29 January 2015 - To promote awareness among the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi on the Philippines’ cultural heritage conservation initiatives, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi hosted a lecture featuring Heritage Conservation Society of the Philippines President and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) National Committee on Monuments and Sites Secretary Ivan Anthony Henares on January 22 at the Maharlika House, the Ambassador’s official residence.
The lecture entitled “Preserving the Philippines’ Cultural Heritage: Milestones and Challenges” was attended by Embassy personnel and Filipino community leaders and members in Abu Dhabi, in coordination with the Bayanihan Council, the umbrella organization of all Filipino organizations accredited by the Philippine Embassy.
Mr. Henares spoke of the six world heritage sites in the Philippines, namely the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, Historic Town of Vigan, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, and the challenge of preserving these cultural and natural heritage sites.
Mr. Henares demonstrated Vigan as an example of how heritage brought economic activity to a local community. He recommended replication of the “formula” that was used for Vigan, recognized for best practice in World Heritage site management in 2012 and one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the world.
Mr. Henares called on the overseas Filipino community to do their share in heritage conservation. He said that Filipino community organizations can make heritage conservation a project, such as “Adopt a Heritage Site” in the Philippines (e.g., old schools, houses, municipalities) and convince family members in the Philippines to be heritage “champions” in their area. He added there should be “schools of living tradition” within Philippine schools abroad to promote Philippine traditional songs and dances. “Heritage can be lost. Whatever is left, we have to preserve”, he urged.
Mr. Henares ended his lecture by inviting the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi to follow him on social media – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and his blog, Ivan About Town.
On January 24, Mr. Henares also had a chance to speak to members of the UP Alumni Association in Dubai to promote heritage conservation. Mr. Henares was awarded as one of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni for Culture and the Arts in 2014. END