The National Museum of the Philippines announces that the following cultural properties have been declared in the course of 2015 as National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties:
National Cultural Treasures
1. The Alcaiceria de San Fernando Marker of 1762, in the collection of the National Museum, Manila
2. “Maradika”, the Qur’an of Bayang (Lanao del Sur), in the collection of the National Museum, Manila
3. The International Rice Research Institute Series by National Artist Vicente Manansala (two paintings), on loan to the National Museum, Manila
4. Paco Park (Cementerio Municipal de Manila y Capilla de San Pancracio) in Paco, Manila
5. The Watchtowers of Ilocos Sur, comprising: the Watchtower of Santiago in Barangay Sabangan; the Watchtower of San Esteban in Barangay Bateria; the Watchtower of Narvacan in Barangay Sulvec; and the Watchtower-Belfry of the Church of San Agustin in Bantay
6. The Watchtowers of Ilocos Norte, comprising: the Watchtower of Badoc in Barangay Lingasy; the North Watchtower of Currimao in Barangay Poblacion Uno; the South Watchtower of Currimao in Barangay Torre; the Watchtower-Belfry of the Church (now Cathedral) of San Guillermo Ermitaño in Laoag, the Watchtower of Bacarra in Barangay Natba; and the Watchtower of Pasuquin in Barangay Puyupuyan;
7. The Dampol Bridge in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, as an integral part of the Church Complex of San Vicente Ferrer, declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2003, and which henceforth are to be known collectively as the San Vicente Ferrer Church Complex and Dampol Bridge of Dupax del Sur (Nueva Vizcaya)
8. The Minor Basilica and Church Complex of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario in Manaoag, Pangasinan, including the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and movable and intangible properties intrinsic to the cultural significance of the property
9. The Sacred Art of the Parish Church of Santiago Apostól in Paete, Laguna (four paintings in situ).
10. The Ruins of Cagsawa Church in Daraga, Albay
11. The Roman Catholic Cemetery (Camposanto) of San Joaquin, Iloilo, as an integral part of the Church Complex of San Joaquin, declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2003, and which henceforth are to be known collectively as the San Joaquin Church Complex and Camposanto of San Joaquin (Iloilo).
Important Cultural Properties:
1. The Building of the Philippine Center for Population and Development by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin in Taguig City.
2. The Church Complex of San Bartolome in Malabon City.
3. The Cariño House in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
4. The Church Complex of San Nicolas de Tolentino, including the convento (Santa Rosa Academy) and the road-side via crucis structures, in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
5. The Building of the San Nicolas Central School, in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
6. The Municipal Hall of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
7. The Valdez-Lardizabal House in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
8. The Nagrebcan Archaeological Site in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
9. The Callao Cave Complex, Peñablanca, Cagayan.
10. The Santa Maria Bridge in Sitio Tanibong, Aritao-Quirino Road, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya
11. The Colegio del Santisimo Rosario (Diplomat Hotel) Ruins, Dominican Hill, Baguio City.
12. The Laperal House, Baguio City.
13. Peredo’s Lodging House, Baguio City.
14. The Church Complex of Santo Rosario, Angeles City, Pampanga.
15. The Angel Pantaleon de Miranda House in Angeles City, Pampanga.
16. The Patricia Mercado – Gomes Masnou House in Angeles City, Pampanga.
17. The Juan Nepomuceno Camalig in Angeles City, Pampanga.
18. The Jose Pedro Henson y Leon Santos Deposito in Angeles City, Pampanga
19. The Ciriaco de Miranda House in Angeles City, Pampanga..
20. The Mariano Lacson House in Angeles City, Pampanga.
21. The Rafael Yutuc, Sr. House in Angeles City, Pampanga.
22. The Municipal Hall of Guagua, Pampanga.
23. The Church Complex of Inmaculada Concepcion in Guagua, Pampanga.
24. The Church Complex of San Bartolome in Magalang, Pampanga.
25. The Municipal Hall of Magalang, Pampanga.
26. The Municipal Hall of Lubao, Pampanga.
27. The Old Municipal Hall (Baliuag Museum and Library) of Baliuag, Bulacan.
28. The Barit Bridge in Barangay Santiago, Iriga City, Camarines Sur.
29. The Avanceña House (Camiña Balay na Bato) in Arevalo, Iloilo City.
30. The Lizares-Gamboa Mansion (Angelicum School) in Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City.
31. The Sornito House in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
32. The Chapel of Saint Joseph the Worker in Victorias, Negros Occidental.
An Important Cultural Property is “a cultural property that possesses “exceptional cultural, artistic and/or historical significance”, whereas the highest designation of National Cultural Treasure pertains to “a unique cultural property found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significan and important to the country and nation.”
The National Museum is mandated to declare cultural properties of the Philippines as either Important Cultural Properties or National Cultural Treasures, pursuant to several laws, including Republic Act No. 4846 (Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act) as amended by Presidential Decree No. 374, Presidential Decree No. 260, Republic Act No.8492 (National Museum Act of 1998) and most recently, Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009).
These declarations were made as a result of the National Museum’s own research, recommendations from other government agencies or, in the majority of cases in 2015, petitions made by property owners or concerned parties. Nominated properties were, when necessary, evaluated by dedicated panels of external experts convened for the purpose and approved subject to the confirmation of the Director of the National Museum.
The purpose of declaring selected Philippine cultural properties as Important Cultural Properties and National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum is to, first and foremost, highlight their significance to the entire world that they are officially recognized as an intrinsic part of the patrimony of the Filipino people and are central to the legacy that the present generation should take special care to steward for the generations to come. They are an acknowledgment of the best of what we have inherited, in order that we may care for it, enrich it further, and pass it on in turn.
In practical terms, these declarations under the law serve to facilitate, through such agencies as the National Museum, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and others, measures for the protection, preservation and promotion by the national government of these exceptional and outstanding cultural properties, which may be either movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible, in partnership with concerned public, private and civil society stakeholders as well as the local governments and communities.
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