject to alteration, repairs,
renovations, additions, upgrading necessary for
the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or
continued use need not conform to all
requirements of this code. However, such shall be
subject to regulation of the government agencies
concernedlike the National Historical Institute
(NHI) or National Museum, the DPWH [thru the
recommendation for approval of the UAP
Architectural Code Committee]
ARCHITECTURAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
November 2000
REFERENCE:
NATIONAL HISTORICAL INSTITUTE
ØHistoric Preservation Division
ØArchitectural and Engineering Division
ARCH. REYNALDO A. INOVERO
ARCH. WILKIE B. DE LUMEN
 Submitted to:
Arch. Rey S. Gabitan

Submitted by:
Group 9
Ms. Farissa P. De Leon
Ms. Maybel G. Abunio
Ms. Lizle G. Morano
Ms. Kimberly Cruz
BS-ARCH V-2D