RIPH

Chapter 5
Promotion of Local and Oral History
Learning Outcomes:
 Manifest interest in local history and show concern in promoting and

preserving the country’s historical and cultural heritage
 Recognize the value of these historical sites and landmarks in the study
and preservation of our history and culture
 Identify historic sites and landmarks recognized by the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines
(** iimprove mo nalang to mam, hehe sobrang waley na

tong module chapter 5. Hehehe)
Lesson Proper
Hundreds of sites all over the Philippines became part of our history and
culture. Many of these sites as well as landmarks are recognized by the
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). As stated in
Republic Act No. 10086, the NHCP is "responsible for the conservation and
preservation of the country's historical legacies. Its major thrusts encompass
an ambitious cultural program on historical studies, curatorial works,
architectural conservation, Philippine heraldry, historical information
dissemination activities, restoration and preservation of relics and memorabilia
of heroes and other renowned Filipinos. The NHCP undertakes the
commemoration of significant events and personages in Philippine history and
safeguards the blazoning of the national government and its political divisions
and instrumentalities." Historical information dissemination activities also
include the recognition of historical sites and landmarks, turning them into
museums and parks, and making them open to visitors such as students to
promote historical awareness among the youth.
Other places that can be visited to broaden our knowledge of Philippine
history and culture include government- and private-run museums:
The National Museum Complex is composed of:
a. the National Museum of Fine Arts (Old Legislative Building)
b. the National Museum of Anthropology (Old Finance Building)
c. the National Museum of Natural History (Old Agriculture and
Commerce Building)
d. and the National Planetarium
Private museums and other institutions also have their share of
contributing to the preservation of our heritage. Many of these places are
limited to special collections but are themselves a significant part of history
and in the study of it. Some examples of these museums are as follows:
a. UST Museum of Arts and Sciences located at the University of Santo
Tomas campus
b. Ayala Museum located in Makati
c. The Lopez Museum and Library located at the Benpres
Building,Ortigas Complex in Mandaluyong
d. The Kaisa Angelo King Heritage Center located in Intramuros which
highlights our Tsinoy, or Chinese-Filipino heritage
e. The Museo Iloilo in Iloilo City which focuses on cultural and historical
artifacts not only from Iloilo but also from Panay Island
f. The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies, which
focuses on the study of Kapampangan language, history, and culture,
located in the campus of the Holy Angel University in Angeles City,
Pampanga
g. The Cultural Center of the Philippines, though recognized as a
performance venue, which houses art galleries for exhibits and a
collection of artworks by recognized Filipino artists including those by
the National Artists of the Philippines
The continuous growth of awareness of the remnants of our historical

and cultural past has made Filipinos place a large value on preserving the old
buildings and districts around the country. This eventually led to the passage
of the National Cultural Heritage Act (Republic Act No. 10066) which created
the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property and the rules and regulations to
preserve historic buildings that are over 50 years. It was signed into law on
March 25, 2009.
There were earlier attempts to preserve the artifacts of history and

culture. The first district that was declared a National Heritage site was the
Intramuros district which was the former Walled City of Manila. This was
followed by Vigan City in llocos Sur and later by Silay City in Negros
Occidental. These areas follow heritage laws formulated to preserve their
historic buildings, open spaces, and local traditions while at the same time
blending with the modern surroundings.
Historic buildings that. date back to the Spanish and American colonial
periods that survived the Second World War have also been preserved by either
the government or private institutions. Examples of these are the buildings of
the campuses of the University of the Philippines-Manila and the University of
Santo Tomas, the Philippine General Hospital, the capitol buildings of the
different provinces such as in Leyte and Pangasinan, as well as private houses
and buildings like the Gota de Leche Building in Sampaloc, Manila. Spanish
colonial churches that can be found in towns and cities all over the country are
also included in this category.
Monuments that date back to the colonial eras are also being preserved.
Many of these monuments are found in plazas and parks in different towns
and cities in Manila and the urban areas of provinces. These monuments are
important not only because they commemorate places, people, and historic
events but also because they are markers of our past. Examples of these
monuments in Manila are the Carriedo Fountain, King Carlos IV Monument,
the Legazpi-Urdaneta Monument, the Queen Isabel ll of Spain Monument, and
the Simon de Anda Monument.
Other significant places are concrete pieces of evidence of our precolonial

past. These are the archaeological sites that are mostly found in the provinces.
Some of these sites are already open to public although traveling entails long
hikes since many of them are in the mountainous areas or in islands.
Examples of these areas are the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Kabayan Mummy
Burial Caves, the Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran
Municipalities, and the Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley
where the bones of what is believed to be the oldest human being in the
Philippines---Callao Man---was found.
Learning Assessment
1. What historic sites are recognized by the NHCP have you visited?
What do they reveal about our historical and/or cultural past?
2. Do an interview your elders on your local communities and ask if

there is a place or site that would be considered significant in your
own barangays/municipality;
3. Take a picture of it and provide a description on its history and why is

it considered significant in your community.

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Chapter 5

Promotion of Local and Oral History

 Manifest interest in local history and show concern in promoting and

(** iimprove mo nalang to mam, hehe sobrang waley na

The continuous growth of awareness of the remnants of our historical

There were earlier attempts to preserve the artifacts of history and

Other significant places are concrete pieces of evidence of our precolonial

2. Do an interview your elders on your local communities and ask if

3. Take a picture of it and provide a description on its history and why is

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